No description available.

No description available.

Diabetes is a critical public health concern with considerable financial and personal costs in the United States. Research has identified several interventions available to primary care providers to prevent diabetes. These interventions may prevent diabetes by influencing personal, community, and public health policy factors. These factors are key components of the social ecological model, which examines the influence of diverse social influences on health. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the univariate relationship between PCP density and diabetes prevalence, as well as the multivariate relationship between PCP density and diabetes prevalence with physical inactivity prevalence, obesity prevalence, and social vulnerability scores held constant. This study also accounted for state-level differences in diabetes prevalence through fixed-level state effects. The initial univariate analysis yielded no significant relationship. The final multivariate regression yielded a statistically significant relationship in a model that better fit the data—as seen by p values <0.001 and information criteria decreases from 12,538.67 to 11,099.72 (AIC) and 12,538.67 to 11,099.72 (BIC). In this final multivariate regression, a 1% increase in primary care provider density was associated with a 0.0019% decrease in diabetes prevalence. Meanwhile, a 1%- or 1-point increase in physical inactivity prevalence, obesity prevalence, and social vulnerability scores led to 0.20%, 0.06%, and 0.14% increases in diabetes prevalence respectively. These findings highlight the value of social ecological factors in diabetes research, as well as the increased need for evidence-based diabetes prevention in primary care, including strategies that target personal, community, and public health policy factors related to diabetes.

Most adolescents and young adults who experience psychological distress do not seek professional help. This study aims to enhance the understanding of sociodemographic, psychological, and clinical characteristics associated with the underuse of health services by adolescents and young adults with mental disorders. Data from a cross-sectional, epidemiological study with a population-based sample (N = 1180 participants, 14–21 years old) were used. Participants completed a fully standardized, computer-assisted diagnostic interview (DIA-X-5/D-CIDI) administered by trained clinical interviewers to assess lifetime mental disorders according to DSM-5 as well as lifetime health service use for mental health problems, and completed self-report questionnaires to assess various psychological variables (e.g., stigma). Predictors of health service use were examined using univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses, data were weighted for age and sex to improve representativeness Of n = 597 participants with any lifetime mental disorder, 32.4% [95% CI 28.4; 36.7] had ever used any health services because of a mental health, psychosomatic, or substance use problem. Even less had received psychotherapeutic or pharmacological treatment (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: 12.1% [9.5; 15.2]; other psychotherapy: 10.7% [8.4; 13.7]; medication: 5.4% [3.7; 7.8]). High education was associated with less health service use (low/ middle/ other vs. high education: 53.8% vs. 26.9%; OR = 0.26, p < .001). In the multiple regression model, stigma toward mental disorders was the single psychological variable associated with a reduced likelihood of using health services (OR = 0.69 [0.52; 0.90], p < .01). These findings draw attention to the treatment gap for mental disorders during adolescence and highlight related factors to be addressed in public health contexts.

No / Tapered concrete filled double skin steel tubular (CFDST) columns have been used in China for structures such as electricity transmission towers. In practice, the bearing capacity related to the connection details on the top of the column is not fully understood. In this paper, the experimental behaviour of tapered CFDST stub columns subjected to axial partial compression is reported, sixteen specimens with top endplate and ten specimens without top endplate were tested. The test parameters included: (1) tapered angle, (2) top endplate thickness, and (3) partial compression area ratio. Test results show that the tapered CFDST stub columns under axial partial compression behaved in a ductile manner. The axial partial compressive behaviour and the failure modes of the tapered CFDST stub columns were significantly influenced by the parameters investigated. Finally, a simple formula for predicting the cross-sectional capacity of the tapered CFDST sections under axial partial compression is proposed.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2010. / Objective: Majority of studies to date have focused on injury profiles and types of injuries in rugby, without looking at the risk factors associated and the management of these injuries. It was thus the aim of this study to determine the risk factors and management of rugby injuries in the greater Durban area. Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional based study, using a self-administered questionnaire, developed specifically for this research utilizing a focus group and pilot study. The questionnaire details a patient injury history, rugby history, resources, management, coaching and training parameters. Letters of informed consent and the questionnaire were distributed to 300 players / coaches for completion and data was analysed using Pearson’s correlation and t-tests. Results: A response rate of 70% (n=210) was achieved. Selected risk factors were found to be significantly related to current and / or previous injury. New risk factors which did significantly impact injury, were also determined. Conclusion: It is advised that coaches and players take note of significant injury risk factors and management protocols in order to improve player health and decrease injury risk. Further research may look into the factors identified in order to set up better structures in order to prevent further injuries.

Denna uppsats försöker besvara frågan: Vad förklarar skillnader i trångboddhet mellan OECD:s medlemsländer? Detta görs genom tvärsnittsstudie där jag analyserar vilken effekt faktorerna Hyresreglering, Reglering av byggbranschen, Demografiska förändringar, Styrande regeringsparti och Välstånd har på Trångboddheten. Tjugonio av OECD:s medlemsländer har tagits med i analysen. Med hjälp av en multipel linjär regression baserat på observationsdata från variablerna presenteras resultaten. Slutsatserna är att Reglering av byggbranschen och Välstånd har störst effekt på Trångboddheten. / This paper attempts to answer the research question: What explains the differences in housing density between the members of the OECD? This is done by a cross-sectional study in which I analyze the impact of rent regulation, regulation of the construction industry, demographic changes, executive government party and wealth has on the dependent variable housing density. Twenty-nine of the OECD members have been included in the analysis. The paper is using a multiple linear regression to analyze the results. The conclusions are that the regulation of the construction industry and wealth has the greatest effect on housing density.

