Little is known about time to return to work (TRTW) following planned medical events. This study was a secondary analysis (n=94) to determine predictors of time to return to work following a total knee replacement for osteoarthritis. Significant predictors of delayed TRTW following a knee replacement: 1) use of workplace modifications (in 6wks vs 5 wks) and 2) poor physical function (in 7wks vs 6 wks). These findings have large implications for workers undergoing knee replacement, orthopedic clinicians, and occupational health nurses.

Metal implants are a type of hard tissue replacement currently used. Metals used for implants include: stainless steel, titanium, chrome, and cobalt alloys. Such implants often fail at the interface with bone. Metal implants fail when the surface of the implant is coated with an osteoconductive material. An osteoconductive material provides scaffolding for cellular migration, cellular attachment, and cellular distribution. A reason for metal implant failure could be the vastly different material properties than bone. Motivation for the research was to find a suitable bone substitute other than metal. Materials considered were: zirconia toughened alumina, carbon fiber reinforced epoxy, and glass fiber reinforced epoxy. Those materials have been used in previous biological applications and can be cast into complex configurations. Objectives of the study were to compare material properties of the composites to bone. A method to create porosity was then tested in the material that was similar to bone in critical material property. Some of the materials were statistically similar to bone in yield strength. Method to create interconnected porosity in those materials resulted in 49% void space.

How do people make use of emojis in their daily computer-mediated communication? In order to obtain data, a sampling methodology was implemented in which data from 15 female and 15 male participants was used to provide reports on the differences in preference and functions of emoji usage across genders. The study found that in variety and in total, males tend to select a greater amount of emojis, in comparison to females. The participants’ reasons for using emojis in instant messages varied across the two gender groups, females focused on illustrating a state of emotion while the males focused on emphasizing a message. This partially corresponded with previous studies. The study also found that the males replace words with emojis because it is easy, fun or quick, and in order to illustrate a state of emotion, while females do not prefer to replace words with emojis. In accordance with previous findings, this study shows that in general, people prefer using emojis to complement rather than to replace words. All of the males in this study tend to make use of emojis in order to complement words, while there was a low amount of females who do not use emojis for the purpose of complementing.

隨著人口結構變遷(高齡化)，我國老年退休後的所得維持保障已日趨重要 ，各國對於工業化所產生的職業傷害、疾病、失業和老年等社會風險，大 都建立社會安全制度加以保障，目前我國尚未有全民性的退休制度，但對 於既存的退休維持體系，本文認為有必要加以全面性的探討，根據 Esping-Andersen對福利國家階層化的分析，指出社會安全制度本身已成 為社會階層化的體系，即不平等的根源，因此，本文企圖從平等和階層化 的觀點來分析我國老年退休所得維持體系。本文主要探討對象著重在公務 人員和勞工之退休所得維持體系，至於軍人和私立學校等退休所得維持體 系，因資料取得困難，則不加以探討。本文之分析架構分為二部分，第一 、退休所得維持體系之制度建構分析，第二、分別探討目前公務人員(狹 義的依公務人員任用法任用之公務人員)和勞工所得維持體系制度面設計 最高法定給付之所得替代率，及執行面之實際所得替代率進行統計分析及 推估。本研究結果重點如下：一、公務人員退休所得維持體系之立法特性 與階層化由歷史分析得知，公保之建制強調其為官吏人事制度，立法定位 不同於一般保險，在第二層相關退休辦法和第三層優惠存款所得保障出現 階層化現象。二、公務人員(狹義的)退休所得維持方案在制度設計上，三 層所得保障下，最高法定給付之所得替代率已達98.79\%(一次退休 金)90.70\%(月退休金)，實際給付面已相當落實，所得替代率達86.75\% ，而新制公務人員退休法施行後，公務人員所得替代率將大幅提高，所得 替率高達128. 32\%(一次退休金)或108.70\%，將加深其不平等的程度。 三、勞工退休所得維持方案之階層化一般勞工只有勞保老年給付，僅有部 分勞工可享有第二層退休所得保障，即適用勞基法的勞工，因此出現勞工 間的階層化。實際執行上，因薪資以多報少問題嚴重，平均所得替代率只 有14.31\%；而有雙重保障部分的勞工，平均所得替代率43.85\%。四 、 勞基法退休給付執行面之階層化效果根據本研究發現企業別與退休給付之 間產生了一階層化效果，除公營事業單位和大型民營企業外，大多數勞工 無法領到勞基法所規定之退休金，不論在給付件數上(詳見表6.3)，或給 付額度上(詳見表6.4)，小規模的企業都無法落實。性別與退休給付間亦 產生了階層化效果，在給付件數上，女性只佔15\%左右，其餘高達85\%皆 為男性。 /

