Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-19T17:47:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LISSIA MARIA DE SOUZA DIAS.pdf: 391329 bytes, checksum: da5f9f4de64f5e5a029b2bb131a2804e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-05-22 / This study is about accidents arising from the use of products and services related from the consumers of São Luís-MA recorded at emergency hospitals. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study with a sample of 257 respondents aiming to detect the envelopment of products and services in accidents, profile the injured people as the age, the shift, the affected body segment, the kind of fall, local and work, as well as to detect the implication of the products and services in the incidents, describe the frequently injuries, indicate the main types of products and and services, by order on incidence, identify the features of accidents caused by falls, check gender and age join the type of the product na service, local, shift and body segment and kind of fall, and check the rate among gender and age with the factors associated to the accidents. From the results this can highlight that 57.6% were considered consumer incidents, 54.1% of the incidents the main victms are children, 58.4% are male, the body segments most affected were the upper and lower limbs 33.5%, 50.2% of the accidents ocurred at home, the most common injuries were contusions 49.0%, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and fractures 15.2%, the products with higher percentage were the vehicles 18.7%, the maintenance services corresponded to 8.6% and the afternoon shift was the predominant 44.7%. / A presente dissertação é um estudo sobre acidentes decorrentes do uso de produtos e serviços na população assistida em São Luís MA, registrados em hospitais de urgência e emergência. Trata-se de um estudo transversal descritivo, com amostra de 257 entrevistados, com o objetivo de detectar o envolvimento de produtos e serviços nos acidentes, traçar o perfil dos acidentados quanto à faixa etária, de acordo com o turno de ocorrência, segmento corporal afetado, tipo de queda, local e atividade, assim como, detectar o envolvimento de produtos e serviços na ocorrência dos acidentes, descrever as lesões mais freqüentes, apontar os principais tipos de produtos e serviços, por ordem de incidência, identificar as características dos acidentes provocados por quedas, verificar gênero e faixa etária com tipo de produto e serviço, local, turno e segmento corporal e tipo de queda, e, verificar a relação entre gênero e faixa etária com os fatores associados aos acidentes. Dos resultados obtidos pode-se destacar que 57,6% foram considerados acidentes de consumo, 54,1% dos acidentes as principais vítimas são crianças, 58,4% dos acidentados são do sexo masculino, os segmentos corporais mais afetados foram os membros superiores e inferiores 33,5%, 50,2% dos acidentes ocorrem dentro de casa, às lesões mais encontradas foram às contusões 49,0%, TCE e fraturas 15,2%, os produtos com maior percentual de acidentes foram os veículos 18,7%, os serviços de manutenção corresponderam a 8,6% e o turno de predominância dos acidentes foi o da tarde 44,7%.

Submitted by Rosivalda Pereira (mrs.pereira@ufma.br) on 2017-05-09T19:48:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 MayanaLuana.pdf: 2132103 bytes, checksum: ec28c6abf33e625325d7947c9311143a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-09T19:48:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MayanaLuana.pdf: 2132103 bytes, checksum: ec28c6abf33e625325d7947c9311143a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-23 / CAPES / The Portuguese man-of-war Physalia physalis (Linnaeus, 1758) is recognized for causing poisoning in bathers, mainly in the north and northeast regions of Brazil. In Maranhão, poisonings by man-of-war are common on the beaches of the capital São Luís. But action to prevent and promote health are still deficient. This study aimed to analyze the distribution of the occurrence of Portuguese man-of-war and envenomations on the beaches of São Marcos and Calhau in São Luís, Maranhão between 2015 and 2016. The data was provided by the active search of the animals and geographical marking with GPS (Global Positioning System), geoprocessed by Qgis software version 16.1. The kernel density estimator was used to identify the agglomerations of the events. A specific questionnaire was applied with 66 people poisoned by P. physalis and registered the location of the accident, month, year and emergency care measure used. The animals are distributed throughout the beaches of São Marcos and Calhau, with greater agglomeration in Calhau. The highest density