Many Army personnel can be classified as knowledge workers-people who produce not tangible products, but some form of processed or enhanced information. Most Army knowledge workers depend on computer processing to complete their tasks efficiently. However...

What happens to education when the potential it helps realizing in the individual works against the formal purposes of the curriculum? What happens when education becomes a vehicle for its own subversion? As a subject-forming state apparatus working on ideological speciesism, formal education is engaged in both human and animal stratification in service of the capitalist knowledge economy. This seemingly stable condition is however insecured by the animal rights activist as undercover learner and--worker, who enters education and research laboratories under false premises in order to extract the knowledge necessary to dismantle the logic of animal utility on which the scientific-educational apparatus rests. The present article is based on a semi-structured interview with an undercover worker. It draws on a synthesis of critical education and posthumanist theories to configure knowledge creation and subjectification processes in the "negative spaces" of education. The techne of undercover work includes mnemotechnical and prosthetic devices, calculation of risk, and mimetic labor. The article argues that the agenda of the undercover worker generates a multi-strained mimetic complex that composes a parasitic educational subject-assemblage redirecting scientific knowledge away from the animal stratification logic of the knowledge economy into different viral circuits; different lines of flight. It invites a rearticulation of the formal education state apparatus in more indeterminate directions, provoking scientific-educational knowledge-practices to become a catalytic impulse for their own disintegration.

...the Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont...knowledgeable in nuclear fuel cycles...industry and national laboratories. DATES: The...knowledgeable in nuclear fuel cycles...industry and national laboratories, to...

This paper deals with the productivity improvement of knowledge work. The productivity of knowledge work is improved through innovations with knowledge creation. The author points out that knowledge is created through the knowledge worker's mental activity involving the interaction of three important factors, i.e., information, knowledge and insight. Knowledge workers can augment their capability to exploit knowledge and information through their personal learning efforts and/or through access to appropriate external knowledge and information sources. Although importance of sharing information and knowledge has been widely discussed in earlier studies for knowledge management and social networking services, there were only few discussions on the importance of the third factor, insight. The...

The aim of this study was to determine the rationale, methodology, and progress of risk perceptions of laboratory workers in relation to existing prion disease infection control policies in Canadian medical laboratories. This study developed a Web survey that investigated the knowledge, behavior, and attitudes of laboratory staff in order to (1) identify strengths, weaknesses, and gaps of current prion infection prevention and control guidelines and (2) inform the development of national medical lab specific guidelines. The use of qualitative methods to develop a relevant survey is described and future research activities are outlined. Preliminary, qualitative data indicate that, among laboratory staff, there is a high degree of perceived susceptibility toward prion transmission in medical...

At the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) the radiation protection worker aids in protecting personnel and their surrounding environment from the hazards of radiation. These individuals use their technical knowledge, skills, and abilities to survey and monitor various project-related activities. They must also provide guidance in project design, development, and implementation. These combined efforts assure that protective measures are taken in accordance with applicable standards. The ORNL performance-based training program enhances the skills of the worker. The program incorporates job specific information on the diverse facilities and activities monitored with basic fundamentals of radiation protection. Successful completion of this program includes passing both a qualification exam and an on-the-job skills review. This paper details the structure of such a program and explains the strategies taken to reach the program's goals. 4 refs., 2 tabs.

The purpose of this study was to obtain information on the dietary knowledge of primary health care workers and on their ability to apply this knowledge in practice. A total of 128 primary health care workers (53 general practitioners and 61 nurses) in 12 practices and 14 primary care facilitators w...

Leaf-cutting ants of the genus Atta have highly size-polymorphic workers, and size is related to division of labor. We studied trail-following behavior of different-sized workers in a laboratory colony of Atta vollenweideri. For small and large workers, we measured responsiveness and preference to a...

A cross-sectional study was made in 32 haemodialysis units in the the Nile delta, Egypt to evaluate knowledge and practices towards risk of HIV infection by 317 health care workers. Exposure to needle-stick injury was reported by 48.6% in the previous year. Significantly more workers in government units than in private units had good knowledge of bloodborne infections, universal blood precautions and safe disposal of contaminated items, and recognized asymptomatic HIV patients as a risk. Previous training, but not years of experience, influenced knowledge. Despite good knowledge, the performance of health workers was poor for universal blood precautions, and was worse in private haemodialysis units. PMID:17684860

Taking up the body turn in sociology, this paper discusses scientific practices as embodied action from the perspective of Husserl?s phenomenological theory of the ?Body?. Based on ethnographic data on a biology laboratory it will discuss the importance of the scientist?s Body for the performance of scientific activities. Successful researchers have to be skilled workers using their embodied knowledge for the process of tinkering towards the material transformation of their objects for data production. The researcher?s body then is an instrument of measuring as well as a kind of archive of knowing. Their body becomes a disciplined instrument which has its own place and function inside the laboratory. Furthermore, the appresentational apperception of Bodies (Husserl) is being discussed as a...

The garment manufacturing process is a labour intensive task. The workers in this are employed in three different sections namely cutting, stitching and finishing. As these workers perform repetitive tasks throughout the workday, they face several work related problems. The aim of this study was to assess the level of awareness of health problems among garment workers and their attitudes and practices to prevent the same. In a cross-sectional study (n=216) the workers employed in the three sections had high levels of knowledge of the health problems, but the knowledge of personal protective equipment differed by section. More than one half of the workers in all the sections were aware of the benefits of personal protective equipment (PPE), but only a few workers in the cutting section were using PPE. There was a wide gap between their knowledge level and practice with protective devices.   

Abstract in spanish Estudio descriptivo que indagó sobre las condiciones de exposición laboral a agentes químicos (AQ) en trabajadores de un hospital público de Valencia, Venezuela. Participaron 48 trabajadores. Se obtuvo información mediante cuestionario como: datos personales, historia ocupacional, uso de AQ; conocimiento del manejo de riesgos, efectos adversos y disposición de desechos. Se reportaron 16 ocupaciones de 12 áreas de alto riesgo. Emergencia de adultos tuvo 11 trabajado (more) res, seguida por esterilización y laboratorio clínico (7 cada uno), y oncología, 6. Las áreas restantes tenían Abstract in english Descriptive study that identified chemical agents (AQ) use and training on risk management and waste disposal techniques in a public Hospital in Valencia. A questionnaire was answered by 48 workers. Information obtained was: personal data, occupational history, AQ used; knowledge of risk management and waste disposal. There were 16 occupations from 12 ?High Risk? areas. ?Adult emergency? was the one with more workers (11 individuals), followed by ?sterilization? and (more) ?clinical laboratory? (7 each) and oncology (5). The remained areas had less than 8.3% workers. The most used anesthetic agents were: Halothane, Enfluorane and Isofluorane 4.17% each and main antineoplastics used were: Doxorubicin 16.67% and Paclitaxel, 5-Fluoracil and Etoposide, 8.33% each. The most mentioned substances were: alcohol (70.8%) and Chlorine (64.6%). None of the answers regarding knowledge of AQ' risk management and waste disposal was satisfactory. Statistical associations between training and several variables such as age, time in their job and being or not a professional, resulted non-significant. The correlation between training and the knowledge of AQ's management was significant (p

Workers nearing retirement face many important, and often irreversible, choices. We collected detailed demographic and financial literacy data on over 1,500 workers nearing retirement at three large companies to assess how individuals are planning for retirement. Many respondents display limited knowledge and understanding of public and company-provided retirement benefits. Controlling for basic demographics and wealth, we find that misconceptions about eligibility ages and plan generosity influence workers' expected age of retirement. Although retirement-related decisions will affect workers' well-being for the remainder of their lifetimes, many do not possess enough basic financial knowledge to confidently make optimal choices. (JEL J26, J320, J240)

Workers in the salt industry are exposed to direct sunlight, salt dust and contact with brine. To assess their awareness, attitude and practices related to occupational health problems, 205 salt workers were interviewed about health hazards and problems related to their working conditions, usage of protective measures and suggestions for their improvisation. The brine workers had a fair knowledge of their occupational health problems (98.7%), protective measures (100.0%) and their benefits (100.0%) as compared to non brine workers for whom these figures were 89.0%, 85.8% and 78.7% respectively. The brine workers (29.5%) and non brine workers (31.5%) used unconventional measures to prevent contact with salty water, salt dust, raw salt and glare. There was a huge gap between their knowledge and practice with protective devices, though they suggested improvements in protective devices to increase their acceptability.   

Knowledge workers, including Biblical Hebrew computational linguists, should look into the possibilities offered by graphical visualisation technigues to allow explorative investigation of available linguistic data, since this may prompt new hypotheses, which may then be examined in more traditional...

... programs should take courses in anatomy, physiology, and physics. Important Qualities Applied knowledge. Athletic trainers need to ... the skills needed in this occupation. Entry-level Education Typical level of education that most workers need ...

Several clinical laboratory examinations were performed on 27 male workers employed in a scrap lead refining factory using as controls 40 male workers employed in railway construction. The examinations included measurement of red blood cell and reticulocyte counts, hematocrit, MCV, blood and urine lead concentrations, urine coproporphyrin, and urine delta-aminolevulinic acid. The results were: Osmotic fragility of red blood cells was lower in lead workers at all three hemolytic points compared with the controls. Significant difference was observed in hemolysis of the maximum point. The red blood cell and reticulocyte counts, hematocrit value and MCV of the lead workers were not significantly different from those of the controls. Values for blood and urine lead, coproporphyrin, and delta-aminolevulinic acid of the lead workers were much higher than those of the controls. In lead workers, close relationships between the osmotic fragility and these laboratory findings were observed.

Employee participation and involvement are at the leading edge of management thinking today. Not only behaviorally oriented managers, but managers of all styles include personnel in decision-making. The purpose of this article is to communicate to clinical laboratory managers some recent developments in people management. Several suggestions for team building and the desired outcome of worker participation are included. Although employee participation has been a major issue in management for 10 years, many business schools still emphasize only the traditional quantitative subjects of accounting, finance, statistics, and systems engineering. Obviously, these subjects are important, but modern managers must learn qualitative or behavioral material as well. Students are affected by the lack of a notable behavioral emphasis. Unfortunately, some students think that learning in the behavioral domain is unimportant. Too often, these students encounter problems later in their careers with employees and can only wish for greater knowledge. PMID:10111320

Human error assessment and other safety analysis tools reveal that worker errors contributing to or resulting in accidents are often the consequence of ineffective system conditions, process features, or individual employee characteristics. At Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), a team of security, safety, human error, and organizational experts considered whether the system-induced human errors that make accidents more likely could also be contributing factors to security incidents. Because our review of more than 100 such incidents suggests they can and do, LANL has adapted error assessment tools and reduction techniques for application to security tasks and operations. Safety professionals--especially those with human error assessment and mitigation expertise--have the knowledge and skills needed to apply these tools in enhancing security in their own organizations.

The Laboratory's mission is to conduct fundamental research in the physical, chemical, materials, mathematical sciences and engineering which underlie energy generating, conversion, transmission and storage technologies, environmental improvement, and other technical areas essential to national needs. These efforts will be maintained so as to contribute to the achievement of the Department of Energy's Missions and Goals; more specifically, to increase the general levels of scientific knowledge and capabilities, to prepare engineering and physical sciences students for future scientific endeavors, and to initiate nascent technologies and practical applications arising from our basic scientific programs. The Laboratory will approach all its operations with the safety and health of all workers as a constant objective and with genuine concern for the environment. Ames Laboratory does not conduct classified research. The primary purpose of this report is to summarize the performance of Ames Laboratory's environmental programs, present highlights of significant environmental activities, and confirm compliance with environmental regulations and requirements for calendar year 2001. This report is a working requirement of Department of Energy Order 231.1, Environment, Safety, and Health Reporting''.

To find out the prevalence of good knowledge, appropriate attitude and safe practice among printing workers exposed to organic solvents in Hong Kong, and to see if safe practice was influenced by the knowledge of and the attitude towards the harmful effects of organic solvents as well as other factors. The survey was conducted in a sample of 501 male printing workers from 28 factories in Hong Kong. The knowledge of and attitude towards the harmful effects of organic solvents, as well as the good practices adopted by the workers when handling solvents were explored using a questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the major factors that influenced the knowledge, attitude and practice of workers. The prevalence of good knowledge, appropriate attitude and safe practice was low, being 20.4%, 38.4% and 22.0% respectively. Good knowledge was positively associated with awareness of the relevant legislation and past drinking behavior and negatively associated with current smoking. Appropriate attitude depended on having good knowledge and younger age. Safe practice did not depend on knowledge and attitude, but was positively associated with being informed of safety precautions and being supplied with chemical information by supervisors. The majority of workers believed that their employers, the Government and other statutory bodies should be responsible for providing information on chemicals, but very few of them actually obtained information from these sources. More workers preferred publications and talks rather than television as the means of obtaining further knowledge on chemicals. Front line supervisors have a pivotal role to play in improving safe practices of workers by informing them of the necessary precautions and supplying the relevant chemical information.   

The behavioural responses of Apis cerana, A. dorsata and A. mellifera to T. mercedesae were compared using two laboratory bioassays: cohorts of unknown ages of worker bees and single-bee bioassays. For the group bioassay, combless cages containing 50 worker bees and 10 adult T. mercedesae were used....

A survey of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) incidence among workers occupationally exposed to ethylene oxide was conducted. The effects of smoking were also investigated. The cohort consisted of 44 workers in ethylene oxide production units and 27 workers in a quality assurance laboratory having exposure to ethylene oxide and other chemicals. Circulating lymphocytes were obtained from the subjects and assayed for SCEs. Personal ethylene oxide exposures were measured. Median exposures to ethylene-oxide were 0.19 to 1.0 part per million (ppm) in the production workers and 0.14 to 10.9 ppm in the laboratory workers. Cigarette smoking comparisons had a higher statistically significant incidence of SCEs than nonsmokers. Nonsmoking production workers had a marginally statistically significant elevation of SCEs compared to smoking comparisons. Cigarette smoking production workers had an insignificant excess incidence of SCEs. SCE incidence was statistically significantly increased in smoking and nonsmoking laboratory workers. The data suggests an additive relationship between the effect of cigarette smoking and employment in ethylene oxide production units. The effects of smoking and employment in the laboratory are less than additive.

Many workers have questions about occupational safety and health (OSH). Answers to these questions empower them to further improve their knowledge about OSH, make good decisions about OSH matters and improve OSH practice when necessary. Nevertheless, many workers fail to find the answers to their questions. This paper explores the challenges workers may face when seeking answers to their OSH questions. Findings suggest that many workers may lack the skills, experience or motivation to formulate an answerable question, seek and find information, appraise information, compose correct answers and apply information in OSH practice. Simultaneously, OSH knowledge infrastructures often insufficiently support workers in answering their OSH questions. This paper discusses several potentially attractive strategies for developing and improving OSH knowledge infrastructures: 1) providing courses that teach workers to ask answerable questions and to train them to find, appraise and apply information, 2) developing information and communication technology tools or facilities that support workers as they complete one or more stages in the process from question to answer and 3) tailoring information and implementation strategies to the workers’ needs and context to ensure that the information can be applied to OSH practice more easily.   

This article begins by reviewing how knowledge and innovation has been conceptualized in economic geography over time. It then moves on to explore in detail the characteristics of knowledge including its generation processing and exchange. This article then seeks to explore the increasingly distributed nature of knowledge and the division of knowing in an economy, which is leading to many key knowledge workers and activities to become ever more isolated.

This paper proposes a logical framework that visualizes worker's system awareness. Generally, this awareness is difficult to compile in a educational book, and is seldom communicated in verbally. To show broad utility of system awareness, we need to show workers' conceptual structure of system operating.We firstly carry out a work analysis of graph drawing task using a spreadsheet software. Based on it, we propose a logical representation of worker's system awareness using Formal Concept Analysis. This representation shows the workers' implicit rules which become the selection criteria of system functions. Furthermore, concept lattices which are obtained by this analysis, show the level of worker's applied skills of knowledge about system function. Finally, we discuss hierarchy of system awareness, and propose a way to find a new system usage from worker's experiences.   

A survey of the cytogenetic effects of exposure to ethylene oxide was conducted on 43 workers in ethylene oxide production units and 27 workers in a quality-assurance laboratory who were exposed to ethylene oxide and other chemicals. Circulating lymphocytes were isolated and assayed for chromosomal aberrations. Median ethylene oxide exposures ranged from 0.14 to 10.9 parts per million (ppm) in the laboratory and 0.19 to 1.0 ppm in the production unit. No significant increase in the incidence of chromosomal aberrations occurred in the production unit workers. Increases in the incidence of chromatid deletions and exchanges, total chromatid aberrations, percent of abnormal cells, and total aberrations per cell occurred in the laboratory workers. Working in ethylene oxide production units may not cause a statistically significant increase in chromosomal aberrations. Work in the quality-assurance laboratory is associated with genotoxic effects; however, these cannot be attributed solely to ethylene oxide due to the complex nature of the working environments.

