The term 'hard to reach' first appeared in the Health Visiting Review (Lowe 2007). This review claimed that the health visiting service was able and experienced in reaching the 'hard to reach'. Yet there was a dearth of health visiting literature on what this concept meant and how it was interpreted in practice. A wide literature review was undertaken which examined government child health policies on reducing health inequalities and how the targeting of services to meet the needs of 'vulnerable', 'disadvantaged' or 'hard to reach' families had developed. The literature review identified how the concept of risk in relation to child health promotion had been defined and redefined since the 1970s. The latest shift involved the identification of 'new social risks' and the promotion of early intervention to prevent social exclusion and health inequalities. At the time of the study's inception, health visiting was a service both in decline and under threat. In contrast, the development of new early intervention programmes such as Sure Start (National Evaluation of Sure Start 2005), On Track (Doherty et al. 2003) and intensive home visiting (Barlow et al. 2005) also led to the critical examination of the concept of 'hard to reach'. In response to the lack of information on the concept of 'hard to reach' in health visiting, I set out to examine critically how Health Visitors (HVs) working in a disadvantaged area conceptualised and operationalised the concept of 'hard to reach'. This qualitative ethnographic case study (Yin 2003), by using research methods of focus groups, participant observation of a Well-Baby Clinic and interviews, gathered perceptions and experiences of HVs and service users. Thematic analysis was guided by Gee's (2005) method of critical discourse analysis and revealed how the term was contested by HV practitioners. It was considered a broad term that in practice could be applied widely and negatively as a label for non-engaging service users; yet themes emerged which also demonstrated how HVs related to and constructed the concept in their day-to-day practices of client engagement. The findings were categorised and a typology was developed in relation to the reach of health visiting within a predominantly deficit model of health. The typology consists of four types, all of which relate to the 'reach' of the health visiting service at the interpersonal level. The first type, the 'easy to reach' client, highlights the diversity of clients: not all clients living within a disadvantaged area were 'hard to reach'. This category also identifies how some clients living within this disadvantaged area developed relationships with HVs. Including the type 'easy to reach' within the typology acknowledges the diversity of clients living within an area of disadvantage, and also the facilitators in HV/Client relationships. The second type identified was the 'emotionally hard to reach' client, and identifies characteristics of clients who had a tentative relationship with the health visiting service. Working with 'emotionally hard to reach' clients involved negotiation and the building of trust at each encounter. The third type, 'physically hard to reach', developed following the identification of a range of barriers that reduced access to vulnerable clients. The fourth type, 'hard to reach services', arose from the findings - and this type relates to barriers created by the organisation of the health visiting service in a disadvantaged area. The typology highlights the importance of both clients' and HVs' engagement in the development of working relationships. It recognises the organisational structures and discourses that act as barriers and facilitators to client engagement. It recommends that health visiting should take the opportunity offered in the Health Visitor Implementation Plan (DH 2011) to develop a health visiting service underpinned with a strengths-based model of public health.

The purpose of the study was to quantify the relative contribution of low back flexibility and hamstring flexibility in the sit and reach test item of the AAHPERD Health Related Fitness Test in order to examine the validity of the sit and reach test. Subjects were 100 female students, 13 to 15 years of age in physical education classes. Hamstring flexibility was measured using the Leighton flexometer. Spinal mobility was measured using a tape measure. The sit and reach test was performed according to instructions given in the AAHPERD Test Manual. Data were analyzed using correlation, linear regression, and multiple regression. Conclusions of the investigation were (1) hamstring flexibility is moderately related to the sit and reach test, (2) low back flexibility has a very small relationship to the sit and reach test, and (3) the sit and reach test is an inadequate measure of low back and hamstring flexibility.