location of P. physalis coincided with the location with the highest occurrence of poisonings. Most of the poisonings occurred in people living in the city of São Luís, in the months of the dry period, with greater occurrence in the beach of São Marcos. The most common first-aid used was the application of vinegar (acetic acid). We concluded that the poisonings occur in the parts of the urban beaches of São Luís that presented great density of P. physalis. In order to improve poison control actions, we suggest signaling with signs warning the risk areas of poisoning, and include the geographical location of the accident in the notification form. / A caravela portuguesa Physalia physalis (Linnaeus, 1758) é reconhecida por provocar envenenamento em banhistas, principalmente nas regiões norte e nordeste do Brasil. No Maranhão, são comuns envenenamentos por caravelas nas praias da capital São Luís, porém as ações de prevenção e promoção â saúde ainda são deficientes. O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar a distribuição da ocorrência de caravelas e dos envenenamentos humanos nas praias urbanas de São Marcos e do Calhau nos anos de 2015 e 2016. Os dados foram obtidos por meio da busca ativa dos animais e marcação da coordenada geográfica com um aparelho de GPS (Sistema de Posicionamento Global); e geoprocessados pelo software Qgis versão 16.1. O estimador da densidade de Kernel foi utilizado para identificar as aglomerações dos eventos. Um questionário específico foi aplicado com 66 pessoas envenenadas pela P. physalis sendo registrados o local do acidente, mês, ano e medida de pronto-atendimento utilizada. As caravelas estão distribuídas em toda a extensão das praias de São Marcos e Calhau, com maior aglomeração no Calhau. Os locais de maior densidade de caravelas coincidiram com os locais de maior ocorrência de envenenamentos. A maioria dos envenenamentos ocorreu em pessoas residentes na cidade de São Luís, nos meses do período de seca, com maior ocorrência na praia do São Marcos. A medida de pronto-atendimento mais utilizada foi a aplicação de vinagre (ácido acético). Concluímos que os envenenamentos ocorrem nos trechos das praias urbanas de São Luís que apresentaram grande densidade de colônias de caravelas. Para melhoria das ações de controle dos envenenamentos sugerimos a sinalização com placas alertando as áreas de risco de envenenamento, e inclusão da localização geográfica do acidente na ficha de notificação.

Submitted by Cristiane Chim (cristiane.chim@ucpel.edu.br) on 2018-11-07T11:42:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Humberto Zechlinski Xavier de Freitas.pdf: 2342638 bytes, checksum: 033e32c3edb44ca52426cf40870cccbb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-07T11:42:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Humberto Zechlinski Xavier de Freitas.pdf: 2342638 bytes, checksum: 033e32c3edb44ca52426cf40870cccbb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-10-10 / The present study sought answers to the question if the Brazilian State is present and effectively exercises its competence of state protection, through public policies of consumer safety, as a form of social protection. With a type of analytical quantitative approach, applied research purpose and observational nature, using the procedures of bibliographical research, documentary and field research, with a questionnaire closed with multiple choice questions as a research instrument, the present work was applicated in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, in the year 2018, in a sample determined by 474 consumers between 20 and 74 years, thus forming the results of the social perception about the theme. As results found, it was observed that the imported way of live, capitalist, consumerist, and unconcerned with the "rest of the world" presents itself negatively potentiated by the historic of our colonized, slavery society of low education and culture, using (or being used by) a late capitalism, where social relationships emerge even more because of the superficiality, ostentation and appearance that consumption offers. In this matter, the consumption universe and theconsuming act have been predominantly thought, but not exclusively, as a reproduction form of an asymmetric relations system of power and domination.Where social vulnerabilities present themselves more intensely, and education and general culture are more precarious, the ready package of capitalist consumerist has even more effect as it finds no antithesis to its values, or resistance to its globalized forces. The brazilian society is configured as a consumer society and shows itself highly functional to the dominant logic. The brazilian consumer presents