Lead oxide is used extensively in the construction and repair of wooden boats in Thailand, but the behaviors of boatyard workers that could place them at risk of contamination have not previously been documented. Baseline data on practices and behaviors of boatyard workers and on the level of worker and workplace contamination with lead were therefore collected. Fifty workers in two boatyards participated in this study. Lead exposure of workers was assessed by determining airborne and blood lead levels. A questionnaire was administered to collect information on work history, suspected exogenous lead sources, personal behavior and knowledge about lead. Evidence obtained by the study indicated that safety behavior and personal hygiene were poor-workers used no mask, gloves or hood, wore open sandals, smoked, drank, chewed and ate during work and did not wash their hands before drinking or eating. Some workers had lunch in the working area. The mean personal airborne lead of caulkers (36.4 ?g/m3) was higher than that of carpenters (8.3 ?g/m3). Forty-eight percent of all workers and 67% of caulkers had a blood lead level (BLL) exceeding 40 ?g/dl. Multiple linear regression indicated that blood lead levels of workers were significantly related to job and education level, with significant differences between boatyards. In addition, the potential for "take-home" contamination was high; none of the workers took a shower or changed their clothes prior to going home. These results indicate a problem of lead exposure of sufficient magnitude to be a public health concern.   

This document reports the results of the FY 2005 PNNL VPP Program Evaluation, which is a self-assessment of the operational and programmatic performance of the Laboratory related to worker safety and health. The report was compiled by a team of worker representatives and safety professionals who evaluated the Laboratory's worker safety and health programs on the basis of DOE-VPP criteria. The principle elements of DOE's VPP program are: Management Leadership, Employee Involvement, Worksite Analysis, Hazard Prevention and Control, and Safety and Health Training.

Survey of 55 male and 32 female Mexican migrant workers found that respondents were knowledgeable about actual modes of HIV transmission but also believed in transmission in various unlikely ways; had limited knowledge of proper condom use; used condoms sometimes; and held few negative beliefs about condom use but felt that women carrying condoms are seen as promiscuous. (Author/SV)

In our research project entitled 'Chemical irritative and/or genotoxic effect of fumes of bitumen under high processing temperatures on the airways,' 73 mastic asphalt workers exposed to fumes of bitumen and 49 construction nonexposed workers were analyzed and compared with respect to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure and exposure-related health effects. In order to assess the internal exposure the monohydroxylated metabolites of pyrene, 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), and phenanthrene, 1-, 2- and 9-, and 3- and 4-hydroxyphenanthrene (OHPH) were determined in pre- and post-shift urinary samples. Significantly higher concentrations 1-OHP and OHPH were detected in the post-shift urine samples of 7 mastic asphalt workers working on the same construction site compared to the reference workers and all other 66 mastic asphalt workers. The adjusted mean OHPH in the reference, 66 mastic worker, and 7 worker subgroups was 1022, 1544, and 12919 ng/g creatinine (crn) respectively, indicating a marked rise in the 7 worker subgroup. In addition, there was a more than 12-fold increase of PAH metabolites from pre- to post-shift in these 7 workers, whereas in the other mastic asphalt workers there was only a twofold rise in PAH-metabolite concentration between pre- and post-shift values. The analysis of a drilling core from the construction site of the seven workers led to the detection of the source for this marked PAH exposure during the working shift as being coal tar plates, which were, without knowledge of the workers and coordinators, the underground material of the mastic asphalt layer. The evaluation of the stationary workplace concentration showed enhanced levels of phenanthrene, pyrene, fluorene, anthracene, and acenaphthene during working shifts at the construction site of these seven workers. Our study shows that biological monitoring is also a useful tool for the detection of unrecognized sources with high PAH concentrations.

Global Knowledge Work is an up-to-date account of theoretical approaches and empirical research in the multi-disciplinary topic of global knowledge workers from a relational and diversity perspective. This informative volume includes contributions from international scholars and practitioners who have been working with the concept of global knowledge workers from a number of different perspectives, including personal and academic life trajectories. They reveal that the relational framework of the three dimensions of analysis (macro-meso-micro) is relevant for analyzing the phenomenon of global

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has supported the Vietnamese Ministry of Health (MOH) in implementing behavior change strategies to slow the HIV epidemic. These programs target commercial sex workers (CSW), injection drug users (IDU), and men who have sex with men (MSM). Using data from a program evaluation to assess effectiveness of the PEPFAR intervention, we conducted a sub-analysis of HIV/AIDS knowledge, sexual behaviors, and injection drug risk behaviors among 2,199 Vietnamese respondents, including those reporting recent contact with an outreach worker and those who did not report contact. We found overall high levels of HIV/AIDS knowledge, low rates of needle sharing, and moderate to high rates of inconsistent condom use. Average knowledge scores of IDU were significantly higher than non-IDU for antiretroviral treatment knowledge, while MSM had significantly less knowledge of treatment compared to non-MSM. HIV/AIDS-related knowledge was not significantly associated with needle-sharing practices. Knowledge was modestly but significantly associated with more consistent use of condoms with primary and commercial sex partners, even after controlling for contact with an outreach worker. Contact with an outreach worker was also an independent predictor of more consistent condom use. Outreach programs appear to play a meaningful role in changing sexual behavior, though the effect of outreach on IDU risk behaviors was less clear. More research is needed to understand the relationship between outreach programs and skill development, motivation, and use of referral services by most-at-risk populations in Vietnam.

Purpose Most workers with chronic nonspecific musculoskeletal pain (CMP) do not take sick leave, nor consult a health care professional or search vocational rehabilitation. Yet, the knowledge of many researchers, clinicians and policy makers is largely based on people with CMP who discontinue work. The aim of this study was to explore characteristics of workers who stay at work despite CMP, and to compare these with sick-listed workers with CMP following vocational rehabilitation. Methods The clinical characteristics of workers who stay at work despite CMP (n?=?119) and sick-listed workers who follow vocational rehabilitation (n?=?122) were described and the differences between these groups were assessed. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess differences between the groups and to...

Adjusting to low temperatures is important for animals living in cold environments. We studied the chill-coma recovery time in temperate ant workers ( Temnothorax nylanderi) from colonies collected in autumn and spring in Germany. We experimentally acclimated these ant colonies to cold temperatures followed by warm temperatures. As expected, cold-acclimated workers recovered faster from freezing temperatures, but subsequent heat acclimation did not change the short recovery times observed after cold acclimation. Hence, either heat acclimation improves cold tolerance, possibly as a general response to stress, or at least it does not negate enhanced cold tolerance following cold acclimation. Colonies collected in spring showed similar cold tolerance levels to cold-acclimated colonies in the laboratory. Next, we compared the chill-coma recovery time of different worker castes and found that exterior workers recovered faster than interior workers. This difference may be related to their more frequent exposure to cold, higher activity level, or distinct physiology. Interior workers were also heavier and showed a higher gaster-to-head ratio and thorax ratio compared to exterior workers. An obvious difference between exterior and interior workers is activity level, but we found no link between activity and cold tolerance. This suggests that physiology rather than behavioral differences could cause the increased cold tolerance of exterior workers. Our study reveals the importance of acclimation for cold tolerance under natural and standardized conditions and demonstrates differences in cold tolerance and body dimensions in monomorphic behavioral castes of an ant.

The prediction of bed load transport rates in field streams with bed material composed of mixtures of sand and gravel is difficult and may have large errors compared to actual rates. These errors may be due to the difficulty of specifying the flow strength across the cross section and acquiring knowledge of the bed material size distribution which may change seasonally, between runoff events or even during a single runoff event. Collection of a sufficient number of samples throughout the expected range of flows is difficult and expensive due to the problem of predicting the occurrence of runoff events, the danger of collecting samples during high flows and thunderstorms, the difficulties of having workers present at sampling locations during high flow portions of runoff events, and the time required to analyze samples after the completion of the event. In this study transport rates of bed load with a sand and gravel size distribution similar to that of the field location were collected under controlled conditions in a laboratory flume channel and used to develop a transport relation. The field location had a transport relation that had been developed from samples collected previously. The transport relation developed from the laboratory data was compared to the relation developed from transport data collected in the field. Reasons for the discrepancies were explored.

The Ames Laboratory conducts fundamental research in the physical, chemical, materials, and mathematical sciences and engineering which underlie energy generating, conversion, transmission and storage technologies, environmental improvement, and other technical areas essential to national needs. These efforts will be maintained so as to contribute to the achievement of the vision of DOE and, more specifically, to increase the general levels of knowledge and technical capabilities, to prepare engineering and physical sciences students for the future, both academia and industry, and to develop new technologies and practical applications from our basic scientific programs that will contribute to a strengthening of the US economy. The Laboratory approaches all its operations with the safety and health of all workers as a constant objective and with genuine concern for the environment. The Laboratory relies upon its strengths in materials synthesis and processing, materials reliability, chemical analysis, chemical sciences, photosynthesis, materials sciences, metallurgy, high-temperature superconductivity, and applied mathematical sciences to conduct the long term basic and intermediate range applied research needed to solve the complex problems encountered in energy production, and utilization as well as environmental restoration and waste management. Ames Laboratory will continue to maintain a very significant and highly beneficial pre-college math and science education program which currently serves both teachers and students at the middle school and high school levels. Our technology transfer program is aided by joint efforts with ISU`s technology development and commercialization enterprise and will sustain concerted efforts to implement Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, industrially sponsored Work for Others projects. and scientific personnel exchanges with our various customers.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to survey current nutrition/foodservice-related healthcare professionals to determine their level of knowledge about dysphagia, and their perceptions of dysphagic patients and their needs. Design/methodology/approach - A data collection instrument in the form of a questionnaire was developed to obtain an idea of the perceptions and knowledge-level of diet/foodservice-related healthcare workers about dysphagia. Subjects included foodservice workers, including food preparers and food deliverers at a large healthcare facility in the Southwestern United States. A total sample size of n=51 surveys was collected and analyzed. Findings - Given the means from this sample group, healthcare foodservice workers are lacking in some areas of knowledge concerning d...

A primary goal of the American Chemical Society Task Force on Laboratory Waste Management is to provide laboratories with the information necessary to develop effective strategies and training programs for managing laboratory wastes. This book is intended to present a fresh look at waste management from the laboratory perspective, considering both the unique character and technical expertise of laboratories. The following chapters are included: (1) "Introduction"; (2) "Laws and Regulations"; (3) "Responsibilities of the Organization"; (4) "Training of Laboratory Workers"; (5) "Identification and Characterization of Wastes"; (6) "Reducing Wastes"; (7) "On-Site Waste Handling and Disposal"; (8) "Off-Site Monitoring and Control"; and (9) "Working with Regulators." (ZWH)

A generation of magnificent scholars, from Peter Drucker to Jack Welch, have taught us that understanding business issues and the profound changes the world's economy is undergoing makes sense if set in historical context. Today the best managers in the world demand to know how things came to be as they are. This collection of essays is designed to give the reader an historical perspective on the fastest growing sector of the work force: knowledge workers. The articles tell you how knowledge workers evolved from manufacturing and agricultural jobs and then go on to give you some insight as to

Oak Ridge National Laboratory has an ultrasensitive instrument that can reduce the cost of monitoring workers for radiation exposure, determine concentrations of trace elements in tree cores to assess the effects of acid rain on soil chemistry and tree growth, and even identify counterfeit bolts that need to be replaced. The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). May someday demonstrate its value is in the DOE-required monitoring of workers exposed to radioactive materials such as uranium.

Ulrich in the forward to the Zenger and Folkman (2002) book, ''The Extraordinary Leader'', wrote about the importance of character in leadership stating, ''Everything about great leaders radiates from character. Character improves the probability of exhibiting strong interpersonal skill. Some of this perceived character is innate . . . but more is driven by the leader's self-awareness and interactions with others'' (p. ix). The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between leadership effectiveness and character using leader-managers of knowledge workers as the subject sample. Findings indicated that character, particularly those factors associated with honesty, setting the example, and valuing and strengthening others, were what set the most effective leader-managers apart from their peers. Technical competence and self-efficacy were found to be common characteristics of the study sample as was a drive for results. Who a leader-manager is, his/her substance, was found in this study to differentiate the ''best'' leader-managers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. By their character, leader-managers establish the environment in which knowledge workers contribute and grow. As found by Pfeiffer (2000), Leaders of companies that experience smaller gaps between what they know and what they do (to turn knowledge into action), understand that their most important task is not necessarily to make strategic decisions, or, for that matter any decisions at all. Their task is to help build systems of practice that produce a more reliable transformation of knowledge into action. Leaders create environments, reinforce norms, and help set expectations through what they do. (p. 261) In other words, as confirmed by this research study, their task is to model the way. Study results also confirmed Ulrich's (1996) supposition that to create the ''air'' in which employees work, leaders have the personal characteristics that engender trust and commitment. In other words, as study results confirmed, the most effective leader-managers establish trusting relationships and strengthen others--they enable others; and, are just, fair, sincere, and recognize contributions--they encourage the heart. Based on study findings, the leadership development model proposed was founded on the premise that character can be developed, particularly if done so through assessment and challenging assignments, with coaching, mentoring, and peer network support. However, development of character requires a shift in our leadership development programs. What causes this shift is a focus on learning by doing through challenging assignments and teaching others rather than learning through event focused assessment and course work. Character cannot be learned in the classroom; it needs to be developed through experience and then learned by feedback, reflection, coaching, and teaching others. Study findings indicated that knowledge workers want to be encouraged, believed in and lead by those they trust to inspire them to accomplish the goals and objectives of the organization. To cause a workforce to generate intellectual capital for the organization, study findings found that the leader-manager's ''character'' does make a difference.

The Department of Energy (Department), through its contractors, contracts with commercial analytical laboratories for the analysis of samples related to environmental management activities and worker health and safety programs. Over 100 commercial laboratories located throughout the United States perform sample analyses for the Department, Because of problems identified during previous audit work, we initiated our audit to determine whether the Department`s commercial laboratory quality assurance evaluation program was effective and efficient.

Background.? Healthcare workers and patients are often exposed to natural rubber latex (NRL) through contact with gloves and various healthcare products, which can potentially cause allergic reactions, with varying degrees of severity. In 2008, the Royal College of Physicians published their first evidence-based guidance on occupational health interventions for latex allergy, which emphasized the importance of healthcare workers having knowledge of latex allergy. Aim.? This study aimed to survey the knowledge of healthcare workers (n?=?156) about latex gloves and NRL allergy, routine prevention practice and the appropriate use of gloves in patient care. Methods.? Healthcare workers in a large teaching hospital were surveyed using a standard questionnaire. Results.? We found that only 1% of healthcare workers were able to correctly match the appropriate gloves to the specifically designed procedure. More than half (n?=?74.53%) were unable to recognize the presentation of type 1 allergy to NRL. Of the 156 participants, 131 (84%) considered that they would benefit from training about NRL allergy and the use of different types of gloves in clinical care. Conclusions.? This survey indicates the importance of education regarding appropriate use of gloves and prevention of NRL allergy among healthcare workers, and dermatologists should play an important role in facilitating this. PMID:23020782

This article provides an analysis of the evolution of the division of labour in participatory ergonomics (PE) programmes in two worksites. The analysis is based on interviews and field observations in the worksites. In both settings there was meaningful participation by both worker and management members of ergonomic change teams (ECTs) in the hazard assessment and solution identification stages, but as the teams moved to the implementation stage, worker representatives were marginalised and the participatory nature of the programmes was severely curtailed. The removal of workers from the process was the outcome of the interplay among the type of activities pursued in the implementation stage, the skills and knowledge required to carry out those activities, and workers' limited influence i...

Health workers can contribute to HIV prevention by minimizing HIV transmission in health facilities and increasing Client teaching. We offered a peer-group intervention for Malawian rural health workers to build their universal precautions and teaching skills. A quasi-experimental design using independent sample surveys and observations compared health workers in an intervention and delayed intervention control district at baseline and at 15 and 30 months post-intervention. Controlling for demographic factors, the intervention district had more reported HIV teaching at 15 and 30 months and also had higher universal precautions knowledge and fewer needle stick injuries at 30 months. Observations at 15 and 30 months post-intervention showed higher levels of teaching in the intervention district. Observed glove wearing and hand washing were also higher at 30 months. This intervention should be made available for health workers in Malawi and provides a potential model for other high HIV prevalence countries.

