Enclosed versus open nursing stations in adult acute care psychiatric settings: does the design affect the therapeutic milieu?

Specific efforts by hospital accreditation organizations encourage renovation of nursing stations, so nurses can better see, attend, and care for their patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of nursing station design on the therapeutic milieu in an adult acute care psychiatric unit. A repeated cross-sectional, pretest-posttest design was used. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 81 patients and 25 nursing staff members who completed the Ward Atmosphere Scale. Pretest data were collected when the unit had an enclosed nursing station, and posttest data were collected after renovations to the unit created an open nursing station. No statistically significant differences were found in patient or staff perceptions of the therapeutic milieu. No increase in aggression toward staff was found, given patients' ease of access to the nursing station. More research is needed about the impact of unit design in acute care psychiatric settings.     

Secondary victims of rape

Rape is often a very traumatic experience, which affects not only the primary victim (PV) but also his/her significant others. Studies on secondary victims of rape are few and have almost exclusively studied male partners of female rape victims. This study examined the impact of rape on 107 secondary victims, including family members, partners, and friends of male and female rape victims. We found that many respondents found it difficult to support the PV and that their relationship with the PV was often affected by the assault. Furthermore, the sample showed significant levels of traumatization, and it was estimated that approximately one quarter of the respondents suffered from posttraumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). Degree of traumatization was associated with a more recent assault, higher efforts to support the PV, recurrent thoughts about having been able to prevent the assault, a lack of social support for the respondent, and feeling let down by others. The respondents were generally interested in friend-, family-, and partner-focused interventions, particularly in receiving education about how best to support a rape victim.     

The effect of joint control training on the acquisition and durability of a sequencing task

Gutierrez (2006) experimentally demonstrated the effects of joint control and particularly the role of response mediation in the sequencing behavior of adults using an unfamiliar language. The purpose of the current study was to replicate and extend the procedures used by Gutierrez by comparing the effects of joint control training with the effects of a prompt-and-fade procedure on the acquisition of a sequencing task. The effects of each procedure on delayed sequencing behavior were also tested. Ten undergraduate students participated in 2 experiments. The results indicated that all participants acquired the sequencing response in fewer trials and maintained accurate delayed responding when the component responses necessary for joint control were directly taught. Finally, when the self-echoic mediation component was blocked, accurate responding deteriorated in 8 of 10 participants.     

Resolving mobility constraints impeding rural seniors' access to regionalized services

Rural and small town places in developed economies are aging. While attention has been paid to the local transportation needs of rural seniors, fewer researchers have explored their regional transportation needs. This is important given policies that have reduced and regionalized many services and supports. This article explores mobility constraints impeding rural seniors' access to regionalized services using the example of northern British Columbia. Drawing upon several qualitative studies, we explore geographical, maintenance, organizational, communication, human resources, infrastructure, and financial constraints that affect seniors' regional mobility. Our findings indicate that greater coordination across multiple government agencies and jurisdictions is needed and more supportive policies and resources must be in place to facilitate a comprehensive regional transportation strategy. In addition to discussing the complexities of these geographies, the article identifies innovative solutions that have been deployed in northern British Columbia to support an aging population. This research provides a foundation for developing a comprehensive understanding of the key issues that need to be addressed to inform strategic investments in infrastructure and programs that support the regional mobility and, hence, healthy aging of rural seniors.     

新疆生态城市发展模式与对策研究

一、引言 城市是体现先进生产力的平台,是展现现代文明的窗口,是提升生活质量的引擎,是区域经济、政治、科技、文化、教育的中心,也是人类在不同历史阶段改造自然的价值观和意志的体现.城市化既给人们带来了机遇,又带来了挑战.城市是解决世界上某些最复杂、最紧迫问题如资源、环境等问题的关键.目前,全球化背景下城市发展面临贫困、住房短缺、服务匮乏、交通拥堵和环境退化等一系列问题.基于上述原因,城市的可持续发展问题越来越受到社会各界的关注,生态城市的理念正是在这一背景下逐渐被城市规划界所认可和重视.     

新疆城市化空间布局发展演变研究

一、引言新疆是我国城市化发展最慢的省份之一,在城市化进程中起步较晚、基础较差,曾经历过因政治变革而使城市化发展严重受创的时期,甚至还出现过停滞。但是,社会主义市场经济发展和经济体制改革以及国家西部大开发战略的实施、全国对口援疆工作的开展,开拓了新疆城市化发展的新局面,城市化水平迅猛提升。2011年,新疆城市化水平已达43.5%,城市化也进入快速发展的新时期,但是与全国城市化平均水平相比还存在较大差距。与此同时,新疆是我国城市化发展区域差异较大的地区之一,主要表现为区域发展不平衡,这种不平衡已经较明显地反映在区域城市化水平、经济发展水平、城镇分布的空间格局等方面。     

旅客列车平稳操纵的意义及方法

列车牵引作为铁路对外经营的一个窗口,其服务质量的好坏将直接影响铁路的声誉和效益,搞好列车的平稳操纵具有重要的现实意义. 一是搞好列车操纵工作,是铁路适应市场经济的需要,关系到铁路运输在国际运输市场的地位和铁路运输的经济效益. 二是平稳操纵可以减少断钩事故的发生,防止因操纵不当而伤害到旅客的生命安全,使列车的通过能力得以提高.     

Ergonomic work analysis of urban bus drivers in Rio de Janeiro city

This article is the result of a case study on ergonomic work analysis carried out in an urban bus company located in Ilha do Governador, Rio de Janeiro. The methodology used in this work follows the French-tradition Ergonomic Analysis of the Work (EWA) combined with the best tradition from anglo-saxon ergonomic work analysis. The situated diagnosis was performed to provide relevant information about the work conditions of a bus driver.