Dissertations / Theses on the topic '851/.1'

Le présent document porte sur la modification d'une motoneige commerciale afin de réduire les émissions polluantes et le bruit émis par de tels véhicules. Les motoneiges actuelles utilisent des carburateurs comme moyen d'alimenter le moteur en carburant. Cette technologie favorise la consommation de carburant ainsi que les émissions polluantes. De plus, les motoneiges sont reconnues comme étant bruyantes due à l'utilisation du moteur 2 temps, ainsi qu'au bruit émis par la chenille. Ce que nous proposons comme technologie afin de réduire les émissions polluantes et la consommation de carburant est l'injection directe. Tandis que pour la réduction du bruit de la motoneige nous avons conçu un système d'échappement ainsi qu'une chenille, nous l'espérons, plus silencieuse. La réduction du bruit a été atteinte en grande partie grâce au système d'échappement à 3 chambres d'expansion. Par contre, cette réduction du bruit s'est faite au détriment de la puissance du moteur qui passe d'approximativement 67kW à 23kW. Nous avons toutefois obtenu un niveau global de bruit de 65 dB(A) en pleine accélération avec une chenille à agrafes non-séquentielles. Le bruit a été mesuré à 50 pieds de la motoneige avec toutefois, une surchauffe du moteur qui a affecté quelque peu les performances. Ceci représente une réduction de 13 dB lorsque comparé au bruit émis par les motoneiges actuellement sur le marché. L'injection directe n'a pu être testée à cause d'incompatibilité technologique entre les injecteurs et les modules électroniques commercialisés présentement. Par contre notre modélisation de l'injection directe permet d'espérer une réduction inportante des émissions polluantes. Nous recommandons de fabriquer le système d'échappement en reproduisant en laine acoustique la géométrie actuellement employée pour obtenir plus de puissance moteur, tout en obtenant une réduction notoire du bruit lorsque comparé au même moteur sans modifications. Pour ce qui est de l'injection directe, la solution serait de fabriquer un module électronique qui permettrait d'alimenter les injecteurs à l'aide d'un courant de 10A sous 12 Volts.

One of the problems in the analysis of nucleus-nucleus collisions is to get information on the value of the impact parameter b. This work consists in the application of pattern recognition techniques aimed at associating values of b to groups of events. To this end, a support vec- tor machine (SVM) classifier is adopted to analyze multifragmentation reactions. This method allows to backtracing the values of b through a particular multidimensional analysis. The SVM classification con- sists of two main phase. In the first one, known as training phase, the classifier learns to discriminate the events that are generated by two different model:Classical Molecular Dynamics (CMD) and Heavy- Ion Phase-Space Exploration (HIPSE) for the reaction: 58Ni +48 Ca at 25 AMeV. To check the classification of events in the second one, known as test phase, what has been learned is tested on new events generated by the same models. These new results have been com- pared to the ones obtained through others techniques of backtracing the impact parameter. Our tests show that, following this approach, the central collisions and peripheral collisions, for the CMD events, are always better classified with respect to the classification by the others techniques of backtracing. We have finally performed the SVM classification on the experimental data measured by NUCL-EX col- laboration with CHIMERA apparatus for the previous reaction.

