Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Although complex phenomena such as oral diseases can be studied using generalizable conceptual frameworks, the differences in the underlying influences across countries necessitate adaptation of existing oral health frameworks to the specific conditions in each country. The aim of this dissertation was to investigate distal (indirect) and proximal (direct) influences of oral health and their interactions with both self-reported oral pain (OP) and self-rated oral health status (SROH) in Saudi Arabia (SA). Two secondary data analyses were conducted utilizing data from the national demographic and health survey (DHS) of SA in 2017. The objective of the first study was to describe the study design, and the distal and proximal influences reported in the 2017 SA DHS. The objective of second study was to explore associations between proximal and distal factors that affect OP and SROH, using the adapted framework. Path analysis modeling was used to estimate direct, indirect, and total effects. The 2017 SA DHS used an innovative multistage stratified random-sampling technique to select the population sample by using primary health care centers’ catchment areas as the primary sampling unit. The final analysis included 29,274 adults, 9910 adolescents, and 11653 children. OP in the past year was experienced in 39% in children and, 48.5% for the adolescents, and 47.1% in adults. The proportion of respondents who reported good, very good, or excellent self-rated oral health status was 92.9 % in children, 87.1% in both adolescents and adults. In children group, OP was linked to less tooth brushing, more dental visits and less dental routine examination, while less favorable SROH was linked to less tooth brushing, more dental visits and sweets consumption. In adolescents and adults groups, OP and less favorable SROH were linked to more dental visits, complaint dental visits, less tooth brushing. Many distal influences showed significant effects (direct, indirect, and total) on OP and SROH; however, differences existed among the three age groups. The studies suggest that future investigations should focus on why Saudi residents perceive their oral health positively while the prevalence of negative oral health influences and OP was high.

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Yes / Recent research on health inequalities moves beyond illustrating the importance of psychosocial factors for health to a more in-depth study of the specific psychosocial pathways involved. Social capital is a concept that captures both a buffer function of the social environment on health, as well as potential negative effects arising from social inequality and exclusion. This systematic review assesses the current evidence, and identifies gaps in knowledge, on the associations and interactions between social capital and socioeconomic inequalities in health. Through this systematic review we identified studies on the interactions between social capital and socioeconomic inequalities in health published before July 2012. The literature search resulted in 618 studies after removal of duplicates, of which 60 studies were eligible for analysis. Self-reported measures of health were most frequently used, together with different bonding, bridging and linking components of social capital. A large majority, 56 studies, confirmed a correlation between social capital and socioeconomic inequalities in health. Twelve studies reported that social capital might buffer negative health effects of low socioeconomic status and five studies concluded that social capital has a stronger positive effect on health for people with a lower socioeconomic status. There is evidence for both a buffer effect and a dependency effect of social capital on socioeconomic inequalities in health, although the studies that assess these interactions are limited in number. More evidence is needed, as identified hypotheses have implications for community action and for action on the structural causes of social inequalities.

Teachers’ work-related health has worsened in Sweden, seen in the rising number of teachers who are stressed, unmotivated and that have left work or are on sick leave (The Swedish National Agency for Education, 2013; Månsson, 2008). The thesis’s aim was to explore the relation between health, personal coping and job stress. As proposed by Antonovsky (1979; 1987), sense of coherence (SOC) was used as an important individual approach for Salutogenesis; health maintenance. Health was measured as self-reported health and job stress according to the demand-control model (DCM) by Karasek (1979). Data came from the Teacher survey, a questionnaire part of a larger research project based at the Centre for Health and Equity Studies, Stockholm University/Karolinska Institutet, focused on school environment and health for pupils and teachers. The analytical sample consisted of teachers teaching 7-9th grade (n=1092), from both private and public schools. Results indicate an association for SOC and DCM independently with self-rated health, as well as a strong role for SOC in decreasing the odds of having less than good health due to psychosocial working conditions, especially for teachers who perceive their jobs as highly demanding.

While recent publications indicate that employees in human service professions have higher risk of sickness absence and mental ill-health, little is known about the association with other health outcomes and possible mechanisms behind the differential risk. This study investigates differences in burnout, self-rated health and sickness absence between those in human service professions and other professions and examines whether differences in psychosocial and organizational work environment can explain possible variations. Data were derived from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH), an approximately representative sample of the Swedish working population (n=4486). Results from binary logistic regressions suggested that those in human service professions had higher odds of burnout and sickness absence those in other professions. Differences in burnout were explained by background variables while differences in sickness absence were explained by psychosocial and organizational work factors. Employees in human service professions had lower odds of suboptimal self-rated health than others in the fully adjusted model. Women were at higher risk of burnout, sickness absence, and all adverse psychosocial and organizational work environment factors except social support. Future studies should investigate the most crucial psychosocial and organizational work factors in human service professions with the objective to improve employee health.

