bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Waiting to Relating: Parents’ Experiences in the Waiting Room of an Occupational Therapy Clinic
Authors: Cohn Ellen S.
Published: September 2010

Objective. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of parents’ perceptions of outcomes of occupational therapy intervention using a sensory integration approach.

Method. Interviews with parents regarding their children’s participation in occupational therapy were analyzed using grounded theory.

Results. The parents’ experiences of sitting in the waiting room while their children received occupational therapy emerged as a powerful outcome theme. Through their interactions with other parents, this particular group of parents gave and received naturally occurring support for parenting children with sensory integrative dysfunction. Additionally, by virtue of repeated experiences of waiting, parents moved to positions of liminality, shared weekly rituals, engaged in downward social comparison, and reframed their views of their children.

Conclusion. Implications are proposed for expanding the definition of family-centered intervention; attending to the meaning of the cultural world of practice; and directing future research related to how a physical setting, such as a waiting room, might shape naturally occurring support and social interaction.
Increased Pain Tolerance as an Indicator of Return to Work in Low-Back Injuries After Work Hardening
Authors: Joy Jennifer M. , Lowy Jamie , Mansoor Jim K.
Published: September 2010

Objective. This study examined retrospective data from a multidisciplinary work-hardening program that compared patients who did and did not return to work after low-back injury. The objective of this study was to identify differences between these groups to better guide work-hardening programs and return-to-work decisions.

Method. Retrospective data from patients with low-back injuries (n = 115) who participated in a northern California work-hardening program were analyzed. Using two-way analysis of variance, male and female patients who did and did not return to work were compared.

Results. No significant differences were found between men and women for any of the variables studied. Patients who did and did not return to work were not significantly different in age, length of injury, and subjective pain at the beginning or end of the work-hardening program or in activity tolerance (p = .08). Patients who returned to work perceived a significantly (p ≤ .05) greater improvement in pain tolerance by the end of the work-hardening program than those who did not return to work.

Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that rehabilitation emphasis should not be placed on the reduction of subjective pain but, rather, on strategies to cope with existing pain while improving functional ability.
A Literature Review of the Effect of Handedness on Isometric Grip Strength Differences of the Left and Right Hands
Authors: Clerke Anita , Clerke Jonathan
Published: September 2010

When estimating preinjury grip strength for compensation and rehabilitation purposes, two methods have been identified in the literature: (a) comparison with the unaffected hand and (b) reference to grip strength normative data. The literature is divided about whether a significant difference exists between the grip strengths of a person’s two healthy hands. Some researchers argue that handedness affects the grip strength ratio. According to these authors, there is considerable variation in the definition of handedness, its effect on grip strength ratios, and the methods of assessing handedness as it relates to grip strength. The complexity of defining and accurately evaluating handedness is discussed in this literature review. Inappropriateness of the current use of self-report questionnaires for determining handedness for grip strength purposes is highlighted. The impact of the effect of handedness on grip strength ratios cannot be clarified until a consistent definition and evaluation method for assessing handedness is developed. This handedness definition then needs to be applied to appropriately designed hand grip strength studies.
Occupation by Design: Dimensions, Therapeutic Power, and Creative Process
Authors: Pierce Doris
Published: September 2010

Two forces are converging, creating conditions both challenging and potentially fruitful for occupational therapy. The profession’s knowledge base describing occupation is growing exponentially. At the same time, functional outcomes of intervention are being increasingly valued within the health care environment. Other professions imitate and claim our areas of expertise in the most flattering and dangerous ways. To benefit from the convergence of these forces, occupational therapy must expeditiously translate understanding of occupation into powerful occupation-based practice. Three bridges must be built: a generative discourse, demonstration sites, and effective education.

The occupational design approach offers important conceptual tools with which to rapidly build these bridges to powerful practice. Described here are subjective and contextual dimensions of occupational experience, elements of the occupational design process, and how these factors produce therapeutic power through the appeal, intactness, and accuracy of interventions.
Holism in Occupational Therapy: Elusive Fiction and Ambivalent Struggle
Authors: Finlay Linda
Published: September 2010