Este trabalho apresenta um método de reconstrução de imagens de ultrassom por problemas inversos que tem como penalidade para o erro entre solução e dados a norma L2, ou euclidiana, e como penalidade de regularização a norma L1. A motivação para o uso da regularização L1 é que se trata de um tipo de regularização promotora de esparsidade na solução. A esparsidade da regularização L1 contorna o problema de excesso do artefatos, observado em outras implementações de reconstrução por problemas inversos em ultrassom. Este problema é consequência principalmente da limitação da representação discreta do objeto contínuo no modelo de aquisição. Por conta desta limitação, objetos refletores na área imageada quase sempre localizam-se em posições que não correspondem precisamente a uma das posições do modelo discreto, gerando dados que não correspondem aos dados modelados. As formulações do problema com regularização L2 e com regularização L1 são apresentadas e comparadas dos pontos de vista geométrico e Bayesiano. O algoritmo de otimização proposto é uma implementação do algoritmo Iteratively Reweighted Least Squares (IRLS) e utiliza o método do Gradiente Conjugado (CG - Conjugate Gradient) a cada iteração, sendo chamado de IRLS-CG. São realizadas simulações com phantoms computacionais que mostram que o método permite reconstruir imagens a partir da aquisição de dados com refletores em posições não modeladas sem a observação de artefatos. As simulações também mostram melhor resolução espacial do método proposto com relação ao algoritmo delay-and-sum (DAS). Também se observou melhor desempenho computacional do CG com relação à matriz inversa nas iterações do IRLS.
This work presents an inverse problem based method for ultrasound image reconstruction which uses the L2-norm (or euclidean norm) as a penalty for the error between the data and the solution, and the L1-norm as a regularization penalty. The motivation for the use of of L1 regularization is the sparsity promoting property of this type of regularization. The sparsity of L1 regularization circumvents the problem of excess of artifatcts that is observed in other approaches of inverse problem based reconstrucion in ultrasound. Such problem is mainly a consequence of the limitation in the discrete representation of a continuous object in the acquisition model. Due to this limitation, reflecting objects in the imaged area are often localized in positions that do not correspond precisely to one of the positions in the discrete model, therefore generating data that do not correspond to the model data. The formulations of the problem with L2 regularization and with L1 regularization are presented and compared in geometric and Bayesian terms. The optimization algorithm proposed is an implementation of Iteratively Reweighted Least Squares (IRLS) and uses the Conjugate Gradient (CG) method inside each iteration, thus being called IRLS-CG. Simulations with computer phantoms are realized showing that the proposed method allows for the reconstruction of images, without observable artifacts, from data with reflectors located in non-modeled positions. Simulations also show a better spatial resolution in the proposed method when compared to the delay-and-sum (DAS) algorithm. It was also observed better computational performance of CG when compared to the matrix inversion in the iterations of IRLS.

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Este estudo apresenta uma compreensão sobre o trabalho e a saúde das mulheres que desempenham a função de limpeza, em uma empresa terceirizada que presta serviços a uma instituição de ensino superior do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Pretendeu-se também conhecer os fatores relacionados à organização do trabalho, que podem reverberar negativamente nas relações de trabalho e nas condições de saúde das trabalhadoras. O estudo ancorou-se nos materiais oriundos da Ergonomia da Atividade, da área da Saúde do Trabalhador e suas interseções com as perspectivas de gênero e na Psicodinâmica do Trabalho. Utilizou-se o questionário INSATS para mapear o ambiente físico do trabalho, fatores de exposição, exigências físicas, ritmo e tempo de trabalho, orientação das tarefas, autonomia, relações de trabalho, reconhecimento e satisfação no trabalho, o que mais causa incômodo no trabalho, o estado de saúde das trabalhadoras e a proteção e riscos do trabalho. O questionário foi aplicado a uma população feminina de 21 trabalhadoras. Os resultados apontam para um trabalho muito assemelhado ao trabalho doméstico, de pouca visibilidade, precarizado, com baixos salários e desvalorizado pela sociedade.
This study provides an understanding of the work and health of women who perform the cleaning function on an outsourced company that provides services to a higher education institution in the state of Rio de Janeiro. It was intended to also know the factors related to work organization, which may reverberate negatively on labor relations and health conditions of workers. The study is anchored in materials derived from the activity of Ergonomics, Occupational Health of the area and its intersections with gender perspectives and work psychodynamics. We used the INSATS questionnaire to map the physical work environment, exposure factors, physical demands, rhythm and tempo of work, guidance tasks, autonomy, labor relations, recognition and job satisfaction, which causes more nuisance at work the health status of the working and protection and labor risks. The questionnaire was administered to a female population of 21 workers. The results point to a much resembled work to domestic work, poor visibility, precarious, low-paid and undervalued by society.

Campana's Life and Work form the two main sections of my thesis. In the first part, I reconstruct the chronology of Campana's life against the background of his times. There were, hitherto, considerable periods in the poet's life which were either unknown, or reconstructed through hearsay in the absence of original documentation. In the course of my research both in Italy (Marradi, Florence, Bologna, Rome), and Switzerland (Lugano), I was able to discover many unpublished documents, some of which fill in gaps, others which challenge the previously accepted chronology. Some of these documents I have published in two articles (The Modern Language Review, October 1983, and Italian Studies,1985) which I am attaching to this thesis; others I have transcribed in an Appendix. In the study of Campana's work, I examine successive publications of his poems and compare them with some original manuscripts, now in the hands of relatives or in archives and libraries in Italy. I discuss the phenomenon of Variants and other aspects of Campana's method of work which contributed to the many disparities found in successive publications. A comparative table of Il Piu Lungo Giorno and the Canti Orfici is a major part of this thesis. Il Piu Lungo Giorno, lost in 1913 and not found until 1971 has hitherto been surprisingly neglected, although it enables us to trace Campana's poetic development over a crucial phase of his career. I have limited my study of the Canti Orfici to two poems which help to distinguish the various phases of Campana's development and show the emergence of ideas which appear characteristic of his mature art. In conclusion I look at changing attitudes to Campana, from 1914 to the present day.