<p>Forskning har påvisat ett samband mellan personer med neuropsykiatriska funktionshinder och kriminalitet. Aggression Replacement Training (ART) som förebyggande arbete har visat sig vara effektivt i syfte att reducera brottslighet. Tillämpning av metoden är dock inte vanlig avseende personer med neuropsykiatriska funktionshinder varför det inte finns mycket forsk-ning på området.</p><p>Syftet var att utifrån systemteori med fokus på Bronfenbrenners socialekologiska modell samt kognitiva behavioristiska teorier och social inlärningsteori teori beskriva och studera den ART- träning som ingår i grundsärskolans undervisning på Engelbrektskolan i Örebro kom-mun. Utifrån att en ny målgrupp med särskilda behov har identifierats är det angeläget att erhålla information om metodens eventuella effektivitet.</p><p>Författarna har valt att basera det empiriska materialet på kvalitativa intervjuer. I avsnittet empiri presenteras relevant material kring ART-träningen på Engelbrektsskolan. Fokus ligger på skolpersonalens upplevelser av eventuella effekter.</p><p>I analysavsnittet har författarna kopplat samman teori med empiri i syfte att producera ny kunskap. Konstateras kan att ART har haft vissa effekter, exempelvis avseende barnens för-måga att lösa problem verbalt.</p>

<p>Sweden has one of the highest incidences of osteoporotic fractures in the world. A more sedentary lifestyle is one of several proposed reasons for the increase in osteoporosis seen in the developed countries. The aim of this thesis was primarily to study the influence of muscle strength, and body composition, on bone mineral density, BMD, in young adults. The second aim was to evaluate the possible influence of estrogen on muscle strength in women.</p><p>A population-based study of 113 subjects (53 men and 60 women) aged 22-85 showed associations for premenopausal, but not postmenopausal women, between isometric quadriceps muscle strength and BMD in the total body, lumbar spine, and femoral neck. In men there was only an association between muscle strength and BMD in the total body. Another population-based study of 125 randomly selected young adults (64 women and 61 men) showed that total body BMD, TBMD, is influenced by isokinetic knee flexion and extension strength in women but not in men where body composition influenced TBMD. In 159 randomly selected young adult women (20-39 years) knee flexion and extension strength influenced not only TBMD but also total hip BMD, and heel BMD. However, lean body mass and body weight were better predictors for BMD at these skeletal sites. An extension of this study involving 335 women again demonstrated that lean body mass is the best predictor of BMD. This study also showed that Uppsala women aged 20-39 years have a BMD that is approximately 0.1-1.2 SD (2-12 %) above international/national references. In addition marked variations in BMD T-scores between various skeletal sites were noted. </p><p><i>In Conclusion: </i>The association between muscle strength and BMD is evident in women in their early twenties but with age lean body mass and body weight becomes better predictors for BMD. In men lean body mass and body composition but not muscle strength predicted BMD. Hormone replacement therapy does not influence muscle strength and there is no association between allelic variations in the estrogen receptor alpha and muscle strength in women.</p>

