Investigating the relationship between post-injury occupational change and persistent occupational identity: A mixed methodological study combining quantitative analysis of a survey of adult Australians with qualitative analysis of interviews with Truck Drivers who have experienced occupational change

The literature regarding occupational change indicates that identification with one occupation can present a barrier to making the change to another. Rehabilitation Counsellors are often given the responsibility of assisting individuals to make that change, usually through vocational counselling. The principles which underpin the conduct of vocational counselling commonly do not include consideration of the effect of persistent occupational identity on occupational change. While the concept of occupational identity has been the topic of extensive research for several decades there is no consensus regarding its definition, or how it is different from related concepts and very limited research into how it may influence the outcome of attempted occupational change after injury. Consequently, this study had three aims. Clarification of what occupational identity is; an examination of the experience of occupational identity; and an exploration of its influence on post-injury experiences of occupational change. A mixed methodological approach was adopted consisting of a quantitative analysis of survey data, and qualitative analyses of the experience of occupational identity and post-injury attempts at returning to a more suitable occupation. The survey involved 336 participants who provided demographic details relevant to their working life and an assessment of the level of their occupational identity. Analyses of chi-squared tests indicated that gender, level of educational qualification, employment status and occupational type were influential on the level of occupational identity. As a result of these analyses, recommendations are presented for how occupational identity might be defined and differentiated from related concepts. The qualitative analyses consisted of semi-structured interviews with 11 Truck Drivers who had experience of career disruption due to injury. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis method was used to identify themes connecting the experience of both occupational identity and attempts at occupational change. Several themes relevant to occupational identity were identified, including the involvement of a specific agent in its genesis, and a sense of power associated with its maintenance. Themes relevant to occupational change confirmed that a persistent occupational identity presented a substantial barrier to a successful change to a more suitable occupation. As a result of these analyses, recommendations are made for the enhancement of vocational counselling strategies. The implications of a persistent occupational identity on the negotiation of other biographical disruptions are raised as it has the potential to be prevent changes of occupation occasioned by a range of other life changing events

Efforts to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates

This project attempts to describe the efficacy of FOBT (guaiac-based FOBT & fecal immunochemical test), explore FluFOBT program, and examine the relationship between advanced practice registered nurse knowledge level about CRC screening recommendation guideline and self-reported referral rates in efforts to improve CRC screening rates

Loads on Box Culverts under High Embankments

The structural design of culverts requires a reliable estimate of the earth pressures which will come to bear on the structure during and after construction of the embankment. The actual bearing pressure at a given time and under various conditions of differential settlement may be greater or less than the deadload of the fill or embankment over the structure. This report describes the instrumentation and construction of three box culverts designed by the imperfect trench method. A total of 42 Carlson earth pressure cells were installed in conjunction with strain gages and settlement measuring devices, including inverted settlement plates and mercury settlement gages. Measurements made during the first few months indicate the imperfect trench has considerably reduced the overburden loads bearing on the structures

Intragastric Infusion and Its Use in the Investigation of Nitrogen and Glucose Metabolism in Ruminants