The purpose of this study was to examine the criterion-related validity of the sit and reach test as a measure of hamstring and low back flexibility in adult males and females. Subjects were 52 males and 52 females, 20 to 45 years of age. Hamstring flexibility was measured using a goniometer. Spinal flexibility was measured using a tape measure and an inclinometer. The sit and reach test was performed according to the AAHPERD Health Related Fitness Test Manual. Data were analyzed using correlations and appropriate descriptive statistics. Conclusions of the investigation were: 1) in adult males 20 to 45, the sit and reach test is a valid measure of hamstring flexibility but has questionable validity as a measure of low back flexibility, 2) in adult females 20 to 45, the sit and reach test is a moderately valid measure of hamstring flexibility and is not a valid measure of low back flexibility.

In this thesis we are concerned with representation of random closed sets in Rd with values concentrated on a space UX of locally finite unions of sets from a given class X ⊂ F. We examine existence of their repre- sentations with particle processes on the same space X, which keep invariance to rigid motions, which the initial random set was invariant to. We discuss existence of such representations for selected practically applicable spaces X: we go through the known results for convex sets and introduce new proofs for cases of sets with positive reach and for smooth k-dimensional submanifolds. Beside that we present series of general results related to representation of random UX sets. 1

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / Identifying, countering, andpreventing operational obsolescence is a challenging but vital task for personnel involved in the design, acquisition and support of military equipment. In this thesis, I define the concept of operational obsolescence and show quantitative relationships between modernization funding timelines and operational obsolescence. Only if we truly understand obsolescence can we best combat its onset and effects. I use example data from both legacy and current Army Aviation Systems to draw conclusions about the impacts of particular modernization timelines on the various forms of obsolescence that cause operational obsolescence. I then make recommendations concerning the optimal modernization strategies for current and future aviation systems in order to facilitate the Army's ability to field and sustain the most tactically and logistically superior weapon systems possible. Using first principles, I construct Life Models based on hazard functions for each of the different forms of obsolescence. I then combine these models into an overall model, and discuss the design of a data system to estimate model parameters. / http://hdl.handle.net/10945/998 / Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army

The production of magnetic materials is of great interest for use in the micro-fabrication industry. In particular, Permalloy (Ni80Fe20) is used in the production of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) due to its favourable magnetic properties (high relative permeability, low coercivity and high magnetic saturation). This leads to applications in devices such as inductors, transformers and micro-actuators. The electrodeposition of NiFe is also of fundamental electrochemical interest, as there is anomalous thermodynamic behaviour, with the less noble (iron) metal depositing preferentially to the more noble (nickel) metal. To enable consistent alloy deposition nickel and nickel-iron baths are currently almost exclusively based on boric acid. Boric acid has an important role in the deposition of NiFe films but its role(s) in the electro-deposition mechanism is (are) not wholly understood. Recently (2011) boric acid has been identified as a “substance of very high concern” based on the criteria established by EU chemical regulation, REACH. In anticipation of increased regulation an alternative was sought to provide a benign alternative to boric acid in the NiFe plating bath suitable for use in micro-fabrication. Initial work was performed to benchmark the performance of existing boric acid based electro-deposition baths. Cyclic voltammetry was performed, which demonstrated the deposition of nickel and nickel-iron from boric acid baths. Coulombic efficiencies up to 93 % were measured for the deposition of nickel using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) on platinum electrodes. For nickel-iron deposition control of the film composition was demonstrated on copper electrodes through varying the iron (II) concentration, current density and temperature. A citrate bath for the deposition of nickel-iron was then developed and characterised. Cyclic voltammetry was performed in these citrate baths demonstrating the deposition of nickel and nickel-iron. Optimal conditions for depositing Ni80Fe20 were demonstrated to be an elevated temperature (60 °C) with a current density of 20 mA cm-2 and a pH of 3. Using the EQCM the efficiency for nickel deposition was measured to be > 80 %. The effects of sodium saccharin and sodium dodecyl sulfate as additives were investigated; these were shown to influence morphology but not the coulombic efficiency. Decreasing the pH was shown to lower the efficiency of nickel deposition from the citrate bath. Comparisons of key properties were made between NiFe films deposited from a boric acid bath and the citrate bath developed in this work. Test structures were used to compare the strain in the films; no significant difference was found. For 2.2 μm thick Ni80Fe20 films the sheet resistance was measured using Greek cross structures as 0.078 ± 0.004 Ω/square for films deposited from the boric acid bath and 0.090 ± 0.006 Ω/square from the citrate bath. The magnetic saturation, Ms, was measured as 895 ± 66 emu cm-3 for deposits from the boric acid bath and 923 ± 111 emu cm-3 from the citrate bath. These again show no significant difference in these values within experimental error. Coercivities for these films were measured to be between 20 and 120 A m-1. In combination, this work demonstrates the development and characterisation of a new citrate based electrodeposition bath for nickel and nickel-iron. Similar chemical, electrical, mechanical and magnetic properties were found from films deposited from both baths, thus demonstrating the suitability of the citrate bath for the deposition of nickel-iron films in microfabrication.

