Occupational Background Research Articles

The educational and occupational background of central bankers and its effect on inflation: An empirical analysis

We test the hypothesis that the inflation preferences of central bankers depend on their educational and/or occupational background. In a panel data analysis for the euro area and eleven countries since 1973, we explain inflation either by the weights with which the educational and occupational characteristics of the 391 council members were represented in the various central bank councils or by the education or occupation of the median council members. Control variables are added. Our most robust result is that former members of the central bank staff prefer significantly lower inflation rates than former politicians do.

The Attrition Game: Initial Resources, Initial Contests and the Exit of Candidates During the US Presidential Primary Season

In contests for the presidential nominations from the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States, the duration of candidacies determines both the winning candidate (i.e., the one who outlasts his or her opponents) and the amount of intraparty conflict before the nomination is bestowed. This article analyses how strategic considerations lead some candidates to exit the race more quickly than others. Factors which could shape such strategic considerations include initial candidate assets and characteristics (national poll standings, fund-raising totals and occupational background), initial contest outcomes (Iowa and New Hampshire) and structural variables (proportional representation delegate distribution rules, party, front-loaded calendar). Results from a duration model indicate that poll standings, money (in a curvilinear pattern), New Hampshire and Iowa results, occupational backgrounds and the front-loading of the primary calendar shaped the length of candidacies for presidential contestants from 1980 to 2004. Candidates lacking in initial assets or early victories leave the nomination race in a process most resembling a game of attrition.

Is Incomplete Recovery From Work a Risk Marker of Cardiovascular Death? Prospective Evidence From Industrial Employees

A chronic lack of recovery from work during leisure time is hypothesized to indicate a health risk among employees. We examined whether incomplete recovery from work predicted cardiovascular mortality. This prospective cohort study involved 788 industrial employees (534 men, 254 women, mean age 37.3, SD = 12.0) who were initially free from cardiovascular diseases. The baseline examination in 1973 determined cases of cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular risk factors, and the extent of recovery from work. Data on mortality in 1973 to 2000 were derived from the national mortality register. Sixty-seven cardiovascular deaths and 102 deaths from noncardiovascular causes occurred during the mean follow-up of 25.6 years. Employees who seldom recovered from work during free weekends had an elevated risk of cardiovascular death (p = .007) but not of other mortality (p = .82). The association between incomplete recovery and cardiovascular death remained after adjustment for age, sex, and 16 conventional risk factors, including occupational background, cholesterol, systolic pressure, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, depressive symptoms, fatigue, lack of energy, and job stress. The association was not explained by deaths that occurred close to the assessment of recovery from work. This study suggests that incomplete recovery from work is an aspect of the overall risk profile of cardiovascular disease mortality among employees.

Spotting books and countries: New approaches to estimating and conceptualizing prior intelligence

We aimed to design alternative estimates of pre-morbid/prior intelligence to the National Adult Reading Test (NART) and the Spot-the-Word (STW) in order to tap non-vocabulary based knowledge stores. The rationale for the development of the new tests was that more cognitively able individuals acquire and retain more ‘singular facts’ from their environment. Such facts appear to include knowing how to pronounce irregular words and knowing whether a letter string is a word. We examine if they also include whether a word string is a book title or whether a line drawing is the outline of a country. In the new Spot-the-Book test, subjects were required to identify the real book from a real book-fake book pair of titles. The Spot-the-Country test involved identifying which of two named countries is shown in a line-drawn outline of its borders. There were 126 participants (75 women and 51 men) with mean age 42.2 years (SD = 16.5) and from a wide range of social and occupational backgrounds. Participants undertook a battery of tests including the NART and STW, two tests of more fluid-type ability (Digit Symbol and Matrix Reasoning from the WAIS-III UK), and the two new tests: Spot-the-Book and Spot-the-Country. These new tests had high internal consistencies and were highly correlated with the established measures, suggesting that they have concurrent validity. Spot-the-Book test correlated highly with the NART ( r = .75, p < .001) and the STW ( r = .72, p < .001). Spot-the-Country correlated strongly with the NART ( r = .53, p < 0.001) and the STW ( r = .41, p < .001). A principal components analysis suggested that the Spot-the-Book and Spot-the-Country both loaded onto a crystallised-type intelligence factor. The new tests, especially Spot-the-Book, suggest that it might be possible to estimate pre-morbid ability without using vocabulary-based measures. The further work needed to develop these tests is discussed, as are the implications for our understanding of crystallised intelligence.