Self-reported health depends on the internal frame of reference and on response styles. One way of studying this dependency is using anchoring vignettes. Response shift effects are assumed to induce a negative correlation between self-reported health and the health assessments attributed to the vignettes. Method: A representative sample of the German adult population (N = 2,409) was selected. Participants were asked to rate their health state and the health states of two rather complex vignettes representing patients with several health complaints on a 0-100 scale. Results: The mean score of self-assessed health was M = 76.20 (SD = 20.6). There was a very small positive correlation between the assessment of the vignettes and the self-assessed health state (r = .12). After controlling for a proxy of objective health, measured in terms of chronic conditions, the relationship remained slightly positive. Chronic conditions were only marginally associated with the assessments of the vignettes (0 conditions: M = 44.8; ≥ 2 conditions: M = 42.2). Conclusions: The lack of the postulated association between self-reported health and vignettes’ ratings means that we cannot derive tools to correct the subjective ratings for differential use of frames of reference.

Darbe atlikti trifazio asinchroninio generatoriaus, sujungto pagal nepriklausomo žadinimo ir pagal susižadinimo schemas, prie įvairių apkrovų eksperimentiniai tyrimai. Pateikti šių tyrimų bei skaičiavimų rezultatai, atlikta jų analizė. Asinchroninio generatoriaus, dirbančio pagal nepriklausomo žadinimo schemą, tyrimų rezultatai rodo, kad jo energetiniai rodikliai nedaug mažesni už nurodytuosius variklio rodiklius. Generatoriaus apvijomis tekant nurodytajai srovei In = 4,7 A, jo atiduodama į tinklą aktyvioji galia P2 = 2,6 kW yra 18,18 % didesnė už nurodytąją variklio galią Pn = 2,2 kW. Asinchroninio generatoriaus, dirbančio pagal susižadinimo schemą esant pastoviam jo sukimo greičiui (n = const) ir kondensatorių talpai (C = = const), tyrimai rodo, kad šio generatoriaus energetiniai rodikliai yra ženkliai mažesni už nurodytuosius variklio rodiklius. Didėjant generatoriaus apkrovai gana sparčiai mažėja jo fazinė įtampa. Generatoriaus didžiausia apkrovos srovė I1 = 2,68 A, kuri buvo išmatuota esant sukimo greičiui n = 2000 min-1 = const ir kondensatorių talpai C = 120 μF = const, yra 43 % mažesnė už nurodytąją variklio srovę. Todėl galima teigti, kad asinchroninis generatorius, dirbantis pagal susižadinimo schemą, nebus pilnai išnaudotas. Atlikti tyrimai rodo, kad asinchroninį generatorių, dirbantį pagal susižadinimo schemą, galima daugiau apkrauti didinant jo įtampą. Kad tai pasiekti, reikia, didinant generatoriaus apkrovą, atitinkamai didinti jo sukimo greitį arba (ir)... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The present work presents an experimental research of a three-phase induction generator which was connected using separate excitation and self-excitation schemes under various loads. The results of the research and the calculations are provided and analyzed. The research results obtained from the separately excited induction generator show that its energetic indicators are not significantly lower than the provided motor indicators. When the rated current In = 4,7 A flows through the windings of the generator, its released active power P2 = 2,6 kW is greater than the rated motor power Pn = 2,2 kW by 18,18 %. The research on a self-excited induction generator with a constant revolution speed (n = const) and capacity of its capacitors (C = const) shows that the energetic indicators of this generator are of significantly lower values than the provided motor indicators. When the load of the generator is increased, its phase voltage decreases rather rapidly. The maximum load current I1 = 2,68 A of the generator was measured under the following conditions: the rotational speed n = 2000 min-1 = const and the capacity of the capacitors C = 120 μF = const. The results showed that it was 43 % less than the rated motor current. Therefore, it can be concluded that a self-excited induction generator will not be exploited to its full capacity. The carried out research shows that it is possible to increase the load of a self-excited induction generator by increasing its voltage. It is... [to full text]

