Changes in Psychological Characteristics of Working Adults in Different Stages of Economic Transition in Lithuania

Global economic changes have psychological consequences and Mr. Lepeska set out to assess these changes in working adults in Lithuania between 1993 and 1997. He surveyed two groups of working adults, with a total of 200 people, randomly selected and representing different organisations and professions. In both groups around 30% of participants were managers, with the remainder working in non-managerial positions. The participants were surveyed twice, once in 1993 and the second time in 1997,using various psychodiagnostic tools to measure their psychological characteristics. The results showed that strategies for coping with stress have changed, with problem solving strategies being used more often, and avoidance behaviour or seeking social support less. Men tended to have rejected these strategy more radically than women. Attitudes towards work had become more positive, with managers' attitudes having changed more significantly than those of employees from lower levels of organisations. Younger people were more positive towards work-related changes, while situational anxiety tended to increase with age, although overall it remained low. Mr. Lepeska found that while there were some indications of an increasing individualist in relation to peers, the traditional collective orientation of Lithuanian adults had if anything increased. People have become more accepting of an unequal distribution of power, making it difficult to increase the participation of subordinates in decision making. He also noted a tendency for Lithuanians to see their organisations as traditional families, expecting them to take care of them physically and economically in return for loyalty. The strong feminine orientation with its stress on interpersonal relations and overall quality of life has also strengthened, but the ability of Lithuanians to take initiative and control their environment was relatively low. Mr. Lepeska concludes that organisations should seek to recruit people who are able to adjust more easily to changes and consider measuring dominance, individualism, and attitudes to work-related change and situational anxiety in the process of professional selection. There should also be more emphasis on team building and on training managers to maintain closer relationships with their subordinates so as to increase the latter's participation in decision making. Good interpersonal relations can be a strong work motivator, as may be special attention to the security needs of older employees.

Temporal trends in the characteristics of children at antiretroviral therapy initiation in southern Africa: the IeDEA-SA Collaboration

BACKGROUND Since 2005, increasing numbers of children have started antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa and, in recent years, WHO and country treatment guidelines have recommended ART initiation for all infants and very young children, and at higher CD4 thresholds for older children. We examined temporal changes in patient and regimen characteristics at ART start using data from 12 cohorts in 4 countries participating in the IeDEA-SA collaboration. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Data from 30,300 ART-naïve children aged <16 years at ART initiation who started therapy between 2005 and 2010 were analysed. We examined changes in median values for continuous variables using the Cuzick's test for trend over time. We also examined changes in the proportions of patients with particular disease severity characteristics (expressed as a binary variable e.g. WHO Stage III/IV vs I/II) using logistic regression. Between 2005 and 2010 the number of children starting ART each year increased and median age declined from 63 months (2006) to 56 months (2010). Both the proportion of children <1 year and ≥10 years of age increased from 12 to 19% and 18 to 22% respectively. Children had less severe disease at ART initiation in later years with significant declines in the percentage with severe immunosuppression (81 to 63%), WHO Stage III/IV disease (75 to 62%), severe anemia (12 to 7%) and weight-for-age z-score<-3 (31 to 28%). Similar results were seen when restricting to infants with significant declines in the proportion with severe immunodeficiency (98 to 82%) and Stage III/IV disease (81 to 63%). First-line regimen use followed country guidelines. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Between 2005 and 2010 increasing numbers of children have initiated ART with a decline in disease severity at start of therapy. However, even in 2010, a substantial number of infants and children started ART with advanced disease. These results highlight the importance of efforts to improve access to HIV diagnostic testing and ART in children.