a highly consumerist and alienated profile in relation to their own health and safety, analysing the consumption decision process. This same consumer does not feel safe or supported by the State and has the perception that the Brazilian State does not effectively perform its original, and non-delegable, competence of social protection in the consumerist field. Seems like thegovernment fails in the execution of health actions and policies, safety, education and consumer awareness, adopting, in this context, a political option of stimulating consumerism as a form of tax generation and economic growth. This option, masquerade of social policies, has as real beneficiaries the large multinationals and holders of the transnational capital that invades the country. In addition, the State does not supervises the commercial media regarding the provision of correct and complete information related to product safety associated with the advertising of products available for consumption. Acting in this way, the Brazilian State is exclusively functional to the dominant logic of capitalist social relationships in detriment of social development,not accomplishing the necessary and inexcusable state guarantee of social protection regarding health and safety of the consumers, configured as fundamental diffuse and social rights, which are objects of the compulsory state guardianship. / O presente trabalho pesquisouse, de acordo com a percepção social, o Estado brasileiro se faz presente e exerce efetivamente sua competência de tutela estatal, por meio de políticas públicas de segurança do consumidor, como forma de proteção social. Com tipo de abordagem quantitativa analítica, finalidade de pesquisa aplicada e natureza observacional, utilizando os procedimentos de pesquisas bibliográficas, documental e pesquisa de campo, com questionário fechado com questões de múltipla escolha como instrumento de pesquisa, o presente trabalho se utilizou de dados colhidos na cidade de Pelotas, Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, no ano de 2018, em amostra determinada por 474 consumidores entre 20 e 74 anos, formando assim os resultados da percepção social acerca do tema. Como resultados encontrados, se observou que o importado modo de viver, capitalista, consumista e despreocupado com o “resto do mundo” se mostrou potencializado negativamente pelo histórico de nossa sociedade colonizada, escravocrata, de baixa escolaridade e cultura, utilizadora de (ou utilizada por) um capitalismo tardio,onde as relações sociais emergem ainda mais pela superficialidade, pela ostentação e pela aparência que o consumo pode oferecer.Nesta seara, o universo do consumo e o ato de consumir têm sido pensado predominantemente, embora não exclusivamente, como uma forma de reprodução de um sistema de relações assimétricas de poder e dominação. Onde as vulnerabilidades sociais se apresentam de forma mais intensa e a educação e cultura geral são mais precárias, o pacote pronto do consumismo capitalista surte ainda mais efeito ao não encontrar antítese aos seus valores nem resistências às suas forças globalizadas. A sociedade brasileira se mostrou configurada como sociedade de consumo e mostra-se altamente funcional à lógica dominante, com o consumidor brasileiro apresentando um perfil bastante consumista e alienado em relação à sua própria saúde e segurança, no processo de decisão de consumo. Esse mesmo consumidor alegou não se sentir seguro ou amparado pelo Estado e possui a percepção de que o Estado brasileiro não desempenha, com efetividade, a sua competência original e indelegável de proteção social no âmbito consumerista, mostrando-se ausente nesta seara, sem promover a execução de ações e políticas de saúde, segurança, educação e consciência do consumidor mas, pelo contrário, adotando a opção política do estímulo ao consumismo como forma de geração de tributos e crescimento econômico. Opção esta que, transvestida de política social, mostrou que possui como reais beneficiários as grandes multinacionais e detentores do capital transnacional que invade o País. Ademais, concluiu-se que o Estado mostra-se omisso na fiscalização da mídia comercial no que concerne à oferta de corretas e completas informações atinentes à segurança de produtos juntamente com a publicidade dos produtos dispostos ao consumo. Agindo assim, a atuação do Estado brasileiro mostrou-se exclusivamente funcional à lógica dominante das relações sociais capitalistas em detrimento ao desenvolvimento social, negando a necessária e inexcusável garantia estatal de proteção social em relação à saúde e segurança dos consumidores, que se configuram como direitos fundamentais difusos e sociais, sendo objetos obrigatórios da tutela estatal.