Mental retardation is the most common brain disease. One of the first genes identified in X-linked mental retardation (XLMR) was the OPHN-1 gene. Mutation of this gene has been described in patients with moderate to severe cognitive impairments. MR is characterized by reduced cognitive function with or without other clinical features, thus providing a direct approach to study the neurobiology of cognition and pathogenesis of MR. I propose in this thesis to clarify the underlying mechanisms responsible for the learning impairments. My first approach was to investigate the functioning of a neuronal population using extracellular recording of fast oscillations which are thought to underlie higher cognitive performance. I showed that \(Ophn-1\) null mice displayed weaker gamma oscillations. Thereafter, Investigation of the synaptic properties of CA3 pyramidal neurons using the patch-clamp technique has been undertaken. I have shown reduced inputs of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission to CA3 pyramidal neurons accompanied with reduced frequency dependent facilitation of the inhibitory neurotransmission at 33Hz. Finally, a reduction in readily releasable pool size in inhibitory synapses of CA3 area was unravelled. This defect explained the reduction of frequency of sIPSCs and consequently the reduction in gamma oscillations power in Ophn-1\(^{-/y}\) slices.

Il danno mitocondriale è associato a molte malattie neurodegenerative, quali: Parkinson, Alzheimer e Sclerosi Laterale Amiotrofica. Queste malattie sono associate anche a cambiamenti di isoforme tramite splicing alternativo di alcuni geni. In questo lavoro dimostriamo che il danneggiamento mitocondriale modula lo splicing alternativo in maniera generale. Cellule di neuroblastoma umano sono state incubate con l’agente chimico paraquat (una neurotossina che danneggia i mitocondri e crea stress ossidativo) e analizzate mediante RT-PCR per il pattern di splicing di 13 geni. Tutti gli mRNAs soggetti a splicing alternativo mostrano un’incremento dell’isoforma più piccola in maniera dose e tempo dipendente. Al contrario degli esoni alternativi, gli esoni costitutivi non cambiano dopo induzione con il paraquat. Dai dati ottenuti usando altre droghe, si evince che la modulazione dello splicing alternativo è correlata con il danno mitocondriale e la conseguente mancanza di ATP. Linee cellulari non neuronali non mostrano gli stessi cambiamenti nello splicing, indicando una selettiva suscettibilità delle cellule neuronali. Dato che una significativa percentuale di mRNAs di mammiferi è sottoposta a splicing alternativo, abbiamo ipotizzato che il danneggiamento mitocondriale causi uno squilibrio tra le varie isoforme dando un importante contributo alla neurodegenerazione. Con lo scopo di identificare eventuali targets farmacologici, abbiamo cercato di capire quale sia la via di trasduzione del segnale che trasmette lo stress mitocondriale al macchinario dello splicing. Due classi di proteine determinano la selezione dei siti di splicing: la famiglia delle proteine SR e la famiglia delle proteine hnRNP; entrambe regolate dalla fosforilazione, che è importante per la loro attività. Le proteine hnRNP ed SR sono state purificate da cellule di neuroblastoma umano di controllo e trattate con paraquat e studiate mediante un approccio sub-proteomico. Mentre le proteine hnRNPs non mostrano cambiamenti, le proteine SR sembrano essere down regolate e defosforilate in seguito a trattamento con il paraquat. Infine, utilizzando diversi inibitori che coinvolgono diversi pathway presenti nella cellula, abbiamo dimostrato che il calcio ha un ruolo nella via di trasduzione del segnale che stiamo osservando. I dati ottenuti non sono ancora conclusivi, ma sicuramente hanno dimostrato una correlazione fra la neurodegenerazione e lo splicing alternativo e hanno posto le basi per capire il modo in cui lo splicing alternativo è modulato nei neuroni in risposta a stimoli esterni.
Mitochondrial damage is linked to many neurodegenerative deseases, such as Parkinson, Alzheimer and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. These diseases are linked to changes in the splicing pattern of individual mRNAs. Here, we test the hypothesis that mitochondrial damage modulates alternative splicing, not only of a few mRNAs, but in a general manner. We incubated cultured human neuroblastoma cells with the chemical agent paraquat (a neurotoxin that interferes with mitochondrial function, causing energy deficit and oxidative stress) and analysed the splicing pattern of 13 genes by RT-PCR. For each alternatively spliced mRNA, we observed a dose and time dependent increase of the smaller isoforms. In contrast, splicing of all constitutive exons we monitored did not change after paraquat treatment. In addition, we prove that the modulation of alternative splicing by using different drugs correlates with ATP depletion, not with oxidative stress. Such drastic changes in alternative splicing haven’t been observed in cell lines of non-neuronal origin, suggesting a selective susceptibility of neuronal cells to modulation of splicing. Since a significant percentage of all mammalian mRNAs undergoes alternative splicing, we predict that mitochondrial failure will unbalance a large number of isoform equilibriums, thus permitting an important contribution to neurodegeneration. To identify possible drug targets, we tried to understand which is the signal trasduction trasmitting the mitochondrial damage to the splicing machinery. Two classes of proteins determine splice site selection: the hnRNP and the SR proteins. Both of them are phosphorylated and phosphorylation is important for their activity. We have purified hnRNPs and SR proteins from both paraquat-treated and human neuroblastoma control cells and we have studied them with a sub-proteomic approach. While the maps of paraquat-treated and control hnRNPs do not show up significant modifications, the SR proteins appear hypophosphorylated and downregulated by paraquat treatment. Finally, using different inhibitors involving different pathways in the cell, we demonstrate that calcium has a role in the signal trasduction that we are observing. The obtained data are not yet conclusive, but certainly have shown us a correlation between the neurodegeneration and Alternative Splicing. They have laid down the foundation for understanding the way by which the Alternative Splicing is modulated in neurons depending on external stimuli.