Displaced femoral neck fractures comprise more than a third of all hip fractures. There is controversy as to the optimal treatment. Despite attempts to improve the methods for internal fixation, complication rates have been almost unchanged: 20-40% non-union and late segmental collapse in another 10-20%. Internal fixation has been the preferred treatment in Scandinavia, whereas primary hemi- or total arthroplasty have been more prevalent in the rest of Europe and North America. In this study, patients 75 years or older, including those with mental impairment, were randomized to either internal fixation or cemented primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). A total of 146 hips in 143 patients were followed for two years. After one year 23% had died, and after two years 29%. Mortality was about the same in both groups. The accumulated mortality was pronounced among the mentally impaired patients. In the internal fixation group, 44% underwent further surgery. In the THA group, 18% dislocated. The dislocation rate was higher for the mentally impaired patients. The Harris hip scores were higher in the THA group, whereas pain was more common in the internal fixation group. The first 50 patients in each treatment group were studied concerning heterotopic ossification (HO), a well-known complication after THA. The incidence of HO in the THA group was similar to what is found after THA due to osteoarthritis. However, only 1/39 developed severe symptoms. A subgroup of 100 patients was included in a study concerning nutritional status and functional capacity using the Modified Norton scale, Katz index of ADL and a questionnaire measuring instrumental activities of daily living. The THA group fared better concerning weight change over time, locomotion and pain. The nutritional intervention did not show any measurable effects. All patients were followed until two years postoperatively and all fracturerelated hospital costs, including reoperations, were calculated. We found no difference in total costs between the treatment groups. Costs to the municipality were calculated comparing the baseline cost before surgery with the average cost per month during the first postoperative year. No difference was found between the treatment groups. On the basis of our results, we recommend arthroplasty for patients in this age group with normal mental function and high functional demands.

Most of the blood transfusion facilities had adequate space, but lacked some of the basic equipment. Blood collected in these facilities was not adequate to meet the blood needs of the regions. These facilities lacked specialised personnel and some of those practicing blood transfusion were not conversant with blood groups, transfusion reactions and the measures to be taken if a reaction occurs. The findings of this study will be used to strengthen blood transfusion services in these hard to reach regions.

Sweden has one of the highest incidences of osteoporotic fractures in the world. A more sedentary lifestyle is one of several proposed reasons for the increase in osteoporosis seen in the developed countries. The aim of this thesis was primarily to study the influence of muscle strength, and body composition, on bone mineral density, BMD, in young adults. The second aim was to evaluate the possible influence of estrogen on muscle strength in women. A population-based study of 113 subjects (53 men and 60 women) aged 22-85 showed associations for premenopausal, but not postmenopausal women, between isometric quadriceps muscle strength and BMD in the total body, lumbar spine, and femoral neck. In men there was only an association between muscle strength and BMD in the total body. Another population-based study of 125 randomly selected young adults (64 women and 61 men) showed that total body BMD, TBMD, is influenced by isokinetic knee flexion and extension strength in women but not in men where body composition influenced TBMD. In 159 randomly selected young adult women (20-39 years) knee flexion and extension strength influenced not only TBMD but also total hip BMD, and heel BMD. However, lean body mass and body weight were better predictors for BMD at these skeletal sites. An extension of this study involving 335 women again demonstrated that lean body mass is the best predictor of BMD. This study also showed that Uppsala women aged 20-39 years have a BMD that is approximately 0.1-1.2 SD (2-12 %) above international/national references. In addition marked variations in BMD T-scores between various skeletal sites were noted. In Conclusion: The association between muscle strength and BMD is evident in women in their early twenties but with age lean body mass and body weight becomes better predictors for BMD. In men lean body mass and body composition but not muscle strength predicted BMD. Hormone replacement therapy does not influence muscle strength and there is no association between allelic variations in the estrogen receptor alpha and muscle strength in women.

Forskning har påvisat ett samband mellan personer med neuropsykiatriska funktionshinder och kriminalitet. Aggression Replacement Training (ART) som förebyggande arbete har visat sig vara effektivt i syfte att reducera brottslighet. Tillämpning av metoden är dock inte vanlig avseende personer med neuropsykiatriska funktionshinder varför det inte finns mycket forsk-ning på området. Syftet var att utifrån systemteori med fokus på Bronfenbrenners socialekologiska modell samt kognitiva behavioristiska teorier och social inlärningsteori teori beskriva och studera den ART- träning som ingår i grundsärskolans undervisning på Engelbrektskolan i Örebro kom-mun. Utifrån att en ny målgrupp med särskilda behov har identifierats är det angeläget att erhålla information om metodens eventuella effektivitet. Författarna har valt att basera det empiriska materialet på kvalitativa intervjuer. I avsnittet empiri presenteras relevant material kring ART-träningen på Engelbrektsskolan. Fokus ligger på skolpersonalens upplevelser av eventuella effekter. I analysavsnittet har författarna kopplat samman teori med empiri i syfte att producera ny kunskap. Konstateras kan att ART har haft vissa effekter, exempelvis avseende barnens för-måga att lösa problem verbalt.