The profession of occupational therapy is said to have underpinnings of holistic, humanistic, and client-centered values. How does this claim translate into practice? This article reports on a qualitative study in which the practice experiences of 12 occupational therapists in the United Kingdom were explored. Through phenomenological analysis of interviews and participant observation data, the findings revealed that although holism is indeed valued, considerable uncertainty exists about what it actually means. The therapists studied seemed to understand holism and enact it in different, sometimes contradictory, ways. Further, each therapist’s practice could be simultaneously reductionistic and holistic, depending on the perceived needs of the situation. Therapists struggled to negotiate the tensions between beliefs and practices and to cope with their uncomfortable feelings when they did not achieve their ideals. Although the occupational therapists in this study strove to be person-centered, the demands of their work context pushed them to be pragmatic and strategic.
Factors Affecting Older Adults’ Use of Adaptive Equipment: Review of the Literature
Authors: Kraskowsky Laura Hastings , Finlayson Marcia
Published: September 2010

Objective. The purpose of this review was to identify the major findings of published research on the factors influencing older adults’ use of adaptive equipment.

Method. Fourteen studies involving an older adult sample were selected from major electronic bibliographic databases searched with a series of key words related to aging and equipment use. Results of these studies were compared to determine the most common factors influencing the use of adaptive equipment among older adults.

Results. Although the reviewed studies varied in their sampling strategies and designs, many results were similar. Between 47% and 82% of prescribed equipment continues to be used by older adults, with use decreasing over time. Findings from published studies show that equipment suitability, adequate training, and pre-prescription home visits contribute to these rates of use. Lack of fit among the person, his or her environment, and the equipment was the primary reason identified for nonuse.

Conclusion. The results of the published research provide practicing occupational therapists with a range of factors to consider when prescribing adaptive equipment to older adults. Although the findings of this review demonstrate remarkable consistency across existing research findings, future research is needed to identify what constitutes optimal device use, what factors provide personal motivation for using assistive devices, and how home visits influence use.
The Effectiveness of Physical, Psychological, and Functional Interventions in Treating Clients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Baker Nancy A. , Tickle-Degnen Linda
Published: September 2010

This article provides a meta-analysis of the current best evidence for the use of occupational therapy with clients with multiple sclerosis (MS). A review of the literature identified 23 articles that examined the effectiveness of occupational therapy–related treatments on clients with MS. Meta-analytic analysis suggests that occupational therapy–related treatments were effective in treating the deficits associated with MS (r = .52), particularly for outcomes in the capacity and ability (r = .52; e.g., muscle strength, range of motion, mood) and task and activity (r = .57; e.g., dressing, bathing, ambulation) levels. A review of the research designs used to study MS suggests that more rigorous research is necessary to fully understand treatment effectiveness. Further, more research must be done to establish the effectiveness of occupational therapy treatment at the life role level.
Occupational Performance and the Transition to Powered Mobility: A Pilot Study
Authors: Buning Mary Ellen , Angelo Jennifer A. , Schmeler Mark R.
Published: September 2010

Objective. This quantitative study describes the transition from manual to powered mobility and its influence on occupational performance (organization of daily tasks, assumption of responsibility, roles, interests) and feelings of competence, adaptability, and self-esteem.

Method. The Occupational Performance History Interview (OPHI) was used with a convenience sample of 8 participants with both static and progressive conditions to measure retrospectively changes in occupational performance after the change from a manual wheelchair to a powered mobility device (PMD). The Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Device Scale (PIADS) was used to measure participants’ perceptions of the impact of the PMD on their competence, adaptability, and self-esteem.

Results. A comparison of the pretest and posttest means on the OPHI scores showed a significant improvement in occupational performance (p = .001) after the introduction of PMDs. The PIADS scores showed a positive impact of 2 or greater for 75% of the participants on 19 of 26 items. Scores were similar to scores in a PIADS database of persons with comparable conditions. No significant relationship between occupational performance and psychosocial impact was demonstrated.

Conclusion. Results suggest that the transition to a PMD enhances occupational performance, competence, adaptability, and self-esteem for persons with severe mobility impairments.
Toddlers’ Persistence in the Emerging Occupations of Functional Play and Self-Feeding
Authors: Bober Sally J. , Humphry Ruth , Carswell Heather West , Core Amanda J.
Published: September 2010

Objective. This descriptive study explores motivation of toddlers who are typically developing to persist with challenging occupations.

Method. The persistence of 33 children, 12 to 19 months of age (M = 15.7 months), in functional play and self-feeding with a utensil was examined through videotape analysis of on-task behaviors.