Introduction Among the working population, unemployed and temporary agency workers are a particularly vulnerable group, at risk for sickness absence due to psychological problems. Knowledge of prognostic factors for work participation could help identify sick-listed workers with a high-risk for work disability and provide input for sickness absence counseling. The purpose of this study was to identify prognostic factors for the work participation of medium- and long-term sick-listed unemployed and temporary agency workers with psychological problems. Methods A cohort of 932 sick-listed unemployed and temporary agency workers with psychological problems was followed for one and a half years. Data collection was conducted at three time-frames: 10 months, 18 months and 27 months after reporti...

This pilot study project explored the problem of providing access to the nomadic worker who desires to connect a computer through network access points at a number of different locations within the SNL/NM campus as well as outside the campus. The design and prototype development gathered knowledge that may allow a design to be developed that could be extended to a larger number of SNL/NM network drop boxes. The focus was to provide a capability for a worker to access the SNL IRN from a network drop box (e.g. in a conference room) as easily as when accessing the computer network from the office normally used by the worker. Additional study was done on new methods to authenticate the off campus worker, and protect and control access to data.

We estimate the relative contribution of mobile scientists who leave academia for the private sector on the subsequent innovative performance of the firms they join. We use data on the population of Danish firms and their R&D workers for the period 1999-2004 and measure innovation performance by the (value-adjusted) number of patent applications at the European Patent Office. We compare the efficacy of mobile former university scientists to the effects of mobile workers hired from other firms as well as immobile workers on the innovation performance of their employer. Our main result is that mobile university scientists contribute substantially more to innovation than R&D workers hired from other firms who, in turn, contribute slightly less to industrial innovation than recent university graduates. By contrast, immobile workers add little to the innovative activity of their employer. We also find that the contribution of mobile R&D workers to innovation depreciates fairly rapidly. These findings provide us with three main managerial implications: Firstly, hiring scientists from universities is a way of boosting a firm’s innovative activity. Secondly, because hires from academia receive lower wages on average than hires from private sector firms, this implies that hiring R&D workers from academia may be a cost-effective way of improving innovation performance. Thirdly, firms need to take measures in order to further public-private researcher interaction to prevent the depreciation of the knowledge stock of their employees.

Knowledge management is a critical activity for any organization. It has been said to be a differentiating factor and an important source of competitiveness if this knowledge is constructed and shared among its members, thus creating a learning organization. Knowledge construction is critical for any collaborative organizational learning environment. Nowadays workers must perform knowledge creation tasks while in motion, not just in static physical locations; therefore it is also required that knowledge construction activities be performed in ubiquitous scenarios, and supported by mobile and pervasive computational systems. These knowledge creation systems should help people in or outside organizations convert their tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge, thus supporting the knowledge construction process. Therefore in our understanding, we consider highly relevant that undergraduate university students learn about the knowledge construction process supported by mobile and ubiquitous computing. This has been a little explored issue in this field. This paper presents the design, implementation, and an evaluation of a system called MCKC for Mobile Collaborative Knowledge Construction, supporting collaborative face-to-face tacit knowledge construction and sharing in ubiquitous scenarios. The MCKC system can be used by undergraduate students to learn how to construct knowledge, allowing them anytime and anywhere to create, make explicit and share their knowledge with their co-learners, using visual metaphors, gestures and sketches to implement the human-computer interface of mobile devices (PDAs). PMID:22969333

The Uniform Accident and Sickness Policy Provision Law (UPPL) is a statute existing in 26 states that permits health insurance companies to deny payment for claims made by individuals who have sustained injuries as a result of drug or alcohol use. This law presents a series of complicated clinical and ethical dilemmas for social workers and other medical personnel. The majority of contributions to the national discussion regarding the UPPL have been produced by the medical, nursing, and policy/legal disciplines. Social work has, however, remained silent. It is paramount that social workers add their perspective and insight to this debate. This article discusses the first survey, to the authors' knowledge, of social workers practicing in health care settings regarding their knowledge and beliefs about the UPPL.

Abstract in english Several studies about knowledge transfer in multinational corporations have found that the process is influenced by factors such as absorptive capacity, tacit knowledge and power relations, all of which impact knowledge sharing strategies between corporate headquarters and foreign subsidiaries. A multiple case study of Brazilian subsidiaries of three multinational corporations using in-depth interviews, based on a conceptual model consisting of four propositions, was cond (more) ucted to identify factors linked to the knowledge transfer process and to assess their influence on that transfer. The first proposition tries to assess explicit knowledge, primarily through the use of IT tools; the second analyzes the role of the subsidiary within the corporate network and how it influences the degree of knowledge sharing. The third assesses the influence of subsidiary absorptive capacity and the fourth analyzes the impact of worker exchange programs on knowledge sharing between headquarters and foreign subsidiaries. Study results confirm the four propositions and enable the identification of relationships between factors, especially explicit knowledge and worker expatriation as complementary factors in knowledge transfer strategies.

I denne artikel beskrives den menneskelige værdi som viden i en Post-Kartesiansk forståelse af denne. På baggrund af dette argumenteres for, hvordan teknologiske forandringer, herunder introduktionen af ny informationsteknologi i organisationer forårsager udviklingen af arbejdskulturen, og hvordan Activity-based knowledge workers kan benytte ISAs til at styre denne udvikling.

Thirty years ago, economists Herbert Gutman pointed out that without "detailed knowledge of the local world inhabited by white and Negro workers" in the late 19th century South, economists cannot fully understand the early days of organized labor in the South. A close study of the short-lived Cooper...

E-learning is now being used by many organizations as an approach for enhancing the skills of knowledge workers. However, most applications have performed poorly in motivating employee learning, being perceived as less effective due to a lack of alignment of learning with work performance. To help s...

In an ant colony, feces are not just metabolic waste; they often affect colony functions. Knowledge on the chemistry of the feces may be helpful in understanding their effect on the ant behavior. Feces of workers, larvae, alates and queens of red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren, were...

Major media companies such as The Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal or Reuters generate huge amounts of textual news data on a daily basis. Mining frequent patterns in this mass of information is critical for knowledge workers such as financial analysts, stock traders or economists. Using exi...

We report a case of an agricultural worker presenting with corneal infiltrate following ocular injury with a rice husk. On examination, a superficial corneal foreign body was removed and sent for culture, which grew Pantoea ananatis. This is, to our knowledge, the first clinical case report of Pantoea ananatis causing corneal infiltrate. PMID:22461671

Worker Protection Standard (WPS) training is one of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) primary methods for preventing pesticide exposure in agricultural workers. Retention of the knowledge from the training may occasionally be tested by state Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (state OSHAs) during a site visit, but anecdotal evidence suggests that there is no consistent testing of knowledge after WPS training. EPA's retraining requirements are at 5-year intervals, meaning the knowledge must be retained for that long. Vineyard workers completed a test of their baseline WPS knowledge, computer-based training on WPS, a post-test immediately after training and a re-test 5 months later. Pre-test performance suggested that there was a relatively high level of baseline knowledge of WPS information on two-answer multiple choice tests (74% to 75%) prior to training. Training increased the knowledge to 85% on the post-test with the same questions, a significant increase (p WPS information may be the most important impact of training. PMID:19657883

Objectives: Recent reports have shown significant associations between organopshophorus pesticide (OP) exposure and decreased sperm motility in workers and laboratory animals. However, the notion that OPs possess spermatotoxicity has yet to be established. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of OP exposure on detailed sperm toxicity markers, i.e., motility, morphology and sperm adenine nucleotide contents, and the histopathology of the testis and epididymis. Methods: Ten-week-old Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (n=10) and orally administered corn oil, dichlorvos (DDVP; 5, 10 mg/kg) or diazinon (DZN; 3 mg/kg) 6 days a week for 9 wk. Sperm motility and morphology markers were analyzed with a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system. Results: In addition to a significant decrease in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities and a significant increase in urinary OP metabolites, DDVP and DZN significantly reduced sperm motility, but they did not influence sperm adenine nucleotide contents. The OPs also significantly increased the percentage of broken sperm, and DDVP significantly increased the percentage of cytoplasmic droplets. Importantly, both OPs significantly increased cytoplasmic vacuolation and nuclear shrinkage in the epithelial cells of the ductus epididymis, whereas the testes did not show significant histopathological changes. Conclusions: The broken sperm and cytoplasmic droplets as well as reduced sperm motility were the relevant spermatotoxicity makers of DDVP and DZN. To our knowledge, this is the first report to suggest that the above-mentioned OP-induced spermatotoxicity is related to histopathological impairment of the caput epididymis.   

Within Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Nuclear Materials Technology (NMT) Division provides the foundation for maintaining the nuclear materials mission in support of the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile. Plutonium research and production competencies reside in a suitably skilled and well-trained work force. Due to the unique chemical and physical properties of the actinide elements, specialized training, expert knowledge, and unique safety procedures are essential to the execution of NMT's mission. To ensure the highest degree of safety, NMT Division employs a behavior-based solution (ATOMICS) for assuring operations safety excellence. The subsequent mitigation efforts of the ATOMICS Process to enhance the safety culture of the NMT workforce in chemical and glovebox environments are the primary focus of this paper. The NMT ATOMICS Process demonstrates the application of LANLs first guiding principal of the Integrated Safety Management Program 'management commitment and worker involvement' as an integral element of the process. The vision of ATOMICS is to be the Department of Energy's (DOE) model of excellence in the application of safety performance.

Radiation protection involves the limitation of exposure to below threshold doses for direct (or deterministic) effects and a knowledge of the risk of stochastic effects after low doses. The principal stochastic risk associated with low dose rate galactic cosmic rays is the increased risk of cancer. Estimates of this risk depend on two factors (a) estimates of cancer risk for low-LET radiation and (b) values of the appropriate radiation weighting factors, WR, for the high-LET radiations of galactic cosmic rays. Both factors are subject to considerable uncertainty. The low-LET cancer risk derived from the late effects of the atomic bombs is vulnerable to a number of uncertainties including especially that from projection in time, and from extrapolation from high to low dose rate. Nevertheless, recent low dose studies of workers and others tend to confirm these estimates. WR, relies on biological effects studied mainly in non-human systems. Additional laboratory studies could reduce the uncertainties in WR and thus produce a more confident estimate of the overall risk of galactic cosmic rays.

Conventionally, the “breathing zone” is defined as the zone within a 0.3 m (or 10 inches) radius of a worker’s nose and mouth, and it has been generally assumed that a contaminant in the breathing zone is homogeneous and its concentration is equivalent to the concentration inhaled by the worker. However, several studies have mentioned that the concentration is not uniform in the breathing zone when a worker is close to the contaminant source. In order to examine the spatial variability of contaminant concentrations in a worker’s breathing zone, comparative measurements of personal exposure were carried out in a laboratory. In experiment, ethanol vapor was released in front of a model worker (human subject and mockup mannequin) and the vapor concentrations were measured at two different sampling points, at the nose and at the chest, in the breathing zone. Then, the effects of the sampling location and the body temperature on the exposure were observed. The ratios of nose concentration to chest concentration for the human subject and the mannequin were 0–0.2 and 0.12, respectively. The exposure level of the mannequin was about 5.5–9.3 times higher than that of the human subject.   

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential direct dose consequences to facility workers and/or co-located workers from a Hazard Category 2 or 3 nuclear facility or a less than Hazard Category 3 radiological inventory. At the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), the safety analysis for several Hazard Category 3 nuclear facilities had to be revisited and the direct dose consequences associated with the facility radiological inventory had to be analyzed and incorporated into the safety analysis. This additional safety analysis was required because it was assumed that for a nuclear facility operating with radiological inventories between the Hazard Category 3 threshold quantities as a lower bounds and less the Hazard Category 2 threshold quantities as an upper bounds, the risk to the facility worker and/or co-located worker was within the INEEL Evaluation Guidelines for radiological exposures.

The aim of our study was to investigate the intra- and interspecific agonistic behaviors exhibited by the worker and soldier castes of the subterranean termite Microcerotermes crassus Snyder (Isoptera: Termitidae). Aggression between M. crassus colonies from different field locations and also against three termite species--Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann), Globitermnes sulphureus Haviland, and Odontotermes sp.--were observed in the laboratory. Termite responses were tested in paired combination of castes (soldiers versus soldiers, soldiers versus workers, and workers versus workers) consisting of 10 individuals each. Significant agonistic behaviors were observed only in encounters between pairings of different termite species. M. crassus was aggressive toward individuals from different species but not toward individuals from different M. crassus colonies. Mortality of M. crassus reached 100% in most of the interspecific encounters. However, no or low mortality was recorded in the intraspecific pairings. PMID:21061976

Purpose Most workers with chronic nonspecific musculoskeletal pain (CMP) do not take sick leave, nor consult a health care professional or search vocational rehabilitation. Yet, the knowledge of many researchers, clinicians and policy makers is largely based on people with CMP who discontinue work. The aim of this study was to explore characteristics of workers who stay at work despite CMP, and to compare these with sick-listed workers with CMP following vocational rehabilitation. Methods The clinical characteristics of workers who stay at work despite CMP (n = 119) and sick-listed workers who follow vocational rehabilitation (n = 122) were described and the differences between these groups were assessed. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess differences between the groups and to determine which variables predicted group status. Results Workers who stayed at work despite CMP reported significantly lower levels of fear avoidance (OR = 0.94), pain catastrophizing (OR = 0.93), perceived workload (OR = 0.93), and higher pain acceptance (OR = 1.11), life control (OR = 1.62) and pain self-efficacy (OR = 1.09) compared to sick-listed workers following rehabilitation, even after controlling for confounders. The groups did not differ on physical activity level, active coping and work satisfaction. Group status was predicted best by pain intensity, duration of pain, pain acceptance, perceived workload, mental health, and psychological distress (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.87-0.95). Conclusions A wide range of characteristics of workers who stay at work despite CMP were explored. Relevant differences from sick-listed workers with CMP were observed in all domains of the bio-psycho-social model. Six main predictors were identified that best discriminate between both groups. PMID:22454300

Like other DOE facilities, ANL-W uses a variety of nuclear grade, industrial grade, or furnace-type particulate filters to control airborne radioactivity and hazardous contaminants in radiological containment structures or processes. As designed, these filters entrain and ultimately concentrate contaminants in the media. Toxic metal contaminants include cadmium, chromium, lead; and mercury present in sufficient concentrations to exhibit the hazardous waste characteristic of toxicity as defined in 40 CFR 261.24. Radionuclide contaminants deposited in the media may at times accumulate in sufficient quantity to classify the filter as transuranic or remote-handled waste. Upon their removal from the ventilation system, these particulate filters become wastes, which must be characterized to determine their hazardous and radioactive classifications. A well defined filter characterization process is essential for the proper/consistent waste characterization and minimization and for maintaining personnel radiological exposures as-low-as-reasonably-achievable (ALARA) (1,2). ANL-W has developed an approach to filter sampling and characterization to meet these needs. The ANL-W filter sampling and characterization process is designed to ensure representative sampling and/or process knowledge is utilized in characterizing the filters. The data obtained through sampling and/or process knowledge is used to show compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (3) and Treatment/Storage/Disposal Facility Waste Acceptance Criteria. The ANL-W filter characterization involves the collection of process information, filter handling and sampling, sample analysis, data management filter characterization, and waste handling. Each element of the process is streamlined to ensure proper characterization while minimizing radiological exposure to maintenance workers, samplers, laboratory personnel, and waste handlers.

Background: Recent case reports and epidemiological studies suggest that inhalation of indium dust induces lung damage. Objectives: To elucidate the dose-dependent effects of indium on the lungs and to prove a causal relationship more clearly. Methods: A baseline observation was conducted on 465 workers currently exposed to indium, 127 workers formerly exposed to indium and 169 workers without indium exposure in 12 factories and 1 research laboratory from 2003 to 2006. Indium in serum (In-S) was determined as an exposure parameter, and its effects on the lungs were examined. Results: The means of In-S in the current, former and no exposure workers were 8.35, 9.63 and 0.56 ng/ml, respectively. The current and former exposure workers had significantly higher levels of KL-6, and showed significant dose-dependent increases in KL-6, SP-D, and SP-A. Current exposure workers with In-S of 3 ng/ml or above demonstrated a significant increase of KL-6 in both GM and prevalence exceeding the reference value. Approximately a quarter of the former exposure workers had interstitial changes as seen on chest HRCT. In-S of exposed workers who had been working before improvements of the working environment (Group Bef) and those who started working after improvements (Group Aft) were 12.29 and 0.81 ng/ml, respectively. Adjusted odds ratios indicated 87%, 71% and 43% reductions among Group Aft workers who exceeded the reference values of KL-6, SP-D and SP-A, respectively. Conclusion: Dose-dependent lung effects due to indium exposure were shown, and a decrease of indium exposure reduced the lung effects. An In-S value of 3 ng/ml may be a cut-off value which could be used to prevent early effects on the lungs.   