Background: While there are many positive benefits of social media, studies have shown that the use of certain types such as Facebook and Instagram may have negative health outcomes for young people including depression and eating disorders. Not much however is known about the impact of frequent exposure to Facebook and Instagram on health outcomes such as self-rated health and body fixation.   Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate if there is an association between the frequent use of social media and self-rated health as well as body fixation among young adults between the ages of 18-25 years.   Design and method: This study was a cross-sectional study using questionnaires anonymously answered via Facebook. There were 65 respondents in the survey. The analysis was performed by using descriptive statistics and chi-test in SPSS.   Results: A larger proportion of those who frequently use social media had poorer self-rated health and more body fixation. After completing chi-squared tests, no statistically significant relationship was found for frequent use of social media and body fixation (p=0,164).   Conclusion: Frequent use of social media specifically Facebook and Instagram, has no statistically significant association with body fixation and Self-rated health. / Bakgrund: Det finns många positiva effekter av sociala medier, dock har studier visat att användningen av vissa typer såsom Facebook och Instagram kan ha negativa hälsoutfall för ungdomar, inklusive depression och ätstörningar. Inte mycket är dock känt om effekterna av frekvent exponering för Facebook och Instagram på hälsoresultat som självskattad hälsa och kroppsfixering. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka om det finns ett samband mellan den frekventa användningen av sociala medier och självskattad hälsa samt kroppsfixering bland unga vuxna i åldrarna 18-25 år.   Design och metod: Denna studie var en tvärsnittsstudie som med hjälp av enkäter anonymt besvaras via Facebook. Det fanns 65 respondenter i undersökningen. Analysen genomfördes med hjälp av beskrivande statistik och chi-test i SPSS. Resultat: En större andel av dem som ofta använder sociala medier hade sämre självskattad hälsa och mer kroppsfixering. Efter chitvå-test utförts har inget statistiskt signifikant samband konstaterades för frekvent användning av sociala medier och kroppsfixering (p=0,164). Slutsats: Sociala medier har inget samband med självskattad hälsa och kroppsfixering.

Il rating creditizio è un elemento molto importante per le imprese in quanto ha impatto, ad esempio, sul costo del capitale (Bhojraj and Sengupta, 2003; Campbell and Taksler, 2003), sul prezzo delle azioni e dei titoli obbligazionari (Dichev and Piotroski, 2001; Hand et al., 1992). Anche le imprese che ottengono il rating per la prima volta, tipicamente soggetti di dimensioni più piccole e con una storia più recente, hanno molto interesse per il rating. Nel principale contributo della mia tesi (“Is Indebtedness always negative for Credit Ratings? Empirical evidence on Newly Rated Firms”), misuro empiricamente, per il periodo dal 1985 al 2013, se i soggetti che hanno ottenuto un rating per la prima volta ottengono una valutazione differente rispetto agli altri operatori. Dalle mie analisi emerge che i soggetti che hanno ottenuto un rating per la prima volta ottengono valutazioni lievemente più negative rispetto agli altri operatori ma, sorprendentemente, emerge che coloro che hanno un maggiore indebitamento hanno delle valutazioni migliori. Negli altri due articoli della mia tesi sviluppo ulteriori analisi sui rating. Nel primo articolo (“Credit Rating Agencies: a Review of Recent Academic Studies and Key Practical Implications”), presento una sistematizzazione della letteratura accademica sui rating e sulle agenzie di rating. Nel secondo articolo (“The Dynamics of Credit Rating Standards”), esamino se le agenzie di rating hanno modificato i propri standards nel corso del tempo. / Firms care deeply about their credit ratings, since ratings influence, for instance, firm’s cost of capital (Bhojraj and Sengupta, 2003; Campbell and Taksler, 2003), bond and stock market prices (Dichev and Piotroski, 2001; Hand et al., 1992). This is also true for newly rated firms, typically smaller, in a younger stage of their life cycle and with a shorter track record compared with other issuers to show to the external financial stakeholders. In the main paper of my thesis (“Is Indebtedness always negative for Credit Ratings? Empirical evidence on Newly Rated Firms”), I test the impact of being newly rated firms on credit ratings over the period from 1985 to 2013. I report a negative but pretty low effect on rating outcome for the entire sample of newly rated firms but, surprisingly, I find a strong positive relation between highly levered firms and credit rating. I develop additional research on credit rating in the other two papers of my thesis. In the first paper (“Credit Rating Agencies: a Review of Recent Academic Studies and Key Practical Implications”), I present a systematization of the latest academic contributions on credit ratings and credit rating agencies. In the second paper (“The Dynamics of Credit Rating Standards”), I examine long-term issuer credit ratings and I focus on the time variable to study how credit rating agencies have modified their standards over years.