Results. A modest correlation was demonstrated between the percentages of on-task time in the two conditions (r = .44, p < .01). Although chronological age was not associated with persistence, participants’ age-equivalent fine motor scores were correlated with persistence with challenging toys (r = .39, p < .03) but not with self-feeding with a utensil. Having an older sibling was associated with longer periods of functional play, t(32) = 3.02, p < .005, but the amount the parent urged the child to eat with a utensil was not associated with persistence in self-feeding.

Conclusion. The modest association between on-task time for functional play and self-feeding with a utensil reveals that factors other than urge to meet perceptual motor challenges lead to children’s persistence. The results reinforce the importance of considering not only challenging activities, but also the experienced meaning that elicits optimal effort and, thus, learning.
Comparison of Sensory Profile Scores of Young Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Watling Renee L. , Deitz Jean , White Owen
Published: September 2010

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to describe the sensory-based behaviors of young children with autism as reported by their parents on the Sensory Profile. Factor scores of children with autism were compared with those of children without autism.

Method. The Sensory Profile questionnaire was completed by parents of 40 children with autism 3 through 6 years of age and parents of 40 children without autism 3 through 6 years of age.

Results. The performance of children with autism was significantly different from that of children without autism on 8 of 10 factors. Factors where differences were found included Sensory Seeking, Emotionally Reactive, Low Endurance/Tone, Oral Sensitivity, Inattention/Distractibility, Poor Registration, Fine Motor/Perceptual, and Other.

Conclusion. Findings from the study suggest that young children with autism have deficits in a variety of sensory processing abilities as measured by the Sensory Profile. Further research is needed to replicate these findings, to examine the possibility of subgroups on the basis of sensory processing, and to contrast the sensory processing abilities of children with other disabilities to those of children with autism.
Occupational Therapy Practitioners’ Perceptions of the Impact of Continuing Education Activities on Continuing Competency
Authors: Andersen Lori T.
Published: September 2010

Objective. The purpose of this exploratory study was to evaluate Florida-licensed occupational therapy practitioners’ perceptions of the impact of various continuing education activities on their continuing competency.

Method. A self-report mail survey was used to evaluate occupational therapy practitioners’ perceptions of various continuing education activities in three domains: (a) learning, (b) application, and (c) results. The respondents’ perceptions of the impact of specific continuing education activities were compared.

Results. As rated by the respondents, formal programs 1 or more days in length had a significantly greater impact than most informal continuing education activities. On-the-job training (in the domain of application) and being mentored had a significantly greater impact than formal educational programs less than 3 hr in length.

Conclusion. Informal continuing education activities, in some cases, are perceived to have as effective an impact on continuing competency of occupational therapy practitioners as formal continuing education activities.
Comparison of Three Wheelchair Cushions for Effectiveness of Pressure Relief
Authors: Yuen Hon Keung , Garrett Donna
Published: September 2010

Objective. Previous studies have suggested that no single wheelchair pressure-relieving cushion material was optimal for all persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the shortterm pressure-relieving ability of the three most commonly prescribed wheelchair cushions (Roho, Jay, Pindot) for a person with SCI.

Method. The number of pressure sensors registering at the buttock–cushion interface during wheelchair sitting was measured by the Xsensor Pressure Mapping System after 5 min of sitting. An alternating treatments research design, with an initial baseline and a final treatment phase ending with the most effective cushion for relieving pressure, was used for the clinical evaluation. Measurements were compared using visual inspection and a Wilcoxon signed ranks test.

Results. Data analyses indicated that the number of pressure sensors that registered potential harmful levels of pressure at the buttock–cushion interface for the Roho cushion was significantly less than those of the Jay and Pindot cushions.

Conclusion. The Roho cushion was more effective in relieving pressure at the seating surface than the Jay and Pindot cushions.
The New Stories/New Cultures After-School Enrichment Program: A Direct Cultural Intervention
Authors: Frank Gelya , Fishman Merle , Crowley Catherine , Blair Brent , Murphy Sheila T. , Montoya Jorge A. , Hickey Michael P. , Brancaccio Mary V. , Bensimon Estela Mara
Published: September 2010