Bakgrund: Diabetes typ 1 är en vanlig kronisk sjukdom som oftast drabbar barn. Sverige är ett av de länder som har högst incidens av diabetes typ 1 i världen. Diabetes typ 1 är en sjukdom där egenvården anses vara livsavgörande. Då sjukdomen drabbar barn spelar föräldrars delaktighet i egenvården en central roll. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att beskriva föräldrars upplevelse av delaktigheten i vården av sitt barn med diabetes typ 1. Metod: Studien är en allmän litteraturstudie, baserad på 10 kvalitativa artiklar. Resultat: Resultatet visade att föräldrar bar ett stort ansvar i vårdandet kring barnet som har diabetes typ 1. Föräldrars upplevelser kring delaktigheten i vårdandet av sitt sjuka barn bestod i olika känslor, tankar och förändringar. Resultatet redovisas i tre kategorier känslomässiga reaktioner, vårdandets påverkan på vardagen och en ny värld. Slutsats: Det är viktigt att belysa föräldrars upplevelser då detta kan bidra till utveckling av den familjefokuserade omvårdnaden. Genom detta kan sjuksköterskan hjälpa familjer att uppnå en god och säker vård för familjerna med barn som har diabetes typ 1. Av studiens resultat dras slutsatsen att det som sjuksköterska är viktigt att söka förståelse för familjens perspektiv. Vilket författarna ser inom detta område vara att förstå relationen mellan barns sjukdom och föräldrars upplevelser. Klinisk Betydelse: En ökad kunskap hos sjuksköterskor i ämnet, bidrar till en bättre vård där familjefokuserad omvårdnad uppmärksammas i större uträkning.
Background: Diabetes type 1 is one of the most common chronic illness effecting children. Sweden is one of the countries in the world with the highest incident of diabetes type 1. Diabetes type 1 is a disease when self-care plays a life effecting part. As the disease often affects children the parents’ participation in the self-care play a central part. Aim: The aim of this study is to describe parents’ experience of participating in nursing for their child with diabetes type 1. Method: This study is regular literatures study, based on 10 qualitative articles. Results: The result shows that parents’ carried a huge responsibility regarding nursing for the child with diabetes type 1. Parents’ experience regarding participating in nursing for their child consisted in different feelings, thoughts and changes. The result is presented in three categories emotional reactions, nursing affecting the everyday life and a new world. Conclusions: It’s important to highlight parents experience as it can contribute to developing family nursing. Through this the nurse can help the family to achieve a god and safe care for the family having a child with diabetes type 1. The result off this study concludes the important of seeking understanding for the patients’ perspective, by the nurse. Which the author of this study sees, in its context meaning understanding the relationship between children’s disease and parents’ experience. Relevance to clinical practice: Increased knowledge by the nurse in the subject will contribute to better care, where family nursing is in larger computation.