Based on theory regarding mobile communication in general, this essay relates the experiences of migrant workers from both rural and urban areas in Fuzhou, who used mobile phones to stay in contact with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, to how these contacts supported and encouraged migrant workers to persist in gathering Olympic Games information. In other words, does the relationship between demographics and knowledge about the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games differ according to the use of mobile phones among migrant workers? Results indicate that television became the primary source of Olympic Games news for migrant workers, but actually with few advantages as the respondents considered the mobile phone as their second source of information. Given the higher than average mobile media penetration rate among the sample of migrant workers and their information expectations, we cannot ignore the mobile phone’s impact as a channel for information and public services. This essay’s focus is also on how the government,the official press and service providers (China Mobile and China Unicom) appreciated the mobile phone as a means of spreading the Olympic Games’ influence, making it possible for a large majority of people to enjoy the Olympic Games, and popularizing knowledge.

This study aimed to assess the knowledge of blood-borne diseases transmitted through needle stick injuries amongst health-care workers in a tertiary teaching hospital. We also aimed to assess the practices of universal precautions amongst these workers and its correlation with the facts. We carried out a cross-sectional study from January to July 2008 involving various levels of health-care workers in Serdang Hospital, Selangor, Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire assessing knowledge of blood-borne diseases and universal precautions, and actual practice of universal precautions was used. Two hundred fifteen respondents participated in this study; 63.3% were staff nurses. The mean knowledge score was 31.84 (SD 4.30) and the mean universal practice score was 9.0 (SD 2.1). There was a small, positive correlation between knowledge and actual practice of universal precautions (r = 0.300, n = 206, p < 0.001) amongst the cohort studied. Factors such as age and years of experience did not contribute towards acquisition of knowledge about blood-borne illnesses or the practice of universal precautions. PMID:21073041

The American population aged 65 years and older is growing rapidly, creating an increased demand for social workers. Reimbursement structures of Medicare and Medicaid present significant barriers for aging individuals seeking social work services as well as social workers wanting to provide services to the elderly. To build a case for the modification of these reimbursement structures, a review of studies of social work services in aging was conducted to (a) make explicit the current knowledge of the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of these services, (b) identify current gaps in knowledge, (c) promote a research agenda to address the gaps, and (e) assure that the knowledge identified addresses payers' needs to understand the value of social work services in aging. The results indicate that social work interventions can have a positive impact on the health care costs, the use of health care services, and the quality of life of older Americans. (Contains 1 table.)

Purpose - The aim of this paper is to test a model of the relationship between organizational memory and empowerment. The model posited that organizational memory would be related to requests to share knowledge, psychological empowerment in the workplace (meaning, competence, self-determination and impact), and organization-based self-esteem. Design/methodology/approach - The model was tested with 134 employees representing six companies using hierarchical regression analysis. Findings - Significant relationships were found between organizational memory and requests to share knowledge, empowerment, and organization-based self-esteem. Findings indicated that a positive stereotype may exist towards older workers and the frequency they are requested to share knowledge, and that a halo-type ef...

Let us envision a new class of IT systems, the "Support Systems for Knowledge Works" or SSKW. An SSKW can be defined as a system built for providing comprehensive support to human knowledge-workers while performing instances of complex knowledge-works of a particular type within a particular domain of professional activities To get an idea what an SSKW-enabled work environment can be like, let us look into a hypothetical scenario that depicts the interaction between a physician and a patient-care SSKW during the activity of diagnosing a patient.

Internationally there are growing numbers of migrant workers in the field of health who may represent an untapped resource in terms of workforce development. Although these workers often have higher-level skills and qualifications, they often find themselves in unskilled roles. This paper reports on a case study in the South West of England that looked at the learning needs of migrant workers currently employed as housekeeping staff within the UK National Health Service (NHS). The project set out to enable these workers to explore their own learning needs further, and gave them the opportunity to explore career progression pathways within the Health Service. The project was funded by Aimhigher, and offered a programme of learning to migrant housekeeping staff, developed in collaboration with a local hospital trust. This programme of activities was focused on aspiration raising and personal development and mapped onto the six core themes of the National Health Service Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF). The notion of habitus is used to explore the tripartite schema which impacts upon migrant workers' experiences and abilities to engage in learning. It suggests that providing opportunities which allow migrant workers to build confidence about their learning abilities and realise their aspirations and dreams can be viewed as a way of supporting the migrant "habitus" to adjust itself to the demands of the host society, as well as the organisations which employ them. (Contains 1 table and 2 notes.)

Davies, C. T. M. (1973).British Journal of Industrial Medicine,30, 146-154. Relationship of maximum aerobic power output to productivity and absenteeism of East African sugar cane workers. The relationship of the physiological responses to laboratory exercise on an upright bicycle ergometer and pred...

Using a simple production game, we investigate whether public firms perform better when they increase the power of their workers¿ incentive schemes. In a laboratory experiment, subjects choose between a `public firm¿ and a `private firm¿ with team and individual incentives, respectively. When expose...

As culture filtrates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been shown by numerous workers to be antigenically heterogeneous, a series of experiments has been started to identify some of the different antigens likely to be useful in laboratory tests for measuring the antibodies in human blood. The work ...

A retrospective postal survey of 24 000 medical laboratory workers in England, Wales, and Scotland showed highly variable standards of safety and health care. Pre-employment health screening was offered to two-thirds of employees, the physicians being the least likely to be examined (15%). Scottish ...

Fever during pregnancy can be harmful for the mother and the infant. In resource poor settings health workers have very few field-based tests that help them identify the cause of infection. This study examined the causes of fever in pregnant women using laboratory support that is typically unavailab...

Corky root disease of tomato, caused by the soil-borne fungus Pyrenochaeta lycopersici, is a common and serious problem for organic tomato production. This paper addresses the possibility of developing a management strategy for corky root disease in participation with organic tomato growers in Sweden. The participatory research group consisted of nine organic tomato growers from central Sweden, two extension workers and two researchers. Regular meetings were held so that growers, extension workers and researchers could exchange knowledge on corky root disease management. A number of research issues were identified during group discussions: use of mulch, break crop, grafted tomato plants, composts, composted Pyrenochaeta-infested soil, fungivorous nematodes and commercially available bio-co...

This study sought to identify lessons for social workers from the health care research on influencing practitioners to use evidence-based practices (EBP). Research reviews of strategies to influence providers to use EBP are summarized. Among the findings are that printed educational materials, the use of local opinion leaders, and continuous quality improvement are weak interventions. Educational outreach visits and audit and feedback showed weak to moderate effects, whereas certain types of continuing education and use of computers showed moderate effects. Although much needs to be learned about providing social workers with the latest research knowledge, a combination of strategies is more likely to be effective. (Contains 1 table.)

The 18 laboratories of the Department of Energy (DOE) system have joined together to form the DOE National Laboratory`s Coordinating Council to facilitate research collaborations and increase communications. One focal area for the Coordinating Council is an effort to identify knowledge and technologies in the National Laboratory system that are of value to the Forest Products industry. This knowledge can be used to solve problems faced by many industries, including the Forest Products industry. The Coordinating Council is also working to facilitate new partnership between the DOE National Laboratories and their industrial and university partners.

This study is to determine the distribution of the delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) polymorphism among Han subjects of the Chinese population and to study whether the polymorphism in the ALAD gene modifies the toxicity of lead in lead-exposed workers. For this purpose we conducted a cross-sectional study on 156 Chinese workers who were exposed to lead in lead-acid battery and electric-flex manufacturing plants. The authors found that the allele frequencies of ALAD1 and ALAD2 were 0.9679 and 0.0321, respectively. Workers with the ALAD 1-1 genotype were associated with higher blood lead levels than those with the ALAD 1-2 genotype. Blood and urine lead levels were much higher in storage battery workers than in cable workers. The self-conscious symptom survey showed that the incidences of debilitation, amnesia and dreaminess were much higher in those had more than five years of tenure or contact with lead on the job within the ALAD 1-1 genotype subgroup. Laboratory examinations showed that serum iron and zinc levels in workers' with the ALAD 1-2 genotype were higher than those with the ALAD 1-1 genotype, especially in storage-battery workers. Correlation analysis indicated that the blood lead level negatively correlated with serum calcium, iron and zinc level. The data of this study suggest that the ALAD gene polymorphism and serum ion levels may modify the kinetics of lead in blood. Therefore, the authors recommend that an adequate intake of dietary calcium, iron, and zinc or the calcium, iron, and zinc supplementation should be prescribed to Chinese lead exposed workers. PMID:22851944

Questions have been posed about the lack of knowledge of the role public managers play in the policy process. In this study, following on the suggestions of Hicklin and Godwin and Meier in this journal, we identify different dimensions of the analyst-manager divide among professional policy workers. Using the results of several recent large-N surveys of Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial policy workers, we explore the roles each group plays in the policy analytical process and the variations in their behavior in terms of duties and tasks, attitudes, and interrelationships. We also examine these to see the impact of federalism on professional policy practices. The study uncovers three groups of policy workers and policy managers-coordinator-planners, research-analysts, and direct...

Health workers can contribute to HIV prevention by minimizing HIV transmission in health facilities and increasing client teaching. We offered a peer-group intervention for Malawian rural health workers to build their universal precautions and teaching skills. A quasi-experimental design using independent sample surveys and observations compared health workers in an intervention and delayed intervention control district at baseline and at 15 and 30 months post-intervention. Controlling for demographic factors, the intervention district had more reported HIV teaching at 15 and 30 months and also had higher universal precautions knowledge and fewer needle stick injuries at 30 months. Observations at 15 and 30 months post-intervention showed higher levels of teaching in the intervention distr...

This paper examines the relationship between migrants’ social networks, the processes of language acquisition and tourism employment. Data collected using netnography and interviews are used to identify the strategies that Polish workers in the UK use to develop their language skills. The paper highlights the roles played by co-workers, co-nationals and customers in migrants’ language learning, both in the physical spaces of work and the virtual spaces of internet forums. It also shows how migrant workers exchange knowledge about the use of English during different stages of their migration careers: prior to leaving their country of origin and getting a job, during their employment and after leaving their job. Implications for academic inquiry and human resource management pr...

Background Over 250,000 workers are employed in poultry processing, one of the most dangerous industries in the US. These jobs are increasingly held by immigrant workers who are frequently undocumented, lack knowledge of workers rights to workplace safety, and who are reluctant to pursue their rights. This situation creates the potential for organizational injustice, made visible through abusive supervisory practices, and leads to situations in which occupational illnesses and injuries are likely to occur. Methods This paper draws on data collected during the research phases of a community-based participatory research and social justice project. Two hundred survey interviews and 26 in-depth interviews were collected in representative, community-based samples in western North Carolina. Anal...

The research that informs this article was focused around the relationship between how workers are trained to work safely and how workers learn to work safely in the workplace. The findings of empirical studies into learning and practising safety in aged care, fire fighting, building construction, and mining industries are summarized. A common feature emerging from these studies is the failure of safety training through codified knowledge practices such as those incorporated in competency-based training. In such training the embodied learning of workers in the social and physical environments of the workplace is ignored. Stories of this embodied and spatial learning will be analysed in order to draw some conclusions about the practical problem of facilitating learning to work safely. We explore how theoretical categories of the body and space, which have been largely ignored in workplace learning research, can contribute to our understandings of workplace learning more generally.

Slave-making ants exploit the labour of their own or another species. Temnothorax ambiguus and T. longispinosus are both ant species that serve as hosts of the obligatory slave-making ant Protomognathus americanus and are facultative slave-makers themselves. We offered laboratory colonies of T. ambiguus and T. longispinosus a series of choices among different larval types to better understand their brood discrimination abilities. Workers of both species preferentially accepted nestmate over non-nestmate larvae. Both species preferentially retrieved unrelated conspecific larvae over congeneric allospecific larvae, and T. ambiguus workers consumed more allospecifics than conspecifics. When presented with conspecific versus P. americanus larvae, both species manifested a clear bias towards co...

This report covers six months of effort, including startup time. Five projects were supported by the division: Pilot Program for the Risk-Based Surveillance of Lung Cancer in Los Alamos National Laboratory Workers, Optimization of Placement of Workplace Continuous Air Monitoring Instrumentation, A Polymeric Barrier Monitor to Protect Workers, Evaluation of a Real-Time Beryllium Detection Instrument and the Implications of Its Use, and High-Energy Dosimetry. A project summary for each is provided. An appendix to the report includes the 1995 Request for Proposals, Committee Members, Priority Technical Areas of Interest for FY95, Relative Prioritization and Weighting Factors, Format for Proposals, and Charter.

 To be effective, knowledge management systems need to encompass both social processes and technical components (McDermott 2000),   On the other hand, knowledge communication as a concept has emerged not from the inspiration of technology, but partly from the social-technical challenge of dealing with technology in knowledge management systems.  So, is knowledge communication a process that can be technologically enabled?  In this presentation, we explore the possibilities of socio-technical interaction for knowledge communication through the use of a mobile phone game as a knowledge communication tool.  Our research focuses in on use of this mobile phone game as a case study for a Project Management course given simultaneously at the Aarhus School of Business and the Helsinki School of Economics.  The students used knowledge communication and knowledge management theories as part of their project conception & project planning processes for situating the mobile game in a social knowledge communication contextsuch as a museum exhibit.  We will discuss the HSE students' use of theories and the reception of their project ideas by clients, as well as the ASB students' response to the case of implementing this mobile phone game to help next years' students navigated the CampusNet system in order to study for the exam.  The CampusNet system can be seen as a knowledge management technology situated within the social context of the Project Management course, and so the examples offered, in effect, demonstrate the potential to use technology for knowledge communication in helping knowledge workers navigate knowledge management systems.    McDermott, Richard. "Why technology inspired, but cannot deliver knowledge management." In Lesser, Fontaine & Slusher, eds. Knowledge and Communities. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann., 2000.  

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to train primary health care workers to be trainers and implementers of community-based AIDS prevention activities in Oyo State, Nigeria, by describing an evaluation of the project. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 148 primary health care workers recruited from the 33 local government areas (LGA) of the state were trained as trainers. They were provided seed grants to replicate similar training for health workers, implement and evaluate community-based AIDS prevention activities. Questionnaires were used before and after the training and the community based projects to evaluate its impact on knowledge of cause of AIDS, routes of HIV transmission, signs and symptoms of AIDS, and precautions to prevent. Findings: At pre-test, only 30.8 percent of trainers could list at least four signs and symptoms of AIDS compared with 70.9 percent who could do so after the training. The trainers trained 973 health workers; the number trained ranged from 20-80 with a mean of 32.4. The trainers also implemented community-based AIDS prevention interventions which reached 2,082 persons including adolescents (48.2 percent), long-distance drivers (16.6 percent), market men and women (15.8 percent), female sex workers (14.2 percent), traditional birth attendants (4.6 percent) and herdsmen and women (5.6 percent). The evaluation conducted after four months of implementation of the community-based projects showed improvement in knowledge of HIV among all the target groups. It suggests reduction in reported unprotected sex among drivers (from 44 percent at pre-test to 18.9 percent at post-test) and increase in reported consistent use of condoms (from 53.4 percent at pre-test to 71.4 percent at post-test) among female sex workers. Research limitations/implications: Primary health care workers can successfully implement community-based HIV/AIDS prevention activities. Practical implications: Primary health care workers can make important contributions to HIV/AIDS prevention and control efforts. Originality/value: Health education interventions delivered by primary health care workers multiplied the effects of HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities. (Contains 4 tables.)

Abstract in portuguese Foi estudada a ocorrência de acidente de trabalho em profissionais de saúde no período de 2002/2003 e a influência das medidas de biossegurança e aceitação de quimioprofilaxia frente ao risco de transmissão ocupacional do HIV. Avaliou-se 570 profissionais de saúde de seis hospitais públicos, selecionados aleatoriamente, do conjunto de hospitais do Distrito Federal, Brasil. Esses profissionais foram questionados quanto ao conhecimento sobre biossegurança, ocorr? (more) ?ncia de acidente de trabalho, aceitação da quimioprofilaxia e teste sorológico anti-HIV. Entre os profissionais avaliados, o coeficiente de acidentabilidade foi de 39,1 e mostrou-se inversamente proporcional ao porte do hospital. Dentistas, médicos e técnicos de laboratório acidentaram-se mais, em contrapartida aos farmacêuticos e enfermeiros. As situações relacionadas ao acidente de trabalho com maior aceitação e adesão ao uso da quimioprofilaxia foram sorologia positiva e carga viral intensa do paciente-fonte (99,6-99,0%), em contraposição à sorologia negativa do paciente-fonte e acidente de pequena proporção (36,8-55,6%). O conhecimento dos profissionais de saúde sobre o conceito e as normas de biossegurança, a disponibilidade destas na unidade de trabalho e a realização de treinamento em biossegurança não influenciaram positivamente no coeficiente de acidentabilidade de trabalho. Abstract in english This study evaluates the knowledge and acceptance of biosafety measures by health care professionals in light of the potential risk of occupational transmission of HIV. The survey assessed 570 health care workers from 6 hospitals, randomly selected from all hospitals in the Federal District (Brasilia), Brazil. The sample corresponds to 15.0% of the all health professionals in the selected hospitals. These professionals answered a semi-structured questionnaire on knowledge (more) of biosafety and universal precautions, risk of occupational HIV transmission, work-related accidents, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and acceptance of chemoprophylaxis and HIV testing. The overall accident coefficient was 39.1. Dentists, physicians, and laboratory technicians were those who most frequently suffered such accidents. The accident coefficient was inversely proportional to the hospital capacity. The professionals' knowledge of biosafety concepts and the fact that written norms were displayed in their workstations did not positively affect the work accident coefficient.