European university-based study programmes in evaluation: characteristics and future challenges

This chapter examines the state of evaluation training programs at European universities in 2012. It summarises the results of a survey that was conducted among representatives of 15 programs located in Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Italy, France, The Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Some basic information about the programs are reported (e.g. organising body, degree offered, admission requirements, duration in months, price), as well as the programs’ core subjects and learning outcomes. The chapter discusses the challenges for university-based study programmes that arise from the current situation of the evaluation profession, and concludes with some thoughts on education and training as requirements for professionalisation in evaluation

Ethnic differences in tumor characteristics, treatment and survival in glioma patients

Purpose. A descriptive analysis of glioma patients by race was carried out in order to better elucidate potential differences between races in demographics, treatment, characteristics, prognosis and survival. ^ Patients and Methods. Among 1,967 patients ≥ 18 years diagnosed with glioma seen between July 2000 and September 2006 at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC). Data were collated from the UTMDACC Patient History Database (PHDB) and the UTMDACC Tumor Registry Database (TRDB). Chi-square analysis, uni- /multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling and survival analysis were used to analyze differences by race. ^ Results. Demographic, treatment and histologic differences exist between races. Though risk differences were seen between races, race was not found to be a significant predictor in multivariate regression analysis after accounting for age, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, tumor type as stratified by WHO tumor grade. Age was the most consistent predictor in risk for death. Overall survival by race was significantly different (p=0.0049) only in low-grade gliomas after adjustment for age although survival differences were very slight. ^ Conclusion. Among this cohort of glioma patients, age was the strongest predictor for survival. It is likely that survival is more influenced by age, time to treatment, tumor grade and surgical expertise rather than racial differences. However, age at diagnosis, gender ratios, histology and history of cancer differed significantly between race and genetic differences to this effect cannot be excluded. ^

Influencia del tratamiento "a fuego" en las características del estuco tradicional con cal = Influence of treatment "by fire" in the characteristics of traditional lime stucco

Esta investigación avanza en el intento de recuperar la técnica tradicional del estuco a fuego, paradigma de la decoración de espacios interiores hasta la mitad del s. XX por sus imitaciones marmóreas de gran calidad. Para ejecutarlos se utilizaban morteros de cal con áridos de mármol, pigmentos minerales y grasas; con estos materiales se preparaban y tendían las masas, se pintaban al fresco y se terminaban con el paso de una herramienta metálica caliente. Como sucede con otras técnicas, el paso del tiempo ha difuminado los conocimientos sobre la materia, haciendo muy difícil la conservación o restauración de los ejemplos en nuestro patrimonio. A partir de la escasa bibliografía existente se ha recuperado el proceso, sometiendo las muestras elaboradas a diferentes ensayos que han caracterizado el acabado final,tanto en sus características intrínsecas como en las que le son conferidas al proteger finalmente las muestras con una capa de cera, tal y como se realizaba tradicionalmente.---ABSTRACT---This research advances in the attempt to recover the traditional technique of stucco by fire; paradigm of indoor decoration until half of 20th century due to its high quality marbled imitations. On its implementation process, it was used lime mortars with marble aggregates, mineral pigments and greases. With these materials, masses were prepared and extended into the walls, they were painted in fresco and ended with the passage of a heated metal tool. As with any other technique, the time passing over has blurred the knowledge on the subject, making very difficult the preservation or restoration of examples in our heritage. Despite of the limited literature, the process has been recovered; subjecting the samples prepared at different trials that have characterized the finished, both in its merits and its conferred characteristics by finally protecting the samples with a layer of wax, as was done traditionally.

Chemicals stored in USTs : characteristics and leak detection /

Mode of access: Internet.

First in flight : a short history of the enlisted aircrew member in the Air National Guard /

"A special thanks to CMSgt Dan Roberson (NGB), MSgt Gary Clark (189AW) and TSgt Brian Irvin (109AW) for their research and contributions to this abbreviated Air National Guard Enlisted Aircrew history"--P. [4] of cover.

Life of Tao Yuanming, section 4, right side: Tao Yuanming and a servant looking at birds in flight

Li Zai; handscroll, ink on paper

Life of Tao Yuanming, section 4, right side: detail of Tao Yuanming and a servant looking at birds in flight

Li Zai; handscroll, ink on paper

In-flight simulation, theory and application,

"To be presented to the Fluid Dynamics Panel of the Advisory Group for Aeronautical Research and Development of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 10 April through 17 April 1961."

Bird conservation implementation and integration in the Americas : Proceedings of the third International Partners in Flight Conference, March 20-24, 2002, Asilomar, California /

"June 2005."