Cette recherche s'intéresse à l'utilisation de l'art dans des organismes communautaires et dans le milieu scolaire montréalais auprès des jeunes issus de l'immigration afin de favoriser leur adaptation et leur intégration. Ces derniers représentent une clientèle aux origines ethniques et aux besoins de plus en plus diversifiés. Encourager leur intégration à la société québécoise représente donc une tâche complexe qui nécessite des actions concertées dans toutes les sphères de la société. La problématique de recherche s'articule autour de trois lacunes dans l'aide qui est actuellement apportée aux jeunes issus de l'immigration: Tout d'abord, un manque de ressources favorisant leur adaptation et leur intégration est observé. Deuxièmement, un manque de connaissances sur le potentiel de l'art afin de favoriser leur adaptation et leur intégration a été identifié. Troisièmement, la prise en compte de la diversité ethnoculturelle des classes représente une difficulté pour les enseignants en arts qui sont peu préparés à recevoir ces élèves. Les conclusions tirées de cette étude exploratoire démontrent que l'art peut être utilisé avec succès pour favoriser l'adaptation et l'intégration des jeunes issus de l'immigration, tant dans les ressources communautaires que dans le milieu scolaire. Le savoir-être des intervenants impliqués auprès de ces jeunes semble aussi exercer un rôle déterminant dans l'atteinte des objectifs souhaités. Par exemple, lorsque les intervenants peuvent représenter des modèles à qui s'identifier, lorsqu'ils sont engagés dans leur travail et qu'ils développent des liens significatifs avec les jeunes, ceux-ci semblent réagir favorablement aux projets artistiques mis en place pour les aider dans leur cheminement. L'établissement de ponts entre les jeunes, leur école, leur famille et les services communautaires dans leur milieu de vie, parfois difficile à instaurer, semble aussi être très bénéfique. Enfin, les professeurs qui enseignent dans des classes multiethniques devraient développer des projets significatifs pour les jeunes en tenant compte de leur culture d'origine, de leurs intérêts et de leurs goûts. De plus, ils devraient favoriser un espace de création dans lequel les jeunes peuvent s'exprimer sur leur réalité. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Jeunes, Immigration, Intégration, Art.

Es wird das globale Minimum einer Funktion gesucht, deren Auswertung extrem aufwendig ist und die zwar differenzierbar sein kann, deren Ableitungen aber nicht verfügbar sind. Die Funktion ist aber bei gleichem Aufwand parallel in etwa 1000 Argumenten auswertbar. Zuerst werden verschiedene klassische Methoden der Interpolation untersucht und gezeigt, wieso die nicht brauchbar sind, sondern die Interpolation mit Radialen Basisfunktionen vorzuziehen ist. Dann werden die bekanntesten Optimierungsverfahren aus der Literatur beschrieben und deren Schwachstellen bezüglich der vorliegenden Problemstellung aufgezeigt. Im dritten Teil werden lokale Suchverfahren dritter und höherer Ordnung beschrieben. Ein Verfahren der Ordnung vier wird hergeleitet und die Konvergenzordnung vier wird bewiesen. Anhand ausführlicher numerischer Untersuchungen wird gezeigt, daß das Halley-Verfahren am besten zur Problemstellung paß. In Kapitel vier werden Verfahren zur Minimierung extrem aufwendiger Funktionen hergeleitet, wobei ein Verfahren die hochparallele Auswertbarkeit nutzt und eines nicht. Es wird die Konvergenz des Verfahrens in einer Dimension bewiesen und die numerische Konkurrenzfähigkeit mit den bisherigen Verfahren gezeigt.