To provide medical surveillance of workers exposed to risk of internal contamination, IRSN (French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety) has developed two mobile laboratories for on-site monitoring. The laboratories are unique in Europe. They meet the new radiation protection requirements for nuclear medicine departments and radiological emergency response. Details of the design, calibration procedures and performance characteristics of these systems in measurements of various types of organs (thyroid, lung and whole body) are described. The sensitivity of the measurements is very close to that achieved in a heavily shielded stationary laboratory.

This project included three separate studies undertaken to determine the effectiveness of television instruction as a method of effectively delivering information about solar energy systems to present and future workers in related industries, and as a method of delivery for adult continuing education instruction. All three studies used a series of five half-hour videotapes. A survey of the general public in the Las Cruces area was conducted to determine the number and occupational status of people watching the series on a local public broadcasting station. Surveys of random samples then assessed the prior level of knowledge on solar energy of residents from differing socioeconomic strata and any increase in knowledge after viewing the series. The worker study included apprentices, journeymen sheet metal workers, and materials handlers. These workers were given a pretest, shown the television series, and given a posttest. The relative effectiveness of television and regular instruction were compared in solar energy related vocational classes at two postsecondary institutions, and student attitudes concerning television instruction were assessed.

The increase in the spread of human immune-deficiency virus (HIV) infection among our population calls for measures to check its transmission. Health workers are at risk especially those in clinical practice who work with needles and other sharp objects that could aid transmission of the virus. Professionalism is at its lowest at Primary Health Care level and workers responsible for giving immunization with injections need clear understanding of principles of safe injection. To appreciate how to formulate a training programme, the knowledge and practice of injection safety among the workers were assessed through the use of a questionnaire. Fifty eight percent thought only children receiving immunization were at risk of a disease, 58.3% know the diseases transmissible by needle stick injury. On reasons for prevalence of unsafe injection practices, 27% suggested inadequate provision, 18.3% poverty, 17.7% ignorance, 17.2% improper disposal, 11.8% lack of surveillance and health supervision for workers and 8% negligence. On syringes and needles disposal, 53.2% suggested burning only, 2.1% burying and 44.7% both burning and burying. Less than 9% knew that auto-destruct syringes exist while 38.9% were aware of the joint WHO and UNICEF statement on "bundling approach" in vaccine packaging. Only about 50% of respondents had facilities for disposal of needles and syringes in their health centers, 45.6% wear protective clothing during service delivery. On making injection safer 33.7% suggested re-training of health workers, 22% retraining of workers and public re-education, 16.8% suggested planning budgeting and purchasing of auto-destruct syringes, 16.5% social mobilization and advocacy and 11% suggested the provision of facilities for disposal. It was concluded that awareness on safe injection practices was low among the health workers and that their practices could put them at greater risk of needles stick injury and hence the spread of HIV and other infection among them. Training on safe injection practices is therefore recommended. PMID:12081351

There is growing concern over the possible increase in mental health problems among Japanese workers. This trend is generally regarded as a reflection of Japan's prolonged economic depression and changes in working environment. In fact, claims for compensation for industrial accidents related to mental health diseases have been rapidly increasing in recent years. Working hours, personal-relationships, support from supervisors/co-workers, job demand, job control, and payment are known to affect workers mental health. In 2004, the Government announced a guideline to combat overwork and mental health problems at work places. This guideline articulates that long overtime working is a major indicator, and workers who work over 100 h overtime in a month should be encouraged to see an occupational physician. This guideline takes into account the practicalities of occupational health at work places and the empiric knowledge that long working hours might associate with workers mental health status. It may be reasonable to assume that long working hours affect workers health status both psychologically and physiologically, interacting with a variety of occupational factors, particularly job stress. However, the association between working hours and workers mental health status has not been fully clarified. The present article aimed to provide a systematic review of the association between working hours and mental health problems. The authors conducted a systematic review of the published literature on the association between working hours and mental health problems using PubMed. Of 131 abstracts and citations reviewed, 17 studies met the predefined criteria. Ten of these are longitudinal studies, and the others are cross-sectional studies. Seven of the 17 studies report statistically significant associations between working hours and mental health problems, while the others report no association. In addition, comparison among these studies is difficult because a variety of measurements of working hours were used. The present review found inconsistent results in the association between working hours and mental health burden. PMID:16908956

I denne artikel præsenteres der argumenter for, hvordan den traditionelle forståelse af begreberne viden og information, baseret på et kognitivt psykologisk syn på menneskene, er Kartesiansk. Denne forståelse kritiseres. På baggrund af dette dannes en ny Post-Kartesiansk forståelse af viden som et opgave-relateret aktivitetssystem, som inkorporerer den information, som er nødvendig for udførelsen af opgaven. Der argumenteres for, at vidensudviklings-processen er opgave-motiveret og selve processen beskrives. På baggrund af dette defineres begrebet Activity-based knowledge worker i en Post-Kartesiansk organisation. Der argumenteres for, hvordan disse 'knowledge workers' kan motivere vidensudviklingsprocessen i organisationerne. Der gives eksempel for, hvordan de, i vores moderne informationssamfund, kan benytte ISAs til at udvikle ny viden i organisationerne.

This standard establishes requirements that, when coupled with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's (LLNL's) Integrated Safety Management System (ISMS) methods and other Work Smart Standards for assuring worker safety, assure that the impacts of nonnuclear operations authorized in LLNL facilities are well understood and controlled in a manner that protects the health of workers, the public, and the environment. All LLNL facilities shall be classified based on potential for adverse impact of operations to the health of co-located (i.e., nearby) workers and the public in accordance with this standard, Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 830, Subpart B, and Department of Energy Order (DOE O) 420.2A.

Summary In most situations, complete circadian adjustment is not recommended for night workers. With complete adjustment, workers experience circadian misalignment when returning on a day-active schedule, causing repeated circadian phase shifts and internal desynchrony. For this reason, partial circadian realignment was proposed as a good compromise to stabilize internal circadian rhythms in night shift workers. However, the extent of partial circadian adjustment necessary to improve sleep and vigilance quality is still a matter of debate. In this study, the effects of small but statistically significant partial circadian adjustments on sleep and vigilance quality were assessed in a laboratory simulation of night work to determine whether they were also of clinical significance. Partial ad...

Over the past 25 years extensive federal legislation involving the handling and transport of hazardous materials/waste has been passed that has resulted in numerous overlapping regulations administered and enforced by different federal agencies. The handling and transport of hazardous materials/waste involves a significant number of workers who are subject to a varying degree of risk should an accident occur during handling or transport. Effective transportation training can help workers address these risks and mitigate them, and at the same time enable ORNL to comply with the federal regulations concerning the transport of hazardous materials/waste. This presentation will outline how the Environmental and Health Protection Division's Technical Resources and Training Section at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, working with transportation and waste disposal personnel, have developed and implemented a comprehensive transportation safety training program to meet the needs of our workers while satisfying appropriate federal regulations. 8 refs., 3 tabs.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Laboratory Directors' Environmental and Occupational/Public Health Standards Steering Group (or ''SSG'') was formed in 1990. It was felt then that ''risk'' could be an organizing principle for environmental cleanup and that risk-based cleanup standards could rationalize clean up work. The environmental remediation process puts workers engaged in cleanup activities at risk from hazardous materials and from the more usual hazards associated with construction activities. In a real sense, the site remediation process involves the transfer of a hypothetical risk to the environment and the public from isolated contamination into real risks to the workers engaged in the remediation activities. Late in its existence the SSG, primarily motivated by its LANL representative, Dr. Harry Ettinger, actively investigated issues associated with worker health and safety during environmental remediation activities. This paper summarizes the insights noted by the SSG. Most continue to be pertinent today.

This article articulates a vision of excellent psychosocial care in nursing homes using a quality assurance perspective and illustrates how skills of professional social workers can contribute to enhanced psychosocial care in this setting. Building on knowledge of actual and best practice roles for social work in nursing homes, this article serves as a call to differentiate professional social work from paraprofessional social services to support quality improvements for interprofessional psychosocial care and improved quality of life outcomes for residents.

Back schools are health education programmes on back pain. Many back schools have been developed for different populations since 1969 when the first one was developed in Sweden, but none for the Nigerian setting. The need to develop a back school that would be appropriate for the Nigerian environment was therefore identified. As a step towards its development, this preliminary study was carried out to determine the effect of a back school model (BSM) on some Nigerian industrial workers' knowledge of low back pain and back care. The subjects were 110 workers of a soap industry in Lagos, Nigeria. Apre-test, post-test quasi-experimental design was used. The BSM consisted of two 45 minute teaching sessions on structure and functions of the back, epidemiology and causes of back pain, correct postures and demonstration of exercises that may prevent/alleviate back pain. Data on demographic information, low back pain (LBP) experience, knowledge of back structure and back care were collected using a questionnaire with closed ended questions, which was completed before, immediately after and 8-weeks after BSM administration. The results showed that the subjects' mean knowledge score increased significantly from an initial value of 16.1 + 5.3 to 24.0 + 5.6 (p < 0.05) immediately after and 23.1 + 3.9 (p < 0.05) 8 weeks after BSM administration. Educational attainment had no influence on subjects' knowledge scores before or 8 weeks after BSM administration. Reported experience of LBP and duration on the job had no significant influence on subjects' knowledge scores before, immediately or 8-weeks following BSM administration. It was concluded that the BSM was effective in improving the workers' knowledge of LBP and back care. We believe that this findingjustifies the effort to develop the Nigerian model of back school. PMID:15819464

Environmental site investigations aim at delineating surface near (hydro-) stratigraphic units and their characterization. Knowledge about the spatial distribution of hydraulic conductivity (K) is the prerequisite for understand flow and fluid transport processes. Soil sampling and laboratory analys...

fabrication of roll diffusion bonded test packs, and the laboratory testing and analysis of the ... diffusion bonding, and the design of any special tooling required for Phase III. This reports ..... APPLICATION OF ACCUMULATED KNOWLEDGE ...

Apr 1, 2008 ... the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Landing Site Workshop #3, September 15-17 , 2008) .... members of Instrument Teams and get experience with basic data ... Useful: knowledge of MATLAB .... Glasgow, SCOTLAND ...

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has proposed to partially fund the construction of the Howard T. Ricketts (HTR) regional biocontainment laboratory (RBL) by the University of Chicago at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Illinois. The HTR Laboratory (HTRL) would be constructed, owned, and operated by the University of Chicago on land leased to it by DOE. The preferred project site is located north of Eastwood Drive and west of Outer Circle Road and is near the biological sciences building. This environmental assessment addresses the potential environmental effects resulting from construction and operation of the proposed facility. The proposed project involves the construction of a research facility with a footprint up to approximately 44,000 ft{sup 2} (4,088 m{sup 2}). The proposed building would house research laboratories, including Biosafety Level 2 and 3 biocontainment space, animal research facilities, administrative offices, and building support areas. The NIH has identified a need for new facilities to support research on potential bioterrorism agents and emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, to protect the nation from such threats to public health. This research requires specialized laboratory facilities that are designed, managed, and operated to protect laboratory workers and the surrounding community from accidental exposure to agents. The proposed HTRL would provide needed biocontainment space to researchers and promote the advancement of knowledge in the disciplines of biodefense and emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Several alternatives were considered for the location of the proposed facility, as well as a no action alternative. The preferred alternative includes the construction of a research facility, up to 44,000 ft{sup 2} (4,088 m{sup 2}), at Argonne National Laboratory, a secure government location. Potential impacts to natural and cultural resources have been evaluated in this document. The proposed activities would result in the conversion of approximately 4 acres (2 ha) of old field and open woodland for the proposed facility and landscaped areas. Impacts of the proposed project on the following resources would be minor or negligible: human health, socioeconomics, air quality, noise levels, water quality, waste management, land use, the visual environment, cultural resources, soils, terrestrial biota, wetlands or aquatic biota, threatened and endangered species, transportation, utilities and services, and environmental justice. This environmental assessment has been completed to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and has been prepared in accordance with NIH guidelines and in coordination with federal, state, and local agency requirements. On the basis of the results of this assessment, impacts to environmental resources from the proposed project would be minor or negligible, provided that the project is implemented in accordance with the impact avoidance and mitigation measures described herein.

Ethics is not a word often encountered at meetings of space activists or in work groups planning a space future. Yet, the planning of space exploration ought to have ethical dimensions because space workers are not disconnected from the remainder of society in either their professional disciplines, in their institutions, or in the subject matter they choose to study. As a scientist, I have been trained in the schema of research. Although the scientific method is noted for its system of self -correction in the form of peer review, sharing of information, and repeatability of new findings, the enterprise of universal knowledge still depends heavily on an ethical system rooted in honesty in the reporting of findings and in the processing of data. As a government employee, I receive annual "ethical training". However, the training consists almost entirely of reminders to obey various laws governing the activities and the external relationships of government employees. For 20 years l have been involved in discussions of possible futures for human exploration of space beyond low Earth orbit. Many scenarios ranging from lunar landing to Martian settlement have been discussed without any mention of possible ethical issues. l remember hearing Apollo astronaut Harrison Schmitt once remark that space exploration was attractive because technology can be employed in its purest form in the conquest of space. His point was that the challenge was Man against Nature, a struggle in which the consequences or side effects of technology was not an issue. To paraphrase, in space you do not need an environmental impact study. I wish to analyze this proposition with regard to contexts in which people initiate, or plan to initiate, activities in space. Depending on the situation, space can be viewed as a laboratory, as a frontier, as a resource, as an environment, or as a location to conduct business. All of these associations and contexts also are found in our everyday activities on Earth, and by analogy ethical issues exist that translate into the spatial dimension.

Measles is a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease. Europe is far from the 95% coverage rates necessary for elimination of the disease, although a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available. We reviewed the literature on studies carried out in European countries from January 1991 to September 2011 on knowledge, attitudes and practices of health professionals towards measles vaccination and on how health professionals have an impact on parental vaccination choices. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were considered: a total of 28 eligible articles were retrieved. Healthcare workers are considered by parents as a primary and trustworthy source of information on childhood vaccination. Gaps in knowledge and poor communication from healthcare workers are detrimental to high immunisation rates. Correct and transparent information for parents plays a key role in parental decisions on whether to have their children vaccinated. Healthcare workers' knowledge of and positive attitudes towards measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination are crucial to meeting the measles elimination goal. An effort should be made to overcome potential communication barriers and to strengthen vaccine education among healthcare professionals. PMID:22790533

Parents and caretakers of young children often have concerns about vaccine safety and adverse events following immunization (AEFI). Little is known about vaccine safety perceptions in Uganda and their influence on parental decision-making about infant immunization. The study objectives were: to identify community sources of information on immunization, vaccine safety and AEFI; determine caretakers? knowledge of immunization; identify community concerns/fears about immunization and AEFI and their influence on caretakers? decisions to vaccinate; and obtain an understanding of knowledge, perceptions, and experience of health care workers (HCWs) and policy administrators on vaccine safety and AEFI. Twelve focus group discussions with 136 caretakers who were very or somewhat concerned about vac...

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to educate the knowledge worker on the benefits of using open source software, and to demonstrate how open source methodology promotes the collaborative and innovative attributes of knowledge management. Design/methodology/approach - The author lists the open source initiative's definition for open source products, licensing information, the value of open source in a global economy, misconceived barriers to open source adoption, a functional comparison of open source and commercial software products, and web sites where open source products may be obtained. Findings - Open source usage is prevalent throughout the world for governmental, business, educational, military, and space exploration purposes. Notwithstanding, some commercial enterprises such a...