Les réacteurs de 4ème génération ont pour objectif l’avènement d’un nucléaire durable susceptible de soutenir la transition énergétique. Anticipant un possible retard, dû à des difficultés techniques et économiques, des solutions innovantes inspirées des technologies actuelles (REP) sont à l’étude. Ces réacteurs à haute conversion nécessitent le développement d’outils académiques simples et robustes adaptés aux phases de la conception et capables :- D’évaluer les performances du combustible (burnup). Cet aspect est géré par l’environnement C++ SMURE (Serpent/MCNP Utility for Reactor Evolution), ici adapté et complété pour modéliser l’évolution du combustible à l’échelle de l’assemblage comme à l’échelle du cœur.- D’évaluer les performances de sûreté, ce qui nécessite le couplage entre la neutronique, ici approximée par la théorie de la diffusion et résolue par la NDM (Nodal Drift Method), et la thermohydraulique dont le traitement est simplifié dans le code BATH (Basic Approach to ThermalHydraulics). Le couplage NDM/BATH a fait l’objet d’une validation sur un benchmark d’éjection de grappe.Nos outils et méthodes de conception sont appliqués au dimensionnement de SMR sous-modérés à eau légère fonctionnant soit au Th/U soit au Th/Pu. Outre les critères usuels de conception (i.e. facteur de forme), il s’est avéré nécessaire, pour la crédibilité du concept, de spécifier la gestion de la réactivité, ce qui a mené au développement d’une méthodologie d’optimisation des poisons consommables. L’analyse de sûreté a permis de poser de nouveaux critères de conception, notamment sur le niveau maximal de sous-modération permettant d’éviter la crise d’ébullition nucléée. Cela a également mis en lumière les implications sur la sûreté de certains choix de conception comme le fonctionnement avec un inventaire réduit en bore soluble. / The Generation IV of nuclear reactors aims at making the nuclear energy a sustainable power source, able to contribute efficiently to the energetic transition. To anticipate the delay of this Gen. IV, innovative retro-fitted nuclear reactors with high level of conversion are studied. The conception of such reactors needs the development of a flexible and robust academical tool box in order to:- Evaluate fuel performance. This is done by means of SMURE (Serpent/MCNP Utility for Reactor Evolution), the dedicated CNRS C++ framework, which is adapted to perform burnup calculation both at assembly scale and at core scale.- Evaluate safety performance. This implies coupled transient simulation between neutronics and thermohydraulics. Neutronics is handled by the Nodal Drift Method (NDM) which solves the diffusion equations while thermohydraulics is simplified and computed by the code Basic Approach to ThermalHydraulics (BATH). This coupling between NDM/BATH has been validated on a Rod Ejection Accident (REA) benchmark.Ours tools and methods are applied on the design of sub-moderated water-cooled SMR cores using either Th/U or Th/Pu fuel. In addition to basic conception criteria such as the form factor, the reactivity management has been investigated in details, which has led to the development of a new methodology for optimal used of burnable poisons. The safety analysis against REA highlights new conceptions limits, in particular on the maximal sub-moderating ratio in order to avoid nucleate boiling. It also reveals the consequences on the reactor safety of some design choices such as low soluble boron inventory.

Introdução: Os profissionais de enfermagem são os que mantêm os maiores índices de acidentes com material biológico. A importância da adoção de medidas preventivas é fundamental para garantir a proteção dos mesmos e reduzir os acidentes de trabalho. Após a ocorrência de um acidente ocupacional com material biológico, medidas pós-exposições devem ser instituídas para reduzir o risco de soroconversão. Objetivo: Analisar as condutas referidas pelos profissionais de enfermagem após a ocorrência de exposição ocupacional percutânea com material biológico potencialmente contaminado. Material e Método: Trata-se de estudo do tipo transversal, realizado em um hospital de alta complexidade, localizado no interior do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. O projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da instituição e da Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo. A amostra do estudo foi composta por profissionais de enfermagem. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas individuais no próprio local de trabalho, no período entre março e novembro de 2015. Resultado: Foram entrevistados 226 profissionais; desses, 39 (17,3%) afirmaram ter sofrido exposição ocupacional a material biológico na instituição, sendo que a maioria 24 (61,5%) envolveu contato por via percutânea. Em relação às condutas referidas pelos profissionais de enfermagem após exposição ocupacional com material biológico potencialmente contaminado, a maior parte dos participantes: interromperam imediatamente a atividade que estavam fazendo (87,5%), lavaram a área atingida abundantemente com água e sabão (100,0%), realizaram o comunicado imediato ao enfermeiro supervisor sobre o acidente (95,8%), preencheram o formulário para investigação de acidentes e foram encaminhados para o atendimento especializado (95,8%). Os profissionais mencionaram a emissão da Comunicação de Acidente de Trabalho pelo Serviço de Engenharia de