Dans une région périphérique comme le SLSJ, les investissements industriels liés à l'exploitation des ressources naturelles ont un impact majeur sur l'économie locale. Mais, l'histoire montre que ces impacts économiques arrivent rarement à résoudre de façon durable les problèmes économiques qui caractérisent ces régions. Ce mémoire étudie le potentiel du mégaprojet industriel d'Alcan à Aima sur le développement viable du SLSJ et propose un regard alternatif à la simple mesure des retombées économiques locales. Le potentiel de développement viable est abordé sous l'angle de la capacité de rétention des entreprises régionales et de la réalisation d'apprentissages à partir de leur participation au chantier. La démarche de recherche est donc centrée sur les entreprises régionales comme acteur central, sur la rétention régionale des retombées économiques comme source de changement et sur l'apprentissage comme processus porteur. Le cadre théorique et le cadre d'analyse choisis font donc référence à l'évaluation d'impact, le développement viable, le développement économique local et l'apprentissage organisationnel. L'étude de la capacité de rétention et d'apprentissage est réalisée en trois grandes étapes. Premièrement, nous effectuons une revue de la documentation du mégaprojet afin de le mettre en contexte et d'identifier les principaux enjeux liés aux retombées économiques. Deuxièmement, nous analysons les résultats obtenus par les entreprises régionales à l'intérieur du processus d'attribution des lots pour la construction de l'aluminerie. Cette étape permet de caractériser la capacité de rétention des entreprises régionales. Enfin, nous étudions les résultats d'une enquête exploratoire auprès des entreprises régionales ayant obtenu des lots sur le chantier Alma. L'enquête sur les perceptions et les comportements des entreprises en lien avec le développement régional, le savoir-faire acquis sur le chantier et les relations avec les acteurs concernés permet d'observer les impacts du chantier en termes d'apprentissage. L'analyse du potentiel du mégaprojet pour un développement régional viable, basée sur les résultats de ces trois principales étapes de collecte de données, est réalisée sous quatre angles différents. Premièrement, nous identifions les leviers et les blocages reliés à la rétention et à l'apprentissage. Deuxièmement, nous évaluons l'efficacité des mesures mises en place par le promoteur et les institutions afin de maximiser les retombées économiques régionales. Troisièmement, nous analysons la nature et l'intensité des apprentissages réalisés par les entreprises régionales. Quatrièmement, nous identifions les éléments retenus pour contribuer à la modélisation du suivi des impacts sociaux. Enfin, nous effectuons des recommandations concernant des mesures de maximisation pour la rétention des retombées et la réalisation d'apprentissage, le comité de suivi et le partenariat avec les entreprises. Ces dernières visent à maximiser le potentiel du mégaprojet pour le développement viable du SLSJ.

Many applications at millimeter wavelengths require fast electronic phase shifters. In this study, the design of diode-grid phase shifters is presented, the fabrication of diode-grids on monolithic gallium-arsenide substrates is demonstrated, and the measurement of these grids is discussed. A new computer-aided design tool is developed to provide an interactive environment for design and to form a basis for comparing theory and experimental results. Diode-grids have been fabricated on 2 cm by 3 cm gallium-arsenide wafers with 2000 aluminum Schottky diodes. A novel small aperture reflectometer is computerized to use a wave-front division interference technique to measure the reflection coefficient of the grids. A 70° phase shift with a 6.5-dB loss was measured at 93 GHz when the bias on the diode-grid was changed from -3V to +1V.

The lack of appropriate healthcare services in rural areas has been well documented. As osteopaths are primary care practitioners, they can play a significant role in primary health care in geographic areas where there is a shortage of health care practitioners. Until now, there has been no research exploring the background of rural osteopaths in Australia and the specific issues of rural osteopathic practice. The aim of this research was to identify the major issues as described by rural osteopathic practitioners themselves. A subsidiary aim was to explore whether there was an association between a rural background and a rural ostepath's coice to practice in a rural area. Findings indicate that rural osteopaths are more likely to be male, and generally older than their counterparts in the urban areas, as well as most other rural AHPs. The rural osteopathic workforce is still relatively inexperienced in rural osteopathy, with over 57% of rural osteopaths having been in rural practice for less than 10 years. Professional satisfaction in the variety of work, autonomy of practice, social and personal satisfaction, the feeling of doing an important job, and the community of care given to patients were all seen as benefits of rural practice. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.