Objective: Health literacy is a growing concern as its relationship with health outcomes becomes clearer. Efforts to enhance awareness of patient health literacy in health professional education have focused on physicians, and the objective of this research was to provide an initial assessment of a training session designed for healthcare workers of all kinds. Methods: Pre- and post-surveys were completed by 166 participants (N=166) in training sessions designed to improve knowledge of health literacy and instruction in clear communication techniques. Participants provided baseline and post-training assessments of perceived knowledge of health literacy and use of strategies to improve communication with low health literate audiences. Results: Participants, initially overestimating their ow...

Ashland Synthetic Fuels, Inc. conducted an intensive industrial hygiene monitoring program to identify and characterize H-Coal Pilot Plant worker exposures to aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen oxides, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Area and personnel samples were utilized, with emphasis on personnel samples collected on operations and maintenance workers grouped into 14 functional job categories. Generally, the industrial hygiene effort indicated that the worker exposure levels were typically well below threshold limit values, and that those job activities where threshold limit value excursions occurred could be readily controlled through engineering or personal protection methods to reduce worker exposures to the above mentioned air contaminants. However, the average exposure to one contaminant, coal tar pitch volatiles, slightly exceeded the threshold limit value. Process sample technicians, pipefitters, and boilermakers consistently showed higher mean and peak exposures than workers in other job categories. The categories with consistent low relative exposures included tank farm operators, wastewater operators, and laboratory technicians. A vent condenser was found to substantially reduce emissions of benzene, toluene, xylene and hexane from a hot oil storage tank vent. Improvements in air cleaning devices for flaking units are recommended for future operations at pilot or commercial coal liquefaction facilities.

Among office workers, repetitive motion injuries such as tendonitis, muscle fatigue, and nerve irritation (caused by poor posture and arm/hand positioning while performing repetitive tasks) are a fairly new phenomenon. Office workers and their managers are not prepared to respond properly to the identification and treatment of these injuries. We found an unusually high incidence within one department at a large research facility--the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory--and developed an educational approach to reduce the frequency and severity of these injuries. Our approach was to inform the workers and managers about the origins and severity of repetitive motion injuries and their effect on the work force. Classes in ergonomic adjustment of video workstations were scheduled for all personnel who had jobs that required heavy keyboard use. The individual's responsibility in reporting any symptoms of repetitive motion injury was emphasized. We stressed to management the seriousness of the problem, the desirability of obtaining improved equipment workers may need, or the possibility of arranging a lighter workload for those showing symptoms of repetitive motion injuries. We followed these classes and briefings with additional videotaped material and written guidelines, pamphlets, and articles for further study and discussion. Early results indicate that informed workers in a supportive environment detect symptoms earlier, and therefore recover more quickly; managers who understand the problem and are able to respond positively gain better labor relations as well as lower injury rates. 4 refs., 2 figs.

Enhancement of technology-based system support for knowledge workers is an issue of great importance. The "Knowledge work Support System (KwSS)" framework analyzes this issue from a holistic perspective. KwSS proposes a set of design principles for building a comprehensive IT-based support system, which enhances the capability of a human agent for performing a set of complex and interrelated knowledge-works relevant to one or more target task-types within a domain of professional activities. In this paper, we propose a high-level, software-agent based architecture for realizing a KwSS system that incorporates these design principles. Here we focus on developing a number of crucial enabling components of the architecture, including (1) an Activity Theory-based novel modeling technique for knowledgeintensive activities; (2) a graph theoretic formalism for representing these models in a knowledge base in conjunction with relevant entity taxonomies/ontologies; and (3) an algorithm for reasoning, using the knowled...

These rules apply to all National Ignition Facility (NIF) workers (workers), which include Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) employees, non-LLNL employees (including contract labor, supplemental labor, vendors, personnel matrixed/assigned from other national laboratories, participating guests, visitors and students) and contractors/subcontractors. The General Rules and NIF Code of Safe Practices shall be used by management to promote the prevention of incidents through indoctrination, safety and health training, and on-the-job application. As a condition for contract award, all employers shall conduct an orientation for all newly hired and rehired employees before those workers will be permitted to start work in this facility. This orientation shall include a discussion of the following information. The General Rules and NIF Code of Safe Practices must be posted at a conspicuous location at the job site office or be provided to each supervisory worker who shall have it readily available. Copies of the General Rules and NIF Code of Safe Practices can also be included in employee safety pamphlets. The Environmental, Safety, and Health (ES&H) rules at the NIF Project site are based upon compliance with the most stringent of Department of Energy (DOE), LLNL, Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), California (Cal)/OSHA, and federal and state environmental requirements.

The OSHA's chemical occupational exposure standard for laboratories is an outgrowth of the previously issued Hazard Communication Standard. The standard relieves laboratories from complying with general industry standards but does not require compliance with specific guidelines. The heart of the standard is the creation of a Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) in every laboratory. The CHP addresses major issues such as safety equipment and procedures, work practices and training, the designation of a chemical hygiene officer, and the provision of medical consultation and examination for affected employees. This new standard, in effect as of 31 January, 1991, presents yet another regulatory challenge to laboratory managers but also will ensure a safer work environment for laboratory workers.

Breast and cervical cancer are the most common causes of cancer mortality among women worldwide, but they are largely preventable. There are limited data on knowledge and practices on screening methods of breast and cervical cancers among female health care workers in Sri Lanka, in spite of having an organized screening programme islandwide. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 219 female health care workers including public health midwives (68.9%) selected from 6 districts in Sri Lanka using convenient sampling methods. A self-administered questionnaire was used as a pre-test in a capacity building training programme to collect the data. The mean (SD) duration of work experience of the respondents was 12 years and 52.5% were aged over 35 years. Most (76.7%) were married, and a family history of cancer was reported by 24.2%. Over 98% knew about self breast examination. Even though 84.1% practiced it, only 47.9% practiced it on a monthly basis. Clinical breast examination and mammography were known by 94.1% and 64.3% respectively. Only 19.2% had undergone a clinical breast examination within one year and 3.6% had ever undergone a mamography. Only 76.3% knew that a Pap smear detects precancerous stage of cervical cancer. Among 169 married workers, 73.4% had never had a Pap smear and only 17.2% had got it done within the preceding 5 years. Among the reasons for not doing a pap smear within 5 years, 47.0% believed it as not necessary, 17.3% due to fear/dislike, 23.2% as not having symptoms, 3% had not known about it and 3% not known about availability of services. The study findings suggest that the knowledge and practices on breast and cervical cancer screening methods among female health care workers need to be improved. Considering the role that health care workers play in communicating health behaviors to the general public, strengthening health education interventions for this group of females is essential. PMID:22799304

The notion of knowledge internalization (KI), albeit a critical link in Nonaka's (1994) organizational knowledge creation theory, has not been rigorously conceptualized and defined, let alone operationalized. To strengthen the foundation for knowledge management (KM) research, we attempt to fulfill the following research objectives in the three essays of this dissertation. In the first essay, by drawing from Anderson (1983)'s ACT (adaptive control of thought) theory and Glaser et al. (1985)'s framework on the dimensions of cognitive skills, we develop the construct of KI and demonstrate its nomological validity by examining its role in knowledge sharing phenomenon through its relationships with knowledge self-efficacy, expert power, and intention to share knowledge. In the second essay, we apply the KI construct and show that whether people will share their tacit knowledge, measured via expert power, depends on the degree of KI and the extent of a knowledge-based individual-task-technology fit, based on Goodhue and Thompson (1995)'s task and technology fit theory, of which knowledge self-efficacy, preference for personalization KM strategy, accessibility of corresponding KM systems, and task variety, are conceptualized as the underlying components. In the third essay, we profile knowledge workers in organizations using the dimensions of KI, and explore how each profile varies in terms of knowledge self-efficacy, expert power, knowledge sharing intention, and preference for KM strategy. With the three essays, we contribute to KM research by demonstrating that KI is a crucial construct that can help clarify many unresolved issues in KM. To practice, we offer a reliable, easy-to-use, and domain-independent instrument that can be used in evaluating not only the effectiveness of knowledge workers in creating sustainable competitive advantage of organizations, but also success of organizational KM initiatives. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.

Using the database of the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation (KLWC), which is the public organization for workers' compensation in Korea, we analyzed the occupational infectious diseases among the health care workers who were compensated by the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance (IACI). From January 1998 to December 2004, 307 cases of infectious diseases were approved as being cases of occupational diseases. Women accounted for 83% (254 cases) of the compensated cases. The most common age group was 20-29 yr of age (228 cases, 74.3%). The majority of infections were tuberculosis (203 cases, 66.1%), hepatitis (42 cases, 13.7%), chickenpox (11 cases, 3.6%), AIDS (8 cases, 2.6%) and scabies (7 cases, 2.3%). The major types of occupations were nurses, including 18 aid-nurses (223 cases, 72.6%), doctors (37 cases, 12.1%), clinical pathology technicians (18 cases, 5.9%) and workers who were taking care of patients (8 cases, 2.6%). The mean working duration after infection was 3.9 yr and the mean duration of recuperation was 9.7 months. The most common department where the infected workers were working was the inpatient ward (161 cases, 52.4%), followed by the intensive care unit (51 cases, 16.6%). Through this study, we were able to elucidate the characteristics of occupational infectious diseases among Korean health care workers. These results have to be considered when establishing the management policy for prevention of occupational infectious diseases among Korean health care workers. Also, all knowledge from these Korean cases will be helpful to make good practices to promote occupational safety and health in the new era of globalization. PMID:18840934

Ambiguities in the use of the term liquefaction and in defining the relation between liquefaction and ground failure have led to encumbered communication between workers in various fields and between specialists in the same field, and the possibility that evaluations of liquefaction potential could be misinterpreted or misapplied. Explicit definitions of liquefaction and related concepts are proposed herein. These definitions, based on observed laboratory behavior, are then used to clarify the relation between liquefaction and ground failure. \\r\

The use of helicopters for maintenance on live overhead transmission lines has become a realistic option. The helicopter blades, body and working platform can be seen as creating an incomplete Faraday cage which may be an enhancement to live-line worker safety. This paper simulates the condition using a Faraday cage which can be dismantled in a controlled laboratory environment, to ascertain the effectiveness of apparatus. (author)

This safety analysis report outlines the safety concerns associated with the Waste Storage Facility located in the Radioactive Waste Management Complex at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. The three main objectives of the report are: define and document a safety basis for the Waste Storage Facility activities; demonstrate how the activities will be carried out to adequately protect the workers, public, and environment; and provide a basis for review and acceptance of the identified risk that the managers, operators, and owners will assume.

Neutron shielding was desired to reduce worker exposure during handling of plutonium-238 (Pu-238) in a glovebox at the Idaho National Laboratory. Due to the unusual shape of the glovebox, standard methods of neutron shielding were impractical and would have interfered with glovebox operations. A silicon-based, boron-impregnated material was chosen due to its flexibility. This paper discusses the material, the installation, and the results from neutron source testing.

The automated utilization of laboratory test in a central data base decision-making system is described. A compilation of medical knowledge pertaining to adverse drug reactions and the effects of drugs on clinical laboratory tests has been developed and stored for routine monitoring of all in-patien...

Contained in the following report are data for radioactivity in the environment collected and analyzed by Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory's Princeton Environmental, Analytical, and Radiological Laboratory (PEARL). The PEARL is located on-site and is certified for analyzing radiological and non-radiological parameters through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Laboratory Certification Program, Certification Number 12471. Non-radiological surface and ground water samples are analyzed by NJDEP certified subcontractor laboratories - QC, Inc. and Accutest Laboratory. To the best of our knowledge, these data, as contained in the "Annual Site Environmental Report for 2005 and 2006," are documented and certified to be correct.

As reported in the literature, there are more than 30 different standard methods available for the analysis of asbestos in a variety of situations. The methods include those for determining asbestos concentration in air, water, bulk building materials, surface dust, soil, and lung tissue (Millette, 2006; Dodson, 2006). Knowledge of the various methodologies is essential in determining which methodology is appropriate for any given situation. To better understand the use of various techniques in evaluating asbestos, we use an example of an individual who was a machinist in an auto supply/parts business. His work activity during much of his professional career included grinding, arcing, and drilling brake components. Asbestos has been identified as an important component of friction products, particularly brakes, and exposure to asbestos brake dust is of concern, particularly in workers where grinding, arcing, sanding, and drilling of brake components are recognized as releasing appreciable dust. Various methods can be used to evaluate asbestos in tissue and air. The case reported herein was of an individual who died from a pleural mesothelioma. Paraffin-embedded lung tissue was examined by a laboratory using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and was reported to contain elevated asbestos body concentrations and five fibers, of which two were asbestos (one chrysotile and one tremolite). Tissue from the same paraffin block was analyzed by the laboratory of one of us (RFD) using analytical transmission electron microscopy (ATEM). While one might think the number of asbestos bodies and fibers would be similar using SEM and ATEM, this was not the case. Slightly elevated numbers of ferruginous asbestos bodies were detected in the digestate by light microscopy. Large numbers of uncoated chrysotile fibers were found by ATEM, but not by SEM. The majority of the chrysotile structures were fibrils whose detection required resolution levels attainable only at higher magnification by ATEM. The findings in this case clearly indicate that analysis of lung tissue digestates by ATEM at a higher magnification (15,000x) identifies significant numbers of asbestos fibers that are not identified by SEM at 1000x. These results further indicate that if causation of an asbestos-induced disease such as mesothelioma is based on asbestos concentration of lung tissue, erroneous conclusions can be made by analyzing tissue only by SEM. Thus, the methodologies that are available to analyze asbestos in lung tissue are extensively discussed here with respect to the type of procedure that should be utilized in various situations. PMID:18464058

The Synthetic and Virtual Environmental Media (SAVEM) Program, developed at the DOE Environmental Measurements Laboratory, responds directly to issues of improved data quality, increased regulatory confidence, analytical laboratory waste minimization, pollution prevention, worker safety/radiation exposure risk reduction, and environmental stewardship. The SAVEM radiochemistry information analysis system uses digitally generated spectra to accurately model gamma-ray emission characteristics of radiological samples. A digital virtual sample can be specified that has the characteristics of any environmental media such as soil, sediment, or vegetation, and which exhibits the spectral characteristics of more than 2,000 gamma-emitting nuclides. The SAVEM system can duplicate the characteristics of 2,361 individual radionuclides with 47,902 gamma lines.

This document provides the Technical Safety Requirements (TSR) for the Sandia National Laboratories Gamma Irradiation Facility (GIF). The TSR is a compilation of requirements that define the conditions, the safe boundaries, and the administrative controls necessary to ensure the safe operation of a nuclear facility and to reduce the potential risk to the public and facility workers from uncontrolled releases of radioactive or other hazardous materials. These requirements constitute an agreement between DOE and Sandia National Laboratories management regarding the safe operation of the Gamma Irradiation Facility.

...Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review; Transportation Worker Identification Credential...Requirement Title: Transportation Worker Identification Credential...conducts a survey to capture worker overall satisfaction with...

Bombus terrestris bumblebees are important pollinators of wild flowers, and in modern agriculture they are used to guarantee pollination of vegetables and fruits. In the field it is likely that worker bees are exposed to pesticides during foraging. To date, several tests exist to assess lethal and sublethal side-effects of pesticides on bee survival, growth/development and reproduction. Within the context of ecotoxicology and insect physiology, we report the development of a new bioassay to assess the impact of sublethal concentrations on the bumblebee foraging behavior under laboratory conditions. In brief, the experimental setup of this behavior test consists of two artificial nests connected with a tube of about 20 cm and use of queenless micro-colonies of 5 workers. In one nest the worker bees constructed brood, and in the other food (sugar and pollen) was provided. Before exposure, the worker bees were allowed a training to forage for untreated food; afterwards this was replaced by treated food. Using this setup we investigated the effects of sublethal concentrations of the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid, known to negatively affect the foraging behavior of bees. For comparison within the family of neonicotinoid insecticides, we also tested different concentrations of two other neonicotinoids: thiamethoxam and thiacloprid, in the laboratory with the new bioassay. Finally to evaluate the new bioassay, we also tested sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid in the greenhouse with use of queenright colonies of B. terrestris, and here worker bees needed to forage/fly for food that was placed at a distance of 3 m from their hives. In general, the experiments showed that concentrations that may be considered safe for bumblebees can have a negative influence on their foraging behavior. Therefore it is recommended that behavior tests should be included in risk assessment tests for highly toxic pesticides because impairment of the foraging behavior can result in a decreased pollination, lower reproduction and finally in colony mortality due to a lack of food. PMID:19757031

Many work activities include hazards to workers, and among these biological risk is particularly important, mostly because of different types of exposure, contact with highly dangerous agents, lack of limit values able to compare all exposures, presence of workers with defective immune systems and therefore more susceptible to the risk. Bioaerosols and dust are considered important vehicles of microganisms at workplaces and interaction with other occupational agents is assumed. Moreover, biological risk can be significant in countries with increasing economic development or particular habits and some biological agents are also classified as carcinogenic to human. Specific emerging biological risks have been recently pointed out by Risk Observatory of the European Agency for Safety and Health at work, and we must consider the worker’s attitude and behaviour, influenced by his own perception of risk more than his real knowledge, that could over-underestimate the risk itself. Therefore, biological risk at work requires a complex approach in relation to risk assessment and risk management, made more difficult due to the wide variety of biological agents, working environments and working techniques that can determine the exposures.   