Oral Antifungal-Exacerbated Inflammatory Flare-Up Reactions of Dermatomycosis

Inflammatory flare-up reactions of some dermatomycoses, particularly those caused by zoophilic fungi, are typical and potentially severe adverse effects following the intake of some oral antifungals. However, this condition has not previously been reported with the most frequently used antifungals in dermatology, namely fluconazole, itraconazole, and terbinafine. In this report, we describe five patients, observed over a 10-year period, who presented with inflammatory exacerbations following oral antifungal therapy for dermatomycoses. We also review the literature on inflammatory reactions exacerbated by oral antifungal agents. Details of the patients' age, sex, occupation, and atopic background; the site of the lesion, its clinical and histologic features, and any systemic signs; the identity of the fungal pathogen; the antifungal agent taken by the patient; the time between drug intake and occurrence of the flare-up; the approach to management; and the outcome were documented for each patient. A PubMed literature search was also conducted, focusing on inflammatory exacerbations induced by griseofulvin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, and terbinafine. The patients were four farmers and one veterinarian (all male). All primary lesions were inflammatory dermatophytoses, including one kerion. Inflammatory exacerbation of the skin lesions started 12-24 hours after the intake of oral antifungals. Mild systemic changes, including slight fever and malaise, occurred in two cases. Itraconazole 400 mg/day was implicated as the causative agent in four cases and terbinafine 250 mg/day in one case. Mycologic cultures grew Trichophytonverrucosum in four cases. Antifungal treatment was discontinued in all patients. Oral and topical corticosteroids were administered to the two patients with systemic changes; the other three patients were treated with topical corticosteroids only. Two days after the onset of corticosteroids, lower doses of itraconazole (100 mg/day) and terbinafine (125 mg/day) were reintroduced. All lesions healed after 4-5 weeks. The PubMed search did not identify any articles that described inflammatory exacerbations of dermatomycoses induced by oral antifungals. Inflammatory flare-up of dermatomycoses is a rare but potentially severe cutaneous complication of oral antifungal use. Occupational contact with animals, inflammatory dermatomycoses, and zoophilic fungi represent common features in these patients. Although evidence-based data are not available, clinical experience shows that, in addition to antifungal therapy, topical and/or systemic corticosteroids are helpful to reduce the inflammatory reactions. The cases described in this article represent the first published report of oral antifungal-exacerbated inflammatory flare-up reactions of dermatomycosis in patients taking itraconazole or terbinafine.

Degree Completion Among Nontraditional College Students*

Objective. With the growing number of older students attending college, one major issue concerning these nontraditional students is their overall low completion rates. We examine factors affecting nontraditional students' degree completion.Methods. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, we examine the effects of student characteristics on the probability of finishing college with event history models.Results. Part‐time enrollment significantly deters college completion, whereas the number of prior enrollments facilitates it. Being relatively young, having high cognitive ability, and a high‐status occupational background also increase the chance of completion, but these effects partly differ by gender. On the other hand, being divorced and having young children, the factors often negatively associated with women's socioeconomic status, suppress degree completion for both genders.Conclusions. Based on these results, we discuss how higher educational institutions and employers might be able to help increase the rate of completion among nontraditional students.

A New Elite? Politicians and Civil Servants in Scotland after Devolution

One aim of devolution in Scotland was to create a political class more representative of the country as a whole. In practice devolution has accelerated trends towards a professional background in Scottish representatives. There has been a significant increase in representativeness by gender; but not by social or occupational background. A professional Scottish political class is in the making. Devolution has not had a significant effect on the civil service in Scotland. Mobility between Edinburgh and London and between the public and private sectors was always low and Scottish civil servants tended to be less likely to gain a private or Oxbridge education. The Scottish Parliament gains in gender representation are not mirrored within the civil service.

