University of South Australia

About: University of South Australia is a education organization based out in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 10086 authors who have published 32587 publications receiving 913683 citations. The organization is also known as: The University of South Australia & UniSA.

Rural doctors and rural backgrounds: how strong is the evidence? a systematic review

Abstract: Objective: We sought to summarise the evidence for an association between rural background and rural practice by systematically reviewing the national and international published reports. Design: A systematic review. Setting: A search of the national and international published reports from 1973 to October 2001. Subject: The search criteria included observational studies of a case-control or cohort design making a clear and quantitative comparison between current rural and urban doctors, this resulted in the identification of 141 studies for potential inclusion. Results: We systematically reviewed 12 studies. Rural background was associated with rural practice in 10 of the 12 studies, in which it was reported, with most odds ratios (OR) approximately 2–2.5. Rural schooling was associated with rural practice in all 5 studies that reported on it, with most OR approximately 2.0. Having a rural partner was associated with rural practice in 3 of the 4 studies reporting on it, with OR approximately 3.0. Rural undergraduate training was associated with rural practice in 4 of 5 studies, with most OR approximately 2.0. Rural postgraduate training was associated with rural practice in 1 of 2 studies, with rural doctors reporting rural training about 2.5 times more often. Conclusions: There is consistent evidence that the likelihood of working in rural practice is approximately twice greater among doctors with a rural background. There is a smaller body of evidence in support of the other rural factors studied, and the strength of association is similar to that for rural background. What is already known on this subject?: It is widely perceived that doctors with a rural background are more likely to return to work in rural areas and major policy initiatives in Australia rely on this assumption. It is recognised that other factors such as location of primary and secondary education, rural medical training and spouse or partner background may also be influential. In order to determine the strength of the evidence for an association between rural background and rural practice we did a systematic review of the published reports. What does this study add?: This systematic review provides good evidence that doctors with a rural background are about twice as likely to work as rural doctors, compared with those with an urban background. Rural background seems to be an important factor that can be employed in policy and practice, however, the problem of increasing the number of rural doctors is multifactorial and so is the solution.

A Comprehensive Review of Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Biodegradation by Bacteria

Abstract: Hydrocarbons are relatively recalcitrant compounds and are classified as high-priority pollutants. However, these compounds are slowly degraded by a large variety of microorganisms. Bacteria are able to degrade aliphatic saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons via both aerobic and anaerobic pathways. Branched hydrocarbons and cyclic hydrocarbons are also degraded by bacteria. The aerobic bacteria use different types of oxygenases, including monooxygenase, cytochrome-dependent oxygenase and dioxygenase, to insert one or two atoms of oxygen into their targets. Anaerobic bacteria, on the other hand, employ a variety of simple organic and inorganic molecules, including sulphate, nitrate, carbonate and metals, for hydrocarbon oxidation.

Effects of backpacks on students: Measurement of cervical and shoulder posture

Abstract: The aims of this pilot study were to determine whether the weight of a backpack, its position on the spine or time carried affected adolescents' cervical and shoulder posture. Standing posture measured from the sagittal and frontal planes of 13 students was recorded photographically under several load carrying conditions. Cervical and shoulder position angles were calculated and compared. Results revealed that both backpack weight and time carried influenced cervical and shoulder posture. Forward head posture increased when carrying a backpack, especially one with a heavy load. Carrying a backpack weighing 15% of body weight appeared to be too heavy to maintain standing posture for adolescents. These findings have implications for future load carrying studies in adolescents.