1. Current techniques used for measurements of the composition of feeds given to ruminants and of the subsequent utilization of nutrients by these animals were reviewed. Intragastric infusion, an alternative technique for the precise control of nutrient supply under experimental conditions, was introduced and its use for the investigation of nutrient utilization was discussed. 2. Experiments were undertaken to develop the intragastric infusion technique for use at the HRI for investigations into the effects of propionate supply on N utilization in ruminants. 3. In the first experiment propionate was isoenergetically withdrawn from 'control' infusions given to a cow which were designed to provide an above-maintenance supply of energy together with adequate protein to sustain zero N retention (420mg N/kgW 0.75 per d). The quantity of N excreted by the cow was increased from 47 to 54g/d (15%) in response to propionate withdrawal. The animal maintained its homeostasis, as judged by its plasma glucose concentration, and was able to derive 2.37g glucose/kgW 0.75 per d from the protein that was catabolised. In view of the types of glucose-precursor supplied to the animal, this quantity of glucose was equivalent to the animal's minimum requirement. 4. A more extensive study of the effects of propionate supply on N utilization was conducted with a larger group of animals and this was most conveniently achieved using sheep. Propionate was isoenergetically withdrawn from 'control' infusions and N excretion was increased by 2.64g/d (27%). From this a minimum glucose requirement of 2.44g/kgW 0.75 per d was calculated and proportions of this requirement were used to supplement isoenergetic propionate-free infusions in subsequent treatments. When glucose was reintroduced in quantities equivalent to the minimum requirement, a positive retention of N of 0.06g/kgW 0.75 per d was measured, despite there being no change in the 480mg casein N/kgW 0.75 per d provided by the infusions. When glucose was again isoenergetically withdrawn from the infusions the quantity of N excreted by the animals was 13% lower than in the identical treatment initially imposed. It appeared that restriction of glucose-precursor supply was associated with increased efficiency of utilization of N and/or a reduction in glucose utilization. The effects of the treatments on the plasma concentrations of certain metabolites and amino acids suggested glucose sparing could have occurred and that non-essential amino acids were major contributors to gluconeogenesis. This despite the provision of ME in quantities calculated to allow positive energy retention. 5. In a third experiment, after an initial 'control' period (P1), propionate was withdrawn from the infusions (P2) and then reintroduced at 50% of the quantities given in (P1) for a prolonged period (P3, 32d). Finally propionate was fully reintroduced (P4). Blood analyses were made to provide information on the time scale and nature of the metabolic response. In P2 there was an increase in N excretion from 0.41 to 0.59g/kgW 0.75 per d (43%) despite a constant supply of 413mg Casein N/kgW 0.75 per d throughout the experiment. In P3 and P4, 0.38 and 0.36g N/kgW 0.75 per d were excreted respectively. P3 was intended to perpetuate the adaptive response initiated in P2 but, judging by the quantities of N excreted and the changes in the blood plasma constituents that were measured, the adaptive response had not been perpetuated and there was little difference in the effects of restricting propionate by 50% (P3) or not restricting propionate supply at all (P1 and P4). 6. A more severe perturbation of glucose-precursor supply was imposed on the animals. Following an initial 'control' period (P1), propionate was isoenergetically withdrawn from the infusions (P2) for as long as was practicable for the animals to avoid clinical hypoglycaemia. Propionate was then reintroduced to the infusions (P3) in the same quantities as given in P1. The N excreted by the animals during the 3 treatments was 0.47, 0.64 and 0.46g/kgW 0.75 per d respectively despite the provision of 473mg casein N/kgW 0.75 per d throughout the experiment. Analysis of the N data from P2 showed there to be a tendency for N excretion to fall after the first 5 days of the treatment. This change in N excretion was not, however, associated with any changes in the constitutents of blood plasma that were measured. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)

The chemoprophylaxis of meningococcal disease in the Cape Town City Council area : an evaluation of programme efficacy

This dissertation reports the findings of a study which was carried out in the Cape Town City Council area, in order to establish whether the offering of rifampicin to household contacts, of patients with meningococcal disease, resulted in protection of those contacts against developing the disease during a 32 week follow up period. The study took the form of a retrospective follow up of 3 350 household contacts of 412 cases notified over a 4-year period (mid 1988-mid 1992). It was found that the offering of rifampicin to the household contacts resulted in an odds ratio of not developing meningococcal disease over the 32-week follow up period of 14, 17 (SD = 12, 34). Although there was a tendency for contacts who were not offered rifampicin to have been younger, and of male gender, when compared to those who were offered prophylaxis, these demographic differences were not statistically significant at the 0,05 level. Furthermore, three out of the four male second cases, all in the younger age group, were in fact offered prophylaxis. It seems desirable that prophylaxis should be given as soon as possible. It is concluded, therefore, that the offering of rifampicin to household contacts of patients with meningococcal disease, living under the prevailing social circumstances in the Western Cape, has protective benefit for those contacts. It is likely that the chemoprophylaxis programme prevented up to 88 cases of meningococcal disease over the study period of four years, as well as preventing 8 deaths from this disease, in the CCC population

Stability Analysis of Slide at Milepost 152.7, I 64, Carter County

A visual inspection of a slide near Milepost 153 on I 64 was made April 11, 1972, and reported in a memorandum prepared by B. H. Banks on April 12, 1972. The Division of Research made recommendations for correcting this situation in a memorandum to A. R. Romine on June 30, 1972. These recommendations were based on a limited field investigation and a stability analysis of a proposed berm to be located near Station 3483+00. In a letter dated August 18, 1972, Mr. A. J. Horner of FHWA requested borings be made at the site to establish rock depth and to obtain samples for triaxial testing. That correspondence indicated that, to be eligible for FAI participation, a more complete analysis of the slip would be needed. Results of the present investigation which conform to the FHWA request are presented herein. Translatory slope stability analyses were not performed since the circular slope stability analysis was more applicable in this particular situation. Slope stability computations (Bishop\u27s circular method) were carried out in terms of effective stress using shear strength parameters obtained from consolidated, isotropic, undrained triaxial tests with pore pressure measurements. The major objective of the study was to check a remedial solution previously proposed (see APPENDIX). The investigation was conducted under Research Study KYP-72-38 entitled Landslides and maintenance project SP 22-538-28L

A release-and-capture mechanism generates an essential non-centrosomal microtubule array during tube budding.