Significance of finger coldness in hand-arm vibration syndrome

To evaluate the relationship between subjective symptoms of coldness in fingers and peripheral circulation in patients with hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Thirty-five male patients confirmed to have HAVS as an occupational disease took part in this study. Their mean age was 62 years (SD 5) and all were chain-saw operators exposed to vibration for an average of 25 years. Their annual health examination included the history of their daily habits (smoking, drinking, and therapeutic exercise), report of subjective symptoms such as coldness, numbness and tingling in the fingers, and a physical examination; laboratory tests consisted of skin temperature measurement, and pain and vibration perception under conditions of cold provocation. A frequently used method of cold provocation, immersion of the left hand up to the wrist in water of 10°C for 10 min, was used. Finger coldness was classified into 3 groups according to its severity: mild group (n=8), moderate group (n=17) and severe group (n=10). There was no significant difference in age or occupational background between the groups. A significant association was found between finger coldness and prevalence of Raynaud's pheno menon (p<001, χ(2)). The mean skin temperature was significantly lower with the severity of finger coldness (ANOVA, p<0.05). In the cold provocation test, there was no significant difference between skin temperature and coldness at 5 min and 10 min after immersion, though a difference was observed immediately after immersion. No significant difference was observed in the relationship between finger coldness and vibrotactile threshold before, during or after the cold provocation test. The severity of coldness in the fingers is significantly related to skin temperature. The severity of finger coldness reflects the extent of peripheral circulatory vasoconstriction. Coldness in the fingers may be a good warning of potential problems in peripheral, circulatory function.

Depressive symptoms of type 2 diabetics treated with insulin compared to diabetics taking oral anti-diabetic drugs: A Korean study

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the depressive symptoms of type 2 diabetic patients who were treated with insulin compared to those diabetics treated with oral anti-diabetic drugs in Korea. Methods: A total 204 outpatients with type 2 diabetes were invited to complete a questionnaire using the Beck depression inventory (BDI) to measure depressive symptoms. Age, gender, body mass index, serum lipid profile, and a social history including marital status, occupation and educational background were also assessed. The presence of diabetic complications was evaluated by examining the patients’ medical records. Diabetic patients who were not treated with anti-diabetic drugs were excluded. All the study subjects were classified into two groups based on their mode of therapy: the oral drug group and insulin group. The insulin group included patients treated with insulin–oral drug combinations as well as those treated solely with insulin. Results: Overall, 32.4% of our diabetic subjects showed depressive symptoms with the criterion being a BDI score ≥16. Compared to the oral drug group, the insulin group showed a significantly higher frequency of depressive symptoms (insulin group, 48.0%; oral drug group, 27.3%; p < 0.01) and higher BDI scores (insulin group, 16.6 ± 10.7; oral drug group, 12.6 ± 8.7; p < 0.01). Moreover, after an adjustment for social factors, the degree of hyperglycemia and the presence of diabetic complications, the insulin group showed a significantly higher frequency of depression (odds ratio 4.38, 95% CI 1.66–11.6, p = 0.003), compared to the oral drug group. Conclusions: The data showed that insulin treatment is related to the presence of depressive symptoms, and the importance of more careful psychological support of Korean insulin-treated type 2 diabetic patients is strongly suggested.

Cultural Safety and professional practice in occupational therapy: A New Zealand perspective

This research examined occupational therapists’ attitudes to Cultural Safety for Maori clients. The main research tool was a semi‐structured qualitative research interview. A cross‐case analysis method was used to determine the major recurring themes. Thirteen participants with varied occupational therapy training backgrounds were interviewed. Current Cultural Safety education is designed to challenge health professionals’ attitudes towards those culturally different from themselves. Results suggest that maturity and personal experiences had significant bearing on these attitudes. Implications for occupational therapy include implementing a policy that stipulates compulsory Cultural Safety education as part of professional development. Findings may have relevance for other countries where significant ethnic differentials in health service success exist, such as Australia.

Inclusion and burnout in physical education

This study examined the relationship between inclusion and burnout in physical education teaching. Data were collected from a sample of elementary school physical education (PE) teachers from all six districts in Israel. The research questionnaire included three parts: personal and occupational background, Friedman’s Burnout index and work environment questionnaire. The findings on work conditions in inclusive PE classes were that a majority of teachers reported that the school grounds and sport facilities are not adjusted for students with special needs; it takes too much time for these students to be diagnosed and receive special treatment; there are difficulties in assessing these students, maintaining their safety, using special teaching methods to include them in classes, and reporting to their parents. A factor analysis of items describing work in inclusive classes revealed four factors: the structural, the organizational, the psychological and the social dimensions of the workplace. Results of the regression analysis do not support the first hypothesis that teachers’ personal resources and workload are related to burnout. They do however support the hypotheses that the number of special education students in class is positively related to burnout; the amount of help the teacher receives in treating these students is negatively related to burnout; the more the teachers feel that the structural and the social dimensions at the workplace are incongruent with their work, the more they are burned out.