This article describes the organization, curriculum, and outcomes for New Stories/New Cultures, an activity-based program for after-school enrichment in five schools in the low-income neighborhood near a major American university. The program encourages students (70% Hispanic-American, 30% African-American) to experience themselves as producers of culture, not just as consumers. Its methods include (a) creative team use of video equipment and other expressive media and (b) lessons about media literacy (i.e., making critical choices about images and activities depicted in popular culture and commercials). Outcome measures with the cohort of fifth and sixth graders support the program’s occupation-based philosophy. They show that students are more likely to experience themselves as building skills when engaged in activities that are both challenging and enjoyable. The students reported greatest engagement and enjoyment in activities that were creative, team-based, and involving media production. These same activities were correlated with increased self-esteem. The term direct cultural intervention is used to describe the application of occupational principles and critical perspectives to provide a population with conceptual tools and skills for interpreting and successfully navigating the social world.
Occupational Adaptation Model Versus Biomechanical–Rehabilitation Model in the Treatment of Patients With Hip Fractures
Authors: Jackson John P. , Schkade Janette K.
Published: September 2010

Objective. This study compared the effectiveness of the Occupational Adaptation frame of reference with the bio mechanical–rehabilitation model in the treatment of two groups of 20 patients post–hip fracture.

Method. Using a quasi-experimental design, groups were compared on changes in scores on the Functional Independence Measure (FIM™), a satisfaction questionnaire developed for this study, and discharge environment.

Results. No group differences in FIM changes for the total stay were found. However, average FIM score change per day of hospitalization and overall patient satisfaction were higher in the Occupational Adaptation group. No significant differences in the discharge environment were present.

Conclusion. Both groups benefited from occupational therapy intervention. Occupational Adaptation was associated with a more efficient outcome and greater patient satisfaction.
Participation in Daily Living Tasks Among Older Adults With Fear of Falling
Authors: Murphy Susan , Tickle-Degnen Linda
Published: September 2010

Objective. This study investigated patterns of participation in daily living tasks by older adults with fear of falling. The relationship between reported participation in a broad set of daily living tasks and the risk of falling involved in task performance—or activity-related risk—as judged by occupational therapists was examined. Further, several characteristics of older adults that have been associated with fear of falling were examined to determine which older adults had patterns of participation most strongly associated with the activity-related risk.

Method. Thirty-eight occupational therapists were surveyed and asked to judge the activity-related risk in performing specific daily living tasks. Additional data were obtained from 339 older adults with fear of falling who participated in a previous study on the effectiveness of an intervention to reduce fear of falling. Older adults’ participation in daily living tasks as measured by items of the Sickness Impact Profile was correlated with the judgments of activity-related risk controlling for potential confounding factors. Univariate regression analyses and t tests were used to determine whether several characteristics of older adults were associated with the relationship between participation and activity-related risk.

Results. Small to moderate significant relationships were found between older adults’ participation in daily living tasks and the activity-related risk as judged by occupational therapists (r = −.25, p < .0001). Older adults with the lowest confidence in ability regarding falls had the strongest relationships.

Conclusion. Activity-related risk is an aspect of daily living tasks that relates to participation in activities by older adults with fear of falling. Knowledge of the activity-related risk involved in daily living tasks can be used to facilitate occupational performance in clients with fear of falling and associated activity restriction.
Describing and Predicting the Possession of Assistive Devices Among Persons With Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Finlayson Marcia , Guglielmello Leslie , Liefer Kathryn
Published: September 2010

Objective. This study describes the types of assistive devices in the possession of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and identifies factors that best predicted the probability of possessing these devices.

Method. A secondary analysis using frequency distributions and logistic regression of existing cross-sectional data was completed. Data were from an anonymous mail survey of members of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (Atlantic Division) (N = 906).

Results. Mobility aids and grab bars were the most commonly reported assistive devices. Seeing an occupational therapist, not working, having a progressive type of MS, having more activity limitations and more symptoms, and having MS for a longer period were found to increase the probability of possessing assistive devices.

Conclusion. The descriptive results of this study are similar to studies of assistive technology use by older adults and persons with other chronic conditions. Type of MS and seeing an occupational therapist were the two strongest predictors of possessing assistive devices among respondents.
The Effect of Contextual Relevance on Motor Skill Transfer
Authors: Ferguson Matthew C. , Rice Martin S.
Published: September 2010

Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether practicing a complex self-care occupation in a contextually relevant environment would enhance the learning and transfer of skill.

Method. The design consisted of an acquisition phase, a rest period, and a transfer phase. Fifty-six women were recruited for this study and randomly assigned to one of three groups: (a) a contextually relevant (CR) group that