Non-centrosomal microtubule arrays serve crucial functions in cells, yet the mechanisms of their generation are poorly understood. During budding of the epithelial tubes of the salivary glands in the Drosophila embryo, we previously demonstrated that the activity of pulsatile apical-medial actomyosin depends on a longitudinal non-centrosomal microtubule array. Here we uncover that the exit from the last embryonic division cycle of the epidermal cells of the salivary gland placode leads to one centrosome in the cells losing all microtubule-nucleation capacity. This restriction of nucleation activity to the second, Centrobin-enriched, centrosome is key for proper morphogenesis. Furthermore, the microtubule-severing protein Katanin and the minus-end-binding protein Patronin accumulate in an apical-medial position only in placodal cells. Loss of either in the placode prevents formation of the longitudinal microtubule array and leads to loss of apical-medial actomyosin and impaired apical constriction. We thus propose a mechanism whereby Katanin-severing at the single active centrosome releases microtubule minus-ends that are then anchored by apical-medial Patronin to promote formation of the longitudinal microtubule array crucial for apical constriction and tube formation

Predictors of premenstrual impairment among women undergoing prospective assessment for premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a cycle-level analysis

Background Women who experience significant premenstrual symptoms differ in the extent to which these symptoms cause cyclical impairment. This study clarifies the type and number of symptoms that best predict premenstrual impairment in a sample of women undergoing prospective assessment for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in a research setting. Central research goals were to determine (1) which emotional, psychological, and physical symptoms of PMDD are uniquely associated with premenstrual impairment, and (2) how many cyclical symptoms optimally predict the presence of a clinically significant premenstrual elevation of impairment. Method A total of 267 naturally cycling women recruited for retrospective report of premenstrual emotional symptoms completed daily symptom reports using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) and occupational, recreational, and relational impairment for 1–4 menstrual cycles ( N = 563 cycles). Results Multilevel regression revealed that emotional, psychological, and physical symptoms differ in their associations with impairment. The core emotional symptoms of PMDD were predictors of impairment, but not after accounting for secondary psychological symptoms, which were the most robust predictors. The optimal number of premenstrual symptoms for predicting clinically significant premenstrual impairment was four. Conclusion Results enhance our understanding of the type and number of premenstrual symptoms associated with premenstrual impairment among women being evaluated for PMDD in research contexts. Additional work is needed to determine whether cognitive symptoms should receive greater attention in the study of PMDD, and to revisit the usefulness of the five-symptom diagnostic threshold

The evaluation of training courses for experienced agriculturalists

An evaluation of the effectiveness of a training course is very difficult to implement, but it is necessary if the course is to achieve the objectives set out by the course designers. When the participants have completed their training, they should be equipped with the knowledge of the latest developments in their discipline, the skills to be able to put them into practice and the attitude to utilise this training experience to the full in the farm or unit situation. This study assesses the techniques available for evaluation and has selected one method of appraising Adult Short Courses, designed specifically for experienced agriculturalists from a particular farm discipline. The Agricultural Training Group Officer established the training needs of group members and organised a programme based at a central location and staffed by A. T. B. or external instructors. A questionnaire was administered to the population of course attenders at the end of each training day. The levels of knowledge, skills and attitudes were measured using a range of question designs and rating scales. The "before" level was valued at the same time as the "after" score. This is a departure from the more commonly used Pretest, Posttest design. Unit or farm physical performance data, related to stockperson control, was collected over the relevant years. A commercial psychological test was also used to evaluate the trainability of the course attenders. A comparative group of experienced agriculturalists, who were not involved in any A. T. B. training related to their unit attachment, were contacted to provide similar information and reduce any maturation, historical and local errors. The data collected showed significant increases in knowledge, skills and attitude levels with some degree of improvement in unit physical performance. The correlations between the objective criteria, unit physical data, and the subjective criteria, self-assessment ratings, were very mixed for the course attenders. The psychological tests tended to support independent unit manager valuations of the trainees. The training courses were effective and the evaluation has shown that trained staff can improve unit physical performance. The analysis supported the methodologies employed and further testing, with some modifications, using a larger population involved in a range of farm disciplines would be useful