Segurança e Medicina do Trabalho em 100,0% dos casos de acidentes com material biológico. Conclusão: O presente estudo permitiu identificar as condutas referidas pelos profissionais de enfermagem após exposição ocupacional com material biológico potencialmente contaminado. Destaca-se que a maioria interrompeu a atividade desenvolvida no momento do acidente, realizou cuidados na área atingida, procurou imediatamente pelo enfermeiro supervisor, atendimento clínico especializado e notificou o acidente / Introduction: Nursing professionals have the highest rates of accidents with biological material. The importance of adopting preventive measures is fundamental to ensure their protection and reduce work accidents. After the occurrence of an occupational accident with biological material, post-exposure measures must be followed to reduce the risk of seroconversion. Objective: To analyze the approaches mentioned by nursing professionals after the occurrence of a percutaneous occupational accident with potentially contaminated biological material. Material and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a high-complexity hospital in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The research project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the institution and the Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, at the University of São Paulo. The study sample was made up of nursing professionals. Data were collected by means of individual interviews at the participants\' workplace, between March and November 2015. Result: A total of 226 professionals were interviewed; of these, 39 (17.3%) stated they had suffered occupational exposure to biological material at the institution, of whom 24 (61.5%) involved percutaneous contact. Regarding the therapeutic approaches mentioned by the nursing professionals after the occupational exposure to potentially contaminated biological material, most participants interrupted the activity they were doing immediately (87.5%), washed the affected area abundantly with water and soap (100,0%), immediately reported the accident to the supervisor nurse (95.8%), filled in a form for investigation of accidents and were referred to specialized care (95.8%). It is noteworthy that the professionals mentioned the issuance of the Work Accident Notification to the Work Medicine and Safety Engineering Service in 100,0% of the cases of accidents with biological material. Conclusion: The present study allowed to identify the approaches mentioned by nursing professionals after occupational exposure to potentially contaminated biological material. It is noteworthy that most professionals interrupted the activity they were developing at the time of the accident, cared for the affected area, sought the supervisor nurse immediately, as well as specialized clinical care, and notified the accident

Foi realizado um estudo caso-controle, com 164 casos de acidentes no trabalho aleatoriamente selecionados e 325 controles, entre empregados de empresas privadas ou públicas, com o objetivo de construir e validar instrumento epidemiológico de avaliação da percepção de trabalhadores, sobre fatores de risco psicossociais para acidentes do trabalho. De vinte e nove variáveis integrantes do questionário auto-respondido com marcações em escala visual analógica, oito variáveis significativas foram selecionadas, pelo seu poder de discriminação da percepção, através de regressão logistica. Foram consideradas agressoras: - brigas com os chefes; presenciar catástrofes nos locais de trabalho; ter sido vitima de agressão ou violência; haver deixado familiar doente em casa; ser pressionado por policiais ou autoridades por causa de acusações de outras pessoas e ter problemas com a própria saúde. Foram protetoras:- tempo de trabalho na função e experimentar insatisfação por executar atividades consideradas indesejáveis. Há evidências de que a percepção individual de pontos chaves nas relações de trabalho está relacionada com fatores que conferem risco e proteção aos trabalhadores e estes podem ser obtidos com instrumento epidemiológico adequado. / A case-control study was performed based on 164 cases of randomly selected work-related accidents and 325 controls amongst employees of private or publicly owned firms, in Campinas, São Paulo, 1992-93. The main objective was developing and validating a specific data collection instrument for perceived psycho-social risks for work accidents with injuries recalling the last seven days. A questionnaire with 29 questions to be answered marking a visual analogue scale was built. Using logistic regression eight variables were found to discriminate cases from controls and were subsequently modeled. Having fought with superiors; having witnessed catastrophic events in the workplace; having been a victim of aggression outside the workplace; leaving an ill family member at home; having suffered police questioning because of accusations by neighbors or others and having self problems with health were found to be aggressive. Protective variables were time experience under the job title and point out having worked on undesirable tasks. The perceptions of individual workers of key aspects of the psycho-social relations within the workplace, are related to factors which confer greater or lesser risk to workers. These perceptions may be obtained using a single instrument for epidemiologic data collection.