An occupational focus on falls with serious injury among older women in Australia

Falls prevention and recovery programs have been developed on a predominantly medical model of understanding falls risk. In this cross‐sectional study, data from 12 900 community‐dwelling women participating in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health were analysed using multiple stepwise regression to identify if factors related to occupational functioning were independently associated with participants who self‐reported serious falls (n = 655) in the previous year. Four variables were significantly associated with reports of serious falls: poor physical health summary scores (SF‐36); higher scores on a life events scale; higher scores on a ‘feeling dejected’ subscale; and taking medications for ‘nerves’. These variables are directly connected with occupational functioning, and were significantly associated with serious falls despite medical falls risk factors being included in the regression model. Results indicate a need to address the occupational background of participants in the design and delivery of both falls injury prevention and falls recovery programs, especially for community‐dwelling women.

Mesothelioma pathogenesis, facts and expectations

It is the merit of Dr J.C. Wagner and his co-workers to have triggered the research on mesothelioma, going back to 1960 when they published data demonstrating a relationship between mesothelioma occurrence and exposure to asbestos fibres in the Cape Province, in South Africa. From that time, epidemiological and toxicological investigations were performed in order to better define the occupational and environmental background of this pathology, to identify the fibre parameters accounting for the toxic effects, and to understand their mechanisms of action. Improvements in our knowledge in these areas benefited to health issues, by preventing risks associated with exposure to mineral fibres and by recognising the disease. Due to the actual progresses in the fields of biology and biotechnologies, the research on mesothelioma presently focuses on study of the mechanisms of mesothelial cell transformation, and on development of strategies to kill tumour cells. While mesothelioma benefited to fibre toxicology and allowed to improve the management health related issue, it would be a just return if the present advances in different scientific areas will permit a rapid eradication of the disease.

Who is Working When? - Working Time Arrangments of Self-Employed and Employees: A Microeconometric Analysis of German Time Use Data

In recent years new patterns of working time have appeared along with an increased flexibility concerning timing of work and the decay of the regular working day. We analyze the timing of working time for both self-employed and employees based on the German time budget study 1991/92. In the first step we systematise different courses of the working day. Thereby, four categories of working time patterns emerged. After that the question is raised if differences between self-employed and employees can be found concerning their daily working times. After a descriptive analysis of the categories a multinomial logit model is employed in order to find out if the occupational background of a person can be used to explain the decision which working time pattern to choose. We control for variables stemming from human capital theory led explanations from ‚new home economics’ and from time use research. It can be shown that particularly self-employed without any employee tend to work at non-core times such as early in the morning and/or late in the evening or in multiple episodes with at least one longer interruption.

‘Thus the Colliers and their wives…’: migration, mate choice and population structure of some County Durham parishes in the mid-19th century

Aim: Historical accounts of the mining population in County Durham, UK, offer two persistent representations of demographic behaviour–-substantial mobility and occupational endogamy–-which would influence the distribution of genes in the population. The aim of this paper is to test these predictions against 19th-century demographic data, comparing miners with other contemporary occupations.Subjects and methods: Four parishes in County Durham yielded data on 3653 birthplace–residence distances, calculated from locations recorded in the 1851 census enumerators’ books, and on occupational endogamy and exogamy for 3784 marriages recorded in the Anglican registers, 1834–76. Endogamy was analysed by log–linear models and odds ratios.Results: Median migration distances were similar in the miners and other occupations, though the proportion of migrants among the miners (99.7%) was higher than agricultural (87.0%) and general labourers (91%). Endogamy in the miners (76%) was higher than in other populations (maximum 39%), but further analysis showed that the miners’ tendency to marry women from the same occupational background was less than among agricultural labourers or professional men.Conclusion: Predictions of high migration rate and endogamy among the mining populations were upheld, but there was little evidence that the behaviour of the miners differed from other occupational groups.

The Times… Are They A-Changing? An Examination of the Impact of the Value of Campaign Resources for Women and Men Candidates for the US House of Representatives

Abstract The relevance of candidate gender in American electoral politics is being increasingly questioned. However, for candidate gender to be irrelevant, one must demonstrate that women and men candidates facing similar situations with similar resources would experience equivalent electoral fates. In other words, for equality to exist between women and men candidates, parity in the impact of candidate resources, most notably candidate expenditures, candidate occupational backgrounds and partisanship, must exist. The presence of a disparate impact of campaign resources would clearly indicate that candidate gender is not only relevant but also continues to be a significant factor in electoral politics in the United States. This research analyzes all incumbent/challenger races from 1986 to 2000 involving women candidates for the House of Representatives to determine if parity in the impact of campaign resources exists. The research examines candidate attributes and the political environment at both the agg...

An analysis of provider attitudes toward end-of-life decision-making.