Pipelife Sverige AB, som är en del av Pipelife International, har två fabriker varav en ligger iLjung och en i Ölsremma. Företaget tillverkar plaströr för en mängd olikaanvändningsområden. Rören tillverkas huvudsakligen av termoplasterna PVC(polyvinylklorid, PE (polyeten)och PP (polypropen). Pipelife har i början av 2011 köpt in ettwebbaserat kemikalieregister från företaget Intersolia med namnet iChemistry. Syftet med dethär arbetet är att uppdatera varje kemikalie som företaget använder sig av med informationoch därefter göra riskbedömningar på dessa. Riskbedömningarna innefattar alla kemikaliersom används i Ljung och i Ölsremma, inklusive rengöring och städ.En kemisk riskkälla är något som kan skada hälsan eller orsaka en olycka där orsaken ärkemisk. Alla företag där kemiska riskkällor kan förekomma är skyldiga att riskbedöma dessa.Det finns en stor mängd regler och bestämmelser kring kemiska riskkällor och grunden tilldessa är föreskrifterna om kemiska arbetsmiljörisker: Arbetsmiljöverkets författningssamling(AFS 2011:19). De risker som finns ska undersökas och åtgärder vidtas för att arbetet skakunna utföras säkert. Riskbedömningsprocessen kan beskrivas på följande sätt: förstdokumenteras vilka kemiska riskkällor som finns, vilka kemiska egenskaper de har och vilkaföreskrifter det är som gäller. Därefter ska farliga situationer identifieras och val av åtgärdergöras.Flera myndigheter och förordningar styr hanteringen av kemikalier idag. I EU:skemikalielagstiftning, som upprätthålls av ECHA (European Chemical Agency), ingår Reachsom reglerar kemikalier och deras användning från tillverkare till slutanvändare.Arbetsmiljöverkets uppgift är, utifrån de yttre ramar som riksdagen beslutat, att utforma lagenpå detaljnivå och se till att alla företag tar ansvar och följer arbetsmiljölagen.iChemistry är ett kemikaliehanteringssystem för riskbedömningar som tillhandahålls av ettföretag inom IT-branchen som heter Intersolia. iChemistry REGISTER är den grundläggandenivån som kan byggas på med någon av de mer avancerade varianterna SERVICE,COMPLIENCE eller MANAGER. Arbetet sker via webben och uppkoppling på internetkrävs för att få tillgång till databaserna. Varje företag designar sin egen organisation medlämpligt antal grenar, exempelvis med en gren för varje avdelning och inventerar därefter insina kemikalier. Varje kemikalie har sin egen sida där information om hantering, lagring,skyddsutrustning och riskbedömning görs. Genom att riskbedöma kemikalien utifrån dessriskfraser fås en rättvisande bild av om och hur en kemikalie är farlig.De farligaste kemikalierna har i denna rapport sammanställts i bilaga 2 och Pipelife skallutifrån det här försöka byta ut de farligaste kemikalierna mot mindre farliga eller helt ofarligakemikalier. Nästan 350 kemikalier har riskbedömts och av dessa är det cirka 40 stycken somklassas som farliga för hälsan. De miljöfarliga kemikalierna är något fler, cirka 80 stycken.Resultatet av riskbedömningarna visar att skaderisken är mycket låg. Regler föravfallshantering och arbetstagarnas närhet till iChemistry är omständigheter som bidrar till attPipelife har en bra och förhållandevis säker arbetsmiljö kring sina kemikalier. / Program: Teknologie kandidatexamen i kemi