Contexte: Le diabète de type 2 est un problème de santé publique important. La pratique régulière de l’activité physique contribue à la prévention de cette maladie chronique. Toutefois, peu de recherches portent sur l’association entre l’activité physique de transport, notamment la marche utilitaire, et le diabète. Objectif : L’objectif de cette étude est d’examiner l’association entre la présence d’un diagnostic de diabète de type 2 et les pratiques de marche utilitaire dans un échantillon transversal. Méthode : Cette étude est une analyse secondaire de données provenant d’un projet de recherche sur l’implantation d’un système de vélos libre-service. 7012 adultes ont été recrutés par téléphone au printemps 2009, à l’automne 2009 et à l’automne 2010. La marche utilitaire a été mesurée en utilisant des questions adaptées du International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). L’association entre la marche utilitaire et le diabète auto-rapporté a été examinée au moyen d’analyses de régression logistique multivariées. L’influence des variables socio- démographiques, du niveau d’activité physique autre et de l’indice de masse corporelle a été contrôlée. Des analyses de sensibilité ont aussi été faites, utilisant un seuil différent pour le temps de marche utilitaire. Résultats : Dans le modèle final, la marche utilitaire est associée à une prévalence du diabète plus faible (RC=0,721; IC 95% : 0,547-0,950). Conclusion: La pratique de la marche utilitaire est associée à une prévalence plus faible de diabète auto-rapporté. La promotion de ce type d’activité physique aurait sa place dans la prévention du diabète dans une perspective de santé publique. / Background: Type 2 diabetes is an important public health problem. Regular involvement in physical activity contributes to the prevention of this chronic disease. However, limited research has examined associations between transportation physical activity, especially utilitarian walking, and diabetes. Purpose: To examine the association between utilitarian walking and the prevalence of diabetes in a cross-sectional sample. Methods: Secondary analysis of data from a research project on the reach and potential impact of the implementation of a public bicycle share program was conducted. A sample of 7012 adults were recruited to telephone surveys in spring 2009, fall 2009, and fall 2010 via random-digit dialing with oversampling in locations where the public bike share was available. Utilitarian walking was estimated using questions adapted from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Multivariable logistic regression models examined the association between utilitarian walking and diabetes. The influence of socio- demographic covariates, involvement in other physical activities, and body mass index were controlled and sensitivity analyses were performed. Sensitivity analyses were performed using a different cut-off for utilitarian walking time. Results: In final models, utilitarian walking was associated with a lower likelihood of self-reporting diabetes (OR=0.721; 95% CI: 0.547, 0.950). Conclusion: Adoption of utilitarian walking is associated with a lower likelihood of reporting diabetes. Replication of these results in longitudinal studies could have implications for strategies to encourage people to incorporate more walking into their daily routine.

In biomechanical analyses, the position of long bone cross-section under study is defined relatively to biomechanical length (BML) of the bone. In damaged bones where BML can not be measured, the position of the cross-section has to be estimated. Sládek et al. (2010) studied the effect of inaccurately located femoral and tibial midshafts on the cross-sectional parameters in a pooled-sex sample from a single period. In the present study we aim to test whether the effect of inaccurately located femoral and tibial midshafts on the cross-sectional parameters is sample-specific and/or sex-specific. We used femora of 29 females and 25 males and tibiae of 24 females and 36 males from two different periods (Late Eneolithic and Early Bronze Age; early modern period). 29 cross-section CT scans per bone obtained at each 1% interval from 40% to 60% of BML and at each 5% interval from 20-40% and 60-80% of BML were available to us. We digitized the cross-section scans and computed the error ranges of the cross-sectional parameters. We compared the mean percentage difference (MD%) and mean accuracy range (MAR) between samples and sexes. Our results are in concordance with the results of Sladek et al. (2010): the cross-sectional parameters most sensitive to positioning error are tibial second moments of area (MAR...

This thesis examines inter-industry wage differentials in the Czech Republic, using the European Union - Statistics on Income and Living (EU-SILC 2009) survey as our primary data source. Findings show that even after controlling for large number of workers and jobs characteristics wage differences based on industry affiliation still persist. The variation of the inter-industry wage differentials amounts to approximately 5 percent with the maximum wage level difference of 25 percent between the financial sector and agriculture. By applying two distinct methodologies we tested the hypothesis that the inter-industry wage differentials are actually caused by higher concentration of workers with better unmeasured abilities in higher-paying industries. Neither of the two methods rejected the unobserved ability hypothesis. Finally, our analysis also shows that the inter-industry wage differentials can be to a certain extent attributed to rent-sharing and different labour turnover costs across sectors.