O Brasil é um país em que o número de idosos tem crescido vertiginosamente e com isso ocorrem mudanças no perfil demográfico, socioeconômico e epidemiológico. As doenças crônicas assumem posição de destaque, dentre elas o Acidente Vascular Cerebral - AVC. O objetivo foi determinar a incidência de sintomas depressivos em idosos que foram hospitalizados por AVC, após a alta hospitalar. Trata-se de um estudo observacional e prospectivo com abordagem quantitativa. Foram entrevistados 48 idosos (60 anos ou mais) residentes na comunidade de cidades do interior paulista, que sofreram AVC e foram internados em um hospital terciário. A coleta dos dados foi realizada através de visitas domiciliares em duas etapas (após três e seis meses do AVC), no período de maio de 2010 a março de 2011. O instrumento de coleta de dados foi composto por dados demográficos e socioeconômicos, Mini-Exame do Estado Mental (MEEM), Atividades Instrumentais da Vida Diária (AIVD), Medida de Independência Funcional (MIF), presença de comorbidades e Escala de Depressão Geriátrica (GDS). A média de idade foi de 72,4 (±7,5) anos, com predominância do sexo masculino (56,2%). A maioria era composta por idosos casados, com média de 3,4 anos de estudo, 75% tinham renda familiar maior que um salário mínimo, 89,6% moravam acompanhados e 56,3% possuíam cinco ou mais morbidades. O tipo de AVC mais prevalente foi o isquêmico (81,2%), com maior comprometimento do lado esquerdo do cérebro. Com relação à Capacidade Funcional (CF), houve um aumento da média da MIF do terceiro para o sexto mês, ou seja, os idosos se tornaram mais independentes nesse quesito. Com as AIVD ocorre o contrário, os idosos se tornam mais dependentes na segunda avaliação. Os idosos do sexo masculino se tornaram menos depressivos, enquanto as idosas sofreram mais desses sintomas após seis meses do AVC. Embora o AVC seja a primeira causa de morte no país e também o grande responsável pelas incapacidades (físicas e emocionais) e internações hospitalares, estudos sobre a morbidade ainda é escasso. O intuito desse trabalho é o de apresentar essas consequências e os sintomas depressivos, os quais podem ser prevenidos com avaliação e intervenção de equipe interdisciplinar. / Brazil is a country in which the number of elderly people has displayed a steep growth, entailing changes in the demographic, socioeconomic and epidemiological profile. Chronic conditions stand out, including Cerebrovascular Accident - CVA. The aim was to determine the incidence of depressive symptoms in elderly people hospitalized due to CVA, after discharge from hospital. An observational and prospective study with a quantitative approach was carried out. Forty-eight elderly people (aged 60 years or older) were interviewed who lived in the community in interior cities in São Paulo State, had been victims of a CVA and were hospitalized at a tertiary-care hospital. Data were collected through home visits in two phases (three and six months after the CVA), between May 2010 and March 2011. The data collection instrument comprises demographic and socioeconomic data, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Functional Independent Measure (FIM), presence of co-morbidities and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The mean age was 72.4 (±7.5) years and the male gender predominated (56.2%). Most elderly were married, the mean education time was 3.4 years, 75% gained a family income of more than one minimum wage, 89.6% lived with another person and 56.3% suffered from five or more co-morbidities. The most prevalent type of CVA was ischemic (81,2%), which more strongly affects the left side of the brain. Regarding Functional Capacity (FC), the mean FIM score increased between the third and sixth month, that is, the elderly became more independent in this regard. The opposite occurred with the IADL, as the elderly become increasingly dependent on the second assessment. Male elderly became less depressed, while these symptoms were more present among female elderly six months after the CVA. Although CVA is the first cause of death in the country and also the main responsible for (physical and emotional) disabilities and hospitalizations, studies on this morbidity remain scarce. This research aims to present these consequences and depressive symptoms, which can be prevented through multidisciplinary team assessment and intervention.