Tese de Mestre. Engenharia de Segurança e Higiene Ocupacionais. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 2011

Scholars generally agree that having social relationships provides an individual with a sense of psychological well-being. A solid social network can be critical in times of hardship, such as loss or chronic illness. When referring to social networking, the site, Facebook, will be used. In addition, students with disabilities are often stigmatized for their difference from other students and need the support from their perceived networks to maintain psychological well-being. Although much has been written about the relationship between electronic social networking and an individual's well-being, few studies investigated the relationship between disability, social networking and self-esteem. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the relationship between disability, Facebook usage and the self-esteem/well-being of University of Iowa (UI) REACH students. Participants included students with a documented disability (n=56) currently or formerly enrolled in the UI REACH program (a 2-year post-secondary program for students with intellectual and cognitive disabilities). The results of the descriptive correlational analysis, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and the linear regression found one major and one supplemental finding. First, the results indicated that there was not a significant relationship in the amount of Facebook friends UI REACH students had and their reported level of self-esteem. Second, the results of the study indicated that UI REACH students who spent more time on Facebook reported lower self-esteem. Hence, this result was found to be significant. Third, the results indicated that there was not a significant correlation between the overall Facebook Intensity Scale score and self-esteem. In addition, gender was examined by testing the interaction between Facebook Intensity to see if it had a unique effect on self-esteem/well-being. Age was examined alongside gender and Facebook Intensity Scale score to test their independent effects on self-esteem/well-being. The implications of this study are also discussed, since they can benefit post-secondary educators and rehabilitation counseling professionals develop interventions to increase the well-being of students with intellectual and/or cognitive disabilities in transitional programs. Keywords: disability, Facebook, social networking, well-being, self-esteem, UI REACH students

L'environnement et la santé des populations sont devenus des préoccupations majeures aussi bien au niveau national qu'au niveau européen. REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of CHemicals) est un système adopté par l'Union Européenne qui regroupe plus de quarante directives afin d'éliminer et de remplacer les substances chimiques les plus toxiques. Dans ce contexte, la mise en place d'un tel système requiert des méthodes d'analyse robuste, fiables et reproductibles dans le but d'évaluer et de détecter à l'état d'ultra-traces les molécules prioritaires persistantes dans les eaux et les sols.<br />Après avoir ciblé plusieurs substances listées sur l'annexe XVII de REACH, nous avons complété cette sélection par des polluants prioritaires de l'environnement Rhône Alpin tels les pesticides. Ainsi, la méthode d'analyse proposée permet de détecter et de quantifier par CPG-SM et CPL-SM/SM 33 substances (10 alkylphénols, 5 fongicides triazole, 1 fongicide morpholine, <br />1 acaricide pyridazinone, 2 phtalates, bisphénol A, 2 insecticides carbamates, un résidu des pesticides dithiocarbamates, 2 pesticides organophosphorés et 8 organochlorés) dans des matrices environnementales aussi complexes que des effluents et des boues de station épuration. <br />L'extraction des analytes est menée par Extraction sur Phase Solide (SPE) pour les échantillons aqueux et par Extraction par Solvant Accélérée (ASE) qui a été entièrement optimisée par étude statistique des paramètres. Les extraits sont ensuite purifiés de la même manière par SPE. La préparation à la validation de ma méthode nous a permis de confirmer des limites de détection basses comprises entre 7,2 ppt et 1,27 ppb dans les eaux et entre 5 ppb et 1,7 ppm dans les boues/sols