The composition of the U.S. workforce is changing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2014 workers who are aged 55 and older will comprise 21.2% of the labor force--compared to 15.6% in 2004 and 11.9% in 1994. More corporations are beginning to pay attention to this trend and have begun to assess the needs and potential of older workers. In 2007, The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) conducted research on corporate approaches to the mature workforce. The companies CAEL examined for this study--Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL), Main Line Health System (MLH), and IBM--have begun to recognize the potential business opportunity in helping their older workers, and they are therefore making an investment in training these employees, envisioning new roles for them, and developing innovative strategies for knowledge transfer. This brief documents the mature-worker strategies developed by these three leaders, the business needs that led to the change, the business value of those investments, and the impact of the initiatives on company practices more generally. (Contains 7 footnotes.) [Funding for this report was provided by The Conference Board.

Optimism has several orientations. One such outlook is a general tendency to regard the world as a positive place, accepting difficulties as mere challenges instead of impassable barriers. Among health care workers, optimism improves their level of functioning, their patients' satisfaction, and their therapeutic results. Optimistic staff members report feeling less pressure, use fewer avoidance strategies, focus on practical problem solutions, seek social support, and have more trust in people and organizations. The aim of this article is to provide a review of the literature concerning the role of optimism, both in daily life and in crisis situations. An attempt was made to find the linkage between optimism among health care workers during disasters and their active response, with special emphasis on the relationship between optimism and knowledge, feelings or behavior. Based on the literature, optimism was found to be helpful both in daily medical work and in cases of medical emergencies. Optimism was also revealed one of the key components of resilience and self-efficacy. Therefore, it is recommended to consider strengthening the optimism through initiative programs. Obtaining optimism can be included in toolkit preparedness for health care workers in order to confront the complications in the aftermath of disaster. These programs, together with appropriate information, social support, professional trust, and leaders modeling behavior, will raise the well-being and enhance coping skills of the health care workers during and aftermath of disaster scenarios. PMID:22461847

Firearms constitute an environmental risk factor for suicide among all age groups. Although other professions have been urged to assess firearm availability and advocate for the removal of firearms of their clients, little is known about the practices and the techniques within the social work profession. The present study surveyed a random sample (N = 697) of Ohio licensed social workers (requiring a BSW) and Ohio licensed independent social workers (requiring an MSW and 3,000 hours of post-master's practice experience) on their attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors regarding client firearm assessment and safety counseling. Findings indicated that the majority of social workers in this study did not report assessing for firearms or counseling on firearm safety on a routine basis. Barriers included lack of training on risks, lack of risk awareness, discomfort with the topic, not social work responsibility, lack of time, and more important topics to discuss. The most influential variable positively related to firearm assessment and counseling behaviors among these social workers was reporting previous firearm safety training. Other variables included influential media, depressed client, and suicidal client.

The safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) requires that personnel possess and maintain the requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes to do their jobs properly. Such knowledge includes not only the technical competencies required by the nature of the technology and particular engineering designs, but also the softer competencies associated with effective management, communication and teamwork. Recent studies have shown that there has been a loss of corporate knowledge and memory. Both explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge must be passed on to the next generation of workers in the industry to ensure a quality workforce. New and different techniques may be required to ensure timely and effective knowledge retention and transfer. The IAEA prepared a report on this subject. The main conclusions from the report regarding strategies for managing the aging workforce are included. Also included are main conclusions from the report regarding the capture an d preservation of mission critical knowledge, and the effective transfer of this knowledge to the next generation of NPP personnel. The nuclear industry due to its need for well-documented procedures, specifications, design basis, safety analyses, etc., has a greater fraction of its mission critical knowledge as explicit knowledge than do many other industries. This facilitates the task of knowledge transfer. For older plants in particular, there may be a need for additional efforts to transfer tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge to support major strategic initiatives such as plant license extensions/renewals, periodic safety reviews, major plant upgrades, and plant specific control room simulator development. The challenge in disseminating explicit knowledge is to make employees aware that it is available and provide easy access in formats and forms that are usable. Tacit knowledge is more difficult to identify and disseminate. The challenge is to identify what can be converted to explicit knowledge and to create an environment where tacit knowledge is routinely shared and disseminated. Many NPP operating organizations have taken positive and decisive steps to address the aging workforce situation. A number of these actions are described in the report.

To understand human contamination by multi-trace elements (TEs) in electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) recycling site at Agbogbloshie, Accra in Ghana, this study analyzed TEs and As speciation in urine of e-waste recycling workers. Concentrations of Fe, Sb, and Pb in urine of e-waste recycling workers were significantly higher than those of reference sites after consideration of interaction by age, indicating that the recycling workers are exposed to these TEs through the recycling activity. Urinary As concentration was relatively high, although the level in drinking water was quite low. Speciation analysis of As in human urine revealed that arsenobetaine and dimethylarsinic acid were the predominant As species and concentrations of both species were positively correlated with total As concentration as well as between each other. These results suggest that such compounds may be derived from the same source, probably fish and shellfish and greatly influence As exposure levels. To our knowledge, this is the first study on human contamination resulting from the primitive recycling of e-waste in Ghana. This study will contribute to the knowledge about human exposure to trace elements from an e-waste site in a less industrialized region so far scantly covered in the literature. PMID:22446112

The objective of this study was to explore knowledge of, attitudes towards and practice of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the Thika district, Kenya. We used site and population-based surveys, qualitative interviews and operational research with 650 staff at risk of needlestick injuries (NSIs). Research was conducted over a 5-year period in five phases: (1) a bio-safety assessment; (2) a staff survey: serum drawn for anonymous HIV testing; (3) interventions: biosafety measures, antiretrovirals for PEP and hepatitis B vaccine; (4) a repeat survey to assess uptake and acceptability of interventions; in-depth group and individual interviews were conducted; and (5) health system monitoring outside a research setting. The main outcome measures were bio-safety standards in clinical areas, knowledge, attitudes and practice as regards to PEP, HIV-sero-prevalence in healthcare workers, uptake of interventions, reasons for poor uptake elucidated and sustainability indicators. Results showed that HCWs had the same HIV sero-prevalence as the general population but were at risk from poor bio-safety. The incidence of NSIs was 0.97 per healthcare worker per year. Twenty-one percent had had an HIV test in the last year. After one year there was a significant drop in the number of NSIs (OR: 0.4; CI: 0.3-0.6; pdistrict. However, where HIV testing remains stigmatised uptake will be limited - particularly in the initial phases of a programme. PMID:18351477

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the lean production paradigm as promoter of workers' creativity and thinking potential, and recognize this human potential as a fundamental asset for companies' growth and success, being a major factor to face the disturbing and unpredictable needs of current markets, providing companies with the necessary agility. The authors believe these thinkers are the base for an agile company and learning organization. Design/methodology/approach: The objectives were achieved through a deep literature review, starting with the Toyota production system (TPS) origins. Some industrial lean case studies were also explored to show that the adoption of a lean culture promotes a pro-active attitude and behavior that are so important for companies nowadays. Findings: This paper explores the association between lean production and the promotion of thinkers. For a long period, and even nowadays, it is common to consider the worker as just another production factor that the companies explore to obtain the maximum utilization. This was a result from the distorted knowledge of the Taylor principles and the Ford assembly line model, seeing the worker as a gear in the "big machine". Lean production was seen, for many years and by many authors, as an extension of this Taylorist/Fordist model but this paper highlights lean production as a work organization model where the worker assumes a position of thinker, continuously looking for improvement and continuously looking for wastes. By reducing wastes, the company will be prepared to accommodate changes and will attain agility. Research limitations/implications: This paper is mainly based on literature review and on some industrial case studies of lean implementations (recent or just a few years ago); a deep research is necessary on the cause-effect relation between lean production adoption and promotion of thinkers. Practical implications: Helping companies to recognize the importance of workers as thinkers will have relevant impacts through the reduction of waste and costs, improving quality and increase productivity and revenue. Also, for workers, this recognition means respect, self-esteem and confidence, and, essentially, more satisfaction with work. Social implications: With lean production and agility, better products will quickly reach society, contributing thus to clients' satisfaction. Also, lean companies' CEO and workers looking for wastes will lead to a reduction of energy consumption, raw materials needs and gas emissions (reducing pollution of air, land and water), producing only what is needed. Being satisfied with their work they will be happier contributing to the raising of the country's happiness. Originality/value: The authors are not aware of similar research. The paper is meant for those who are interested in improving their companies' operations and workers' relationships. (Contains 1 table and 3 figures.)

We assessed hospital infection control knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of healthcare workers (HCWs) during the Hajj season of the Islamic y 1423 (2003). A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. A total of 392 HCWs was studied, of whom 215 (54.8%) were nurses and 177 (45.2%) were doctors. 315 (80.4%) HCWs worked in hospitals, whereas 77 (19.6%) worked in primary healthcare centres. Of the 392 HCWs, 164 (41.8%) were from Makkah, and the remaining 228 (58.2%) were recruited from other regions in Saudi Arabia. A good proportion (81.8%) of HCWs correctly answered at least 5 of the 11 knowledge statements. However, obvious deficiency of knowledge appeared concerning other important hospital infection control measures. A smaller proportion (61.9%) of HCWs...

A study is underway to develop an approach to quantify bias and uncertainty in recorded dose estimates for workers at the Hanford Site based on personnel dosimeter results. This paper focuses on selected experimental studies conducted to better define response characteristics of Hanford dosimeters. The study is more extensive than the experimental studies presented in this paper and includes detailed consideration and evaluation of other sources of bias and uncertainty. Hanford worker dose estimates are used in epidemiologic studies of nuclear workers. A major objective of these studies is to provide a direct assessment of the carcinogenic risk of exposure to ionizing radiation at low doses and dose rates. Considerations of bias and uncertainty in the recorded dose estimates are important in the conduct of this work. The method developed for use with Hanford workers can be considered an elaboration of the approach used to quantify bias and uncertainty in estimated doses for personnel exposed to radiation as a result of atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons between 1945 and 1962. This approach was first developed by a National Research Council (NRC) committee examining uncertainty in recorded film badge doses during atmospheric tests (NRC 1989). It involved quantifying both bias and uncertainty from three sources (i.e., laboratory, radiological, and environmental) and then combining them to obtain an overall assessment. Sources of uncertainty have been evaluated for each of three specific Hanford dosimetry systems (i.e., the Hanford two-element film dosimeter, 1944-1956; the Hanford multi-element film dosimeter, 1957-1971; and the Hanford multi-element TLD, 1972-1993) used to estimate personnel dose throughout the history of Hanford operations. Laboratory, radiological, and environmental sources of bias and uncertainty have been estimated based on historical documentation and, for angular response, on selected laboratory measurements.

A study of office worker exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF MF) was conducted at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The main purpose of this study was to quantitatively assess ELF MF exposures. A secondary objective was to determine whether or not exposures to ELF MF can be reduced by implementing administrative controls and educating workers on the sources of such fields. EMDEX dosimeters were used to determine full shift personal exposures for 12 volunteers from two personnel sections and one training section. In addition, using the EMDEX meter in survey mode, office area evaluations were conducted. Administrative controls and training were implemented in an attempt to reduce exposures. Post control monitoring was conducted to determine if a reduction in ELF MF occurred among the workers. On average, baseline office worker exposures to ELF MF were 2.3 mG, ranging from 0.6 to 9.7 mG. The post control exposures averaged 1.1 mG with a range from 0.5 to 2.2 mG. A reduction of 53% overall was seen after implementation of administrative controls and training. The office area survey indicated that many sources of ELF MF influence exposure and that magnetic field strengths vary not only from one type of equipment to another, but also vary between two similar pieces of equipment.

In most situations, complete circadian adjustment is not recommended for night workers. With complete adjustment, workers experience circadian misalignment when returning on a day-active schedule, causing repeated circadian phase shifts and internal desynchrony. For this reason, partial circadian realignment was proposed as a good compromise to stabilize internal circadian rhythms in night shift workers. However, the extent of partial circadian adjustment necessary to improve sleep and vigilance quality is still a matter of debate. In this study, the effects of small but statistically significant partial circadian adjustments on sleep and vigilance quality were assessed in a laboratory simulation of night work to determine whether they were also of clinical significance. Partial adjustments obtained by phase delay or by phase advance were quantified not only by the phase shift of dim light salivary melatonin onset, but also by the overlap of the episode of melatonin production with the sleep-wake cycle adopted during simulated night work. The effects on daytime sleep and night-time vigilance quality were modest. However, they suggest that even small adjustments by phase delay may decrease the accumulation of sleep debt, whereas the advance strategy improves subjective alertness and mood during night work. Furthermore, absolute phase shifts, by advance or by delay, were associated with improved subjective alertness and mood during the night shift. These strategies need to be tested in the field, to determine whether they can be adapted to real-life situations and provide effective support to night workers. PMID:22329989

Lead-lined gloves used during the processing of nuclear materials within gloveboxes is an example of a barrier. To help prevent work contamination, current practice includes visual inspection and radiological monitoring of each glove on a regular basis. One administrative control requires radiological workers to monitor their hands upon removal form the glovebox gloves. In reality, either a catastrophic glove failure or the formation of pinholes can cause contamination which is detected after the fact. Real-time monitoring of glove integrity during use would help prevent the spread of contamination, minimize decontamination costs, and protect the glovebox worker. Another benefit of real-time monitoring is remotely alerting proper personnel of a glovebox glove breech. One of the most exciting aspects of this technology is the rapid detection of a breech in the glovebox glove. A puncture to a glove can be detected followed by an alert to a worker in less than a second. The benefits of a real-time monitoring system for glove integrity are immense. Examples of benefits using this new glove are: reducing work stoppage, personnel contamination, glovebox glove replacements, and the filing of costly reports. The primary application of this technology at Los Alamos National Laboratory would be protecting the worker with these newly designed lead-lined gloves.

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has established an in vitro bioassay monitoring program in compliance with the requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 835, Occupational Radiation Protection. One aspect of this program involves monitoring plutonium levels in at-risk workers. High-risk workers are monitored using the ultra-sensitive Therrnal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS) technique to ensure compliance with DOE standards. TIMS is used to measure atom ratios of 239Pua nd 240Puw ith respect to a tracer isotope ('Pu). These ratios are then used to calculate the amount of 239Pu and 240Pup resent. This low-level atom counting technique allows the calculation of the concentration levels of 239Pu and 240Pu in urine for at risk workers. From these concentration levels, dose assessments can be made and worker exposure levels can be monitored. Detection limits for TIMS analysis are on the order of millions of atoms, which translates to activity levels of 150 aCi 239Pua nd 500 aCi for 240Pu. pCi for Our poster presentation will discuss the ultra-sensitive, low-level analytical technique used to measure plutonium isotopes and the data verification methods used for validating isotopic measurements.

This document was prepared as a review of the current knowledge of tritium metabolism and dosimetry. The physical, chemical, and metabolic characteristics of various forms of tritium are presented as they pertain to performing dose assessments for occupational workers and for the general public. For occupational workers, the forms of tritium discussed include tritiated water, elemental tritium gas, skin absorption from elemental tritium gas-contaminated surfaces, organically bound tritium in pump oils, solvents and other organic compounds, metal tritides, and radioluminous paints. For the general public, age-dependent tritium metabolism is reviewed, as well as tritiated water, elemental tritium gas, organically bound tritium, organically bound tritium in food-stuffs, and tritiated methane. 106 refs.

Study Design Best-evidence synthesis. Objective To perform a best evidence synthesis on the course and prognostic factors for neck pain and its associated disorders in workers. Summary of Background Data Knowledge of the course of neck pain in workers guides expectations for recovery. Identifying prognostic factors assists in planning effective workplace policies, formulating interventions and promoting lifestyle changes to decrease the frequency and burden of neck pain in the workplace. Methods The Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and its Associated Disorders (Neck Pain Task Force) conducted a critical review of the literature published between 1980 and 2006 to assemble the best evidence on neck pain and its associated disorders. Studies meeting criteria for scienti...

PROBLEM.- Village health workers (VHWs) promote health and provide basic health care in areas of the world where basic health knowledge and health professionals are scarce. The 1960s-1980s saw a dramatic increase in the training of VHWs in resource-limited environments. Politics changed, disillusionment set in, and enthusiasm waned. Recently, increased pressures on health resources have led to the resurgence of VHWs. Until the shortage of health professionals is alleviated, the need for VHWs to extend the reach of scientifically verified health care into remote and conflict areas will remain acute. This need provides a compelling reason to pursue research concerning VHWs. Village health workers are usually trained by professional nurses and refer patients to them, so nursing is positioned ...