Seat belts save lives; however, unintentional injuries are still the leading cause of death for those between 1 and 44 years in the United States. Seat belts also cause injuries during motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) and obesity changes how seat belts fit. The purpose of this retrospective causal inference quantitative study was to reduce the knowledge gap in scholarly research on seat belt fit in relation to blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVI) during MVCs and seat belt compliance. The theoretical framework used was based on H.W. Heinrich's domino theory. The research questions focused on the following dependent variables: BCVI, compliance, and seat belt fit; and independent variables: the size of the individual and seat belt fit. Secondary and primary data were used and analyzed using Spearman's Rank-Order Correlation. The results yielded no relationship between seat belt fit and BCVI in the secondary data (n = 97). In the primary data (n = 138), there was significance found between seatbelt fit and a) seat belt use, and b) BMI. The study contributed to positive social change by enhancing the awareness of the knowledge deficit regarding seat belt fit, and BCVIs sustained during MVCs, and that comfort was influenced by seat belt fit and had a role in compliance. Seat belts were not used by 5.3% and 9.5% or used incorrectly by 3.2% and 2.9% of the people in the primary data and secondary data sets. This knowledge may contribute to a) future seat belt testing to ensure it is done in such a manner that seat belts fit everyone; b) new seat belt laws to ensure that they are consistent across all states, and c) medical care focusing on seat belt fit as a mechanism of injury (blunt) to ensure screenings are done with the appropriate diagnostic tools.

The requirement to operate vehicles in low light and/or night environments whilst wearing night vision goggle (NVG) systems has become increasingly common during military operations. There is very limited research investigating injury risks associated with these systems during ground vehicle collisions. This study examined the injury risks associated with wearing the Australian Defence Force - Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH) and NVG system, in frontal vehicle collisions. This project consisted of two components: (1) crash tests using a sled and (2) numerical simulations of impacts. Four dynamic sled tests were conducted using a 50th percentile, male, Hybrid III dummy positioned on a rigid seat. Frontal impact tests were performed at a 40 km/h change in velocity (*v) and 20 g deceleration. The test configurations were as follows: (a) Base; (no helmet or additional equipment); (b) ECH; and, (c) ECH and NVG. Condition (c) was carried out twice, to determine repeatability. The sled test protocols were reconstructed precisely with the numerical simulation package MADYMO and the simulations were shown to correlate well with the experimental results. Using this validated model, four parametric studies were undertaken to assess the influence of counterweights, seat cushion, seatbelt pre-tensioner, and the vehicle's *v and acceleration on injury risks. The study found that neck loads were within acceptable limits, with the exception of the neck extension moment, which was exceeded for all NVG conditions. Based on the parametric studies, no major improvements were observed in the neck extension moments with the use of counterweights or a seat cushion. In contrast the use of a seatbelt pre-tensioner was observed to decrease greatly this neck injury risk in certain scenarios. The study also identified that a *v of 15 km/h and peak acceleration of up to 14 g were required to keep the neck extension moment below the prescribed injury criteria. However, the high neck extension moment values may have been partially attributable to the stiff Hybrid III neck. This study identified a possible injury mechanism for soldiers using the ECH and NVG system during specific impact scenarios. The method applied in this project was designed to be repeatable.

This thesis considers two allegations which conservatives often level at no-fault systems — namely, that responsibility is abnegated under no-fault systems, and that no-fault systems under- and over-compensate. I argue that although each of these allegations can be satisfactorily met – the responsibility allegation rests on the mistaken assumption that to properly take responsibility for our actions we must accept liability for those losses for which we are causally responsible; and the compensation allegation rests on the mistaken assumption that tort law’s compensatory decisions provide a legitimate norm against which no-fault’s decisions can be compared and criticized – doing so leads in a direction which is at odds with accident law reform advocates’ typical recommendations. On my account, accident law should not just be reformed in line with no-fault’s principles, but rather it should be completely abandoned since the principles that protect nofault systems from the conservatives’ two allegations are incompatible with retaining the category of accident law, they entail that no-fault systems are a form of social welfare and not accident law systems, and that under these systems serious deprivation – and to a lesser extent causal responsibility – should be conditions of eligibility to claim benefits. / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Humanities, 2007.