The explosion of technological and biomedical interventions over the past half century appears to have enhanced the medical profession's ability to prolong life at a faster pace than society's ability to develop comprehensive bioethical laws governing end-of-life decisions. This study was conducted to determine if there was a correlation between educational and occupational backgrounds and participants' perceptions of end-of-life care. Study participants came from various areas and levels of healthcare at a large federal healthcare facility and included nurses, doctors, pharmacists, dietitians, administrators, and others. Participants completed a questionnaire providing both sociodemographic information and perceptions of end-of-life care. Respondents were classified by type of education or background (technical, professional, or medical) and by level of involvement with patient care (direct or indirect). While the results showed a general consensus about the importance of respecting patients' end-of-life wishes, there were differences among respondents in regard to specific issues.

Occupational characteristics of cases with asbestos-related diseases in The Netherlands.

To describe the occupational background of cases with an asbestos-related disease and to present overall mesothelioma risks across industries with historical exposure to asbestos. For the period 1990-2000, cases were collected from records held by two law firms. Information on jobs held, previous employers, activities performed and specific products used were obtained from patients themselves or next of kin. Branches of industry and occupations were coded and the likelihood of asbestos exposure was assessed. For each branch of industry, the overall risk of mesothelioma was calculated from the ratio of the observed number of mesothelioma cases and the cumulative population-at-risk in the period 1947-1960. In order to compare mesothelioma risks across different industries, risk ratios were calculated for the primary asbestos industry and asbestos user industries relative to all other branches of industry. In total, 710 mesotheliomas and 86 asbestosis cases were available. The average latency period was approximately 40 yr and the average duration of exposure was 22 yr. Ship building and maintenance contributed the largest number of cases (27%), followed by the construction industry (14%), the insulation industry (12%), and the navy and army, primarily related to ship building and maintenance (5%). In the insulation industry, the overall risk of mesothelioma was 5 out of 100 workers, and in the ship building industry, 1 out of 100 workers. The construction industry had an overall risk comparable with many other asbestos-using industries (7 per 10,000 workers), but due to its size claimed many mesothelioma cases. The majority of cases with asbestos-related diseases had experienced their first asbestos exposure prior to 1960. For cases with first asbestos exposure after 1960, a shift was observed from the primary asbestos industry towards asbestos-using industries, such as construction, petroleum refining, and train building and maintenance. Due to the long latency period, asbestos exposure from 1960 to 1980 will cause a considerable number of mesothelioma cases in the next two decades.

Psychiatric morbidity among housemaids in Kuwait. III: Vulnerability factors.

Housemaids are a relatively homogenous immigrant subgroup in terms of their gender; ethnic origin; and socio-cultural, educational and occupational background. Psychiatric morbidity among housemaids is two to five times higher than the native female population. To determine the possible pre-immigration risk factors for prospective psychiatric breakdown among the housemaids. The sample consisted of all the housemaids (N = 197) hospitalised during the two-year study period. The controls comprised all the newly arrived housemaids (N = 502). The measures obtained included demographic characteristics and previous history of physical illness, psychiatric illness, hospitalisation and family history of psychiatric disorder. More than a quarter of the hospitalised group broke down within one month of their arrival. The hospitalised group had a significant excess of Sri Lankan housemaids; non-Muslims; those with less than four years of education and those with a previous history of physical illness, psychiatric illness or hospitalisation. A number of potential risk factors results in premature repatriation of housemaids on mental health grounds. Preventive measures involving recruitment procedures and pre-departure orientation courses are needed to minimise the expatriate failure among the housemaids.

Hepatitis A virus seropositivity among hospital and community healthcare workers in Israel—the role of occupation, demography and socioeconomic background

Hospital and community-clinic workers were tested for hepatitis A virus antibodies (HAV)-IgG to identify variables associated with presence of (HAV-IgG) and to determine whether sociodemographic background may explain all differences in HAV seropositivty among healthcare workers. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify variable associated with HAV-immunity. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that HAV-seroprevalence correlated significantly (P<0.01) with age, siblings, residence in rural areas and origin. Nurse aides had an increased risk for HAV seropositivity (OR=5.04; 95% CI: 1.49–17.08) whereas physicians had a lower risk (OR=0.54: 95% CI: 0.30–0.98). Age and socioeconomic background were independently correlated with HAV immunity but did not explain all difference in HAV-seroprevalence. The higher susceptibility and elevated incidence of hepatitis A amongst physicians, prioritize primary prevention in this group.