Background:- Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is associated with a history of -pathogenic care- therefore residential childcare workers are likely to come into contact with children with this disorder. An -appropriately supportive environment- may be a mitigating factor in terms of the disorder-s severity and duration (Corbin, 2007); therefore it is important that behaviours suggestive of RAD are recognised early and that these children are given the attention they require in the care setting. We aimed to gain an understanding of residential childcare workers- knowledge of RAD to determine if their understanding of RAD was sufficient to recognise RAD-like behaviour. Method:- A mixed methods study (qualitative focus groups and whole population survey) was undertaken with residential child...

Empathy is a core principle essential to social work. Despite this emphasis, minimal empirical research of empathy has been undertaken by social work researchers. The purpose of this study was to develop and initially validate the Empathy Scale for Social Workers (ESSW). The ESSW is a 41-item self-report inventory designed to assess empathy in social work practitioners. The sample (N = 271) consisted of social workers who had attained the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Findings revealed promising psychometric properties for the ESSW, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) demonstrated content, construct, and factorial validity. Results were encouraging and they lay the ground work for the continued development of the ESSW. This scale addresses a gap in social work knowledge regarding the empirical evaluation of empathy. Results have implications for social work as the scale may be used to assess student training needs and/or as a screening tool for social work supervisors and practitioners. (Contains 1 figure and 3 tables.)

The term modeling in the Workship title refers to the mathematical analysis of the consequences of many collision processes for characterizing the physical stage of radiation actions. It requires as input some knowledge of collision cross sections. Traditionally, work on cross sections and work on the modeling are conducted by separate groups of scientists. It was the purpose of the Workshop to bring these two groups together in a forum that would promote effective communication. Cross-section workers described the status of their work and told what data were available or trustworthy. Modeling workers told what kind of data were needed or were most important. Twenty-two items from the workshop were prepared separately for the data base.

Safety knowledge appears to be ‘a doing’. In construction work safety is practised in the complex interrelationship between the individual, pair and gang. Thus the aim is to explore the nature and scope of individualist and collectivist preferences pertaining to the practice of safety at a construction site. An ethnographic fieldwork, in which the researcher worked as an apprentice, will provide detailed and experiencenear insights into the complexity of these processes. Findings show that individualist and collectivist preferences influence the amount of risk the individual worker will assume and expose workmates to. Aspects such as self-regulation, self-confidence and independence are acceptable values only to the extent that they do not pose a threat to the solidarity of the community or safety of other workers. The informal practice of safety is a tight-rope act that involves balancing the form and scope of these preferences.

As the United States' economy continues to experience challenges, more families at or near the poverty level fall prey to predatory financial practices. Their vulnerability to these operations is increased by a lack of knowledge of asset-building resources and alternative financial services. This article focuses on Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)--a free income tax preparation program, which is a vital resource available to low-income families. Unfortunately, VITA is largely underused and often unknown to economically strained families and to the social workers and other professionals to whom these families turn for assistance. This article concludes with policy and practice implications for social workers and other professionals engaged in providing services to financially vulnerable families.

...February 13, 2012, applicable to workers of Chartis Global Services...77 FR 13352). The subject workers are engaged in activities related to the supply of underwriting...certification applicable to workers and former workers of the...

...Administration [TA-W-72,971] ASC Machine Tools, Inc., Spokane Valley, WA...workers and former workers of ASC Machine Tools, Inc., Spokane Valley, Washington...workers and former workers of ASC Machine Tools, Inc., Spokane Valley,...

Abstract in portuguese Este artigo propõe uma ampliação de diálogo em um duplo sentido. Diálogo entre os campos da Saúde Mental e da Saúde do Trabalhador e diálogo entre os pesquisadores e os trabalhadores. Valendo-se do dispositivo metodológico da Comunidade Ampliada de Pesquisa, colocamos em diálogo os saberes acadêmicos e os saberes da experiência cotidiana dos trabalhadores dos Centros de Atenção Psicossocial (Caps), visando compreender quais são os recursos, meios e normas d (more) isponíveis para o desenvolvimento do trabalho em saúde mental. Percebemos o quanto os trabalhadores de saúde mental têm que ser engenhosos em suas atividades, fazendo a gestão de inúmeras normas conflitantes (burocracia administrativa X plasticidade, oferta do serviço X demanda dos usuários, demanda dos gestores municipais X demanda do gestor estadual, Caps X ambulatório, etc.), muitas vezes sem os recursos e meios fundamentais para a realização de suas atividades, fragilizando e exaurindo o trabalhador em um "uso exarcebado de si". Abstract in english This paper proposes an expansion of dialogue in a double sense. Dialogue between the fields of Mental Health and Occupational Health, and dialogue between researchers and workers. Building on the methodological device of the Community Extended Search, we put in dialogue the academic knowledge and the knowledge of the everyday experience of workers from the Psychosocial Care Centers (Caps), to understand what are the resources, tools and standards available for the develop (more) ment of mental health work. We realize how much mental health workers have to be ingenious in their activities, making the management of numerous conflicting rules (administrative bureaucracy X plasticity; service supply X demand of users, demand of the municipal managers X demand of the state managers; Caps X clinic etc.), often without the resources and means necessary for performing their activities, weakening and depleting the worker in an "overdone use of himself."

Abstract in portuguese A pesquisa objetivou estudar as discriminações e os preconceitos sociais que afetam simultaneamente a vida do operário e as práticas de gestão na construção de edificações em Belo Horizonte. Adota-se uma perspectiva de análise psicossociológica, estudando os fenômenos em seu contexto socioeconômico e político. Quanto ao método, aplicaram-se três estratégias: análise de conteúdo de 22 boletins do sindicato trabalhista, um survey com aplicação de questi (more) onários estruturados em uma amostra de 361 operários e entrevistas individuais e semiestruturadas de dois operários. Os resultados apontaram o predomínio de formas veladas do preconceito e as vivências dos operários enquanto minoria social, abrangendo o desenvolvimento de atitudes de resignação que cristalizam e naturalizam a discriminação social. O saber operário é ignorado, e é enfatizada a carência do conhecimento formal que o exogrupo domina. Aponta-se a necessidade da gestão organizacional no setor de edificações incorporar e aprender práticas sociais questionadoras, contribuindo para transformar a situação social. Abstract in english The research aimed to study the discrimination and social prejudices that affect both employee life and management practices in building construction in Belo Horizonte. A psycho-sociological perspective was adopted in which the phenomena of discrimination and social prejudices were considered in their socioeconomic and political context. As to method, three strategies were applied: content analysis of 22 labor union newsletters, a survey applying a structured questionnair (more) e to 361 worker participants, and individual and semi-structured interviews with two workers. The results exposed the prevalence of veiled prejudices, and the experiences of workers as a social minority, including the development of attitudes of resignation that crystallize and naturalize social discrimination. The worker's knowledge is ignored and the lack of formal knowledge, dominated by the outgroup, is emphasized. This points out the need for organizational management in the building sector to incorporate and learn social practices of questioning that contribute to transforming the social si-tuation.

Abstract in portuguese A relevância da autogestão tem despertado estudos e discussões sobre o tema no âmbito da academia, principalmente no que diz respeito à sua proposta de mudança social. A partir de uma revisão da literatura e da análise de algumas experiências autogestionárias, defende-se a ideia de que a gestão autônoma repousa sobre três pilares: 1) autonomia e equidade no processo decisório; 2) valores humanistas e 3) disponibilidade de conhecimento técnico-administrativo (more) para os membros da organização. O objetivo deste artigo é, portanto, analisar a experiência do Programa de Autogestão da Habitação, da Secretaria Municipal de Habitação de Belo Horizonte, à luz destes pilares definidos pelos autores. De forma geral, percebeu-se que a vivência dos pilares não se dá de forma completa, o que de certa maneira impede que a autogestão seja exercida integralmente. No entanto, argumenta-se que tal forma de gestão cria um vínculo identitário-afetivo das pessoas com o imóvel e contribui para o desenvolvimento da cidadania, os quais se destacam como aspectos positivos do programa. Abstract in english The relevance of the worker's self management has inspired studies and debates in the scope of the academy, mainly in respect to its proposal of social change. From a revision of the literature and the analysis of some worker's self management experiences, it is supported the idea that it has three segments: 1) autonomy and power equality in the decision making process; 2) humanistic values and 3) technical-management knowledge available for the members of the organizatio (more) n. The objective of this article is to analyze the experience of the worker's housing self management program, of Belo Horizonte Housing Department, through these segments defined. It was observed that these segments were not fully exercised which was an obstacle for the worker's self management process. However, it is perceived that such process creates an emotional identity bond between workers, which contributes for the development of citizenship, what is interpreted as a positive aspect of the program.

Introduction Back pain entails considerable costs, particularly because many injured workers are absent from work for long periods. Factors that influence return to work among workers with back pain are still, however, not well understood. This qualitative study aimed at documenting affected workers' perspective on the: 1-difficulties caused by back pain, and 2-most important obstacles to and facilitators of return to work. Methods Two focus groups composed of workers having suffered from work-disabling back pain were held: a group of participants who had returned to work (n = 9) and a group of participants who had not returned or had recently returned to work (n = 10). The verbatim accounts of the discussions were transcribed and a content analysis was carried out that included a ranking of items. Results Difficulties caused by back pain were related to: (1) personal, (2) family, (3) social, (4) occupational, and (5) financial factors, and (6) health services. Obstacles to and facilitators of return to work were of 4 different types: (1) occupational factors, (2) factors associated with the utilization of health services, (3) clinical, and (4) personal factors. Persistent pain, lack of access to information or support groups, and lack of collaboration and understanding from employer were the most important obstacles identified, whereas knowledge of one's limits and physical training were perceived to be the most important facilitators of return to work, ahead of work-related factors. Differences between groups' perceptions were attributed mainly to control beliefs. Conclusions Personal, clinical, occupational and health services factors are perceived by workers with back pain to play a crucial role in determining whether they return to work or not. PMID:23124686

This paper introduces a practical e-learning system, identified as Knowledge Exchange E-learning System (abbr. KEES), for knowledge distribution in rural areas. Particularly, this paper is about providing a virtual teaching and learning environment for small holders in agriculture in those rural areas. E-learning is increasingly influencing the agricultural education (information and knowledge learning) in all forms and the current e-learning in agricultural education appears in informal and formal methods in many developed countries and some developing areas such as Asian Pacific regions. KEES is a solution to provide education services including other services of information distribution and knowledge sharing to local farmers, local institutes or local collection of farmers. The design of KEES is made to meet the needs of knowledge capacity building, experience sharing, skill upgrading, and information exchanging in agriculture for different conditions in rural areas. The system allows the online lecture/training materials to be distributed simultaneously with all multimedia resources through different file formats across different platforms. The teaching/training content can be contextless and broad, allowing for greater participation by more small holders, commercial farmers, extension workers, agriculturists, educators, and other agriculture-related experts. The relative inconsistency in content gives farmers more localised and useful knowledge. The framework of KEES has been designed to be a three-tier architecture logic workflow, which can configure the progressive approach for KEES to pass on and respond to different requests/communications between the client side and the server.

We study imperfect competition in the labor market when both workers and firms are heterogeneous. When firms cannot observe workers’ skill, firms pay workers equal wages, but workers absorb training costs. When firms can identify worker types, firms pay different net wages to different workers. Vote...

A major challenge in teaching any college level general genetics course including a laboratory component is having the students actively understand the research part of an experiment as well as develop the necessary laboratory skills. This laboratory experience furthers the students' knowledge of genetics while improving their laboratory skills. It provides the students with experience in the design and implementation of their own experiments. This inquiry-based approach will provide them an opportunity for a deeper appreciation of how scientists perform their investigations. The students were given four weeks to induce mutations into Paramecium that will alter their physical and/or behavioral traits. (Contains 10 figures and 1 table.)

This report presents results tracked by the CAT Measures, a 21st century assessment tool for enabling policymakers to monitor "en route" performance of their public investments in science and technology research. Developed by Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University, the CAT Measures analyze growth supporting three pillars of the knowledge economy: (1) Connections--the networks developed among researchers, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists that help transfer knowledge and generate economic opportunities; (2) Attention--the "buzz" generated by research and research networks that attracts businesses, private investment, and highly skilled workers to a region and; and (3) Talent--the top scientists, students, and technically skilled workers that help make a region fertile ground for research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. The CAT Measures are designed to augment the state's Proposition 301 investment strategy. Their purpose is to: (1) track key knowledge economy impacts from state-supported science and technology research activities; (2) provide timely feedback to policymakers and research managers and; and (3) complement Arizona's existing measures for assessing state science and technology investments. Appended are: (1) Overview of Proposition 301 Research Projects at ASU; and (2) ASU's Annual Performance Measures and Deliverables Reported to Arizona Board of Regents. [This publication was written with Rob Melnick and Lili Stiefel.

RATIONALE: The administration of first aid in burns has been shown to have a significant influence on the ultimate severity of the burn. We wanted to assess in-hospital healthcare (HCW), and non-healthcare workers' (nHCW) knowledge of first aid in burns. METHODS: A purpose-designed questionnaire, including information about previous attendance at a first aid course and four clinical scenarios of burns, was distributed to HCWs in the local hospitals and non-medical students in the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield. RESULTS: 697 questionnaires were completed - 397 (57%) from HCW and 300 (43%) from nHCW. 59% of HCW had attended a first aid course, 68% of these courses included teaching on first aid in burns. HCW who had completed a first aid course generally did better than those who had not. Only 16% of HCW achieved correct answers in all questions compared to 30% nHCW. CONCLUSIONS: We show that the knowledge of first aid in burns is relatively poor amongst HCW and that attendance at a burns first aid course improves knowledge (although perhaps not as much as one might hope). We recommend that the burns content of first aid courses be reviewed, and that there is a requirement for ALL hospital healthcare workers to undertake a first aid course, which includes appropriate burns first aid. PMID:22738826

BACKGROUND: The female at-risk population represents a subgroup that is both a crucial determining factor in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) transmission and a gap in the existing literature in Iran. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of sex workers’ knowledge towards to safe procedures of sexually transmitted infection and AIDS prevention as well as attitudes towards AIDS. METHODS: A sample of 256 female sex workers working in Tehran was obtained by a variety of methods. Appropriate questions for the assessment of knowledge and attitude were developed based on previous studies. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 26.8 ± 6.1 years (ranging from 16 to 45). Methods of transmission were widely recognized, despite the exception that few realized oral (23.4%) and anal (44.9%) intercourse as methods of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. Most subjects knew that AIDS currently has no cure (81.2%) and no vaccine (73.4%). Most also acknowledged that HIV is transmissible from people who do not know they are HIV positive (59.4%), proper condom use can reduce the possibility of infection (78.1%), and so can having a single sexual partner (68.8%). Of the participants, 43.4% knew that an HIV-positive person can seem perfectly healthy. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge towards sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and condom use is still inadequate, especially regarding risky behaviors such as anal sex, and attitudes are mainly negative. Identifying at-risk populations, HIV-positive sex workers, education and campaigns to change the attitudes towards AIDS should be regarded a high priority in Iran. PMID:11392935

In the present study, the effect of captivity on the behavioral patterns like activity-rest time budget, nesting, aggression etc. in a group of Polyrhachis lecteipennis has been documented. The ants were collected from the natural population and maintained in the laboratory keeping them either in a single formicarium or prepared formicaria interconnected with tubes to observe the behavior. About 8 types of behavioral pattern of ants were noticed. In case of necrophoresis (carrying of dead nest-mates), the space inside the formicarium was not found to be sufficient to dispose off the dead nest-mates and therefore, all the time the workers carried the dead nest-mates haphazardly possibly in search of suitable disposal area. When the worker ants with dead nest-mates were allowed to leave the ...

Commissioning shots have commenced at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Within a year, the 192 laser beam facility will be operational and the experimental phase will begin. At each shot, the emitted neutrons will interact in the facility's surroundings, activating them, especially inside the target bay where the neutron flux is the highest. We are calculating the dose from those activated structures and objects in order to plan and minimize worker exposures during maintenance and normal NIF operation. This study presents the results of the activation analysis of the optics of the Final Optics Assemblies (FOA), which are a key contributor to worker exposure. Indeed, there are 48 FOAs weighting three tons each, and routine change-out and maintenance of optics and optics modules is expected. The neutron field has been characterized using the three-dimensional Monte Carlo particle transport code MCNP with subsequent activation analysis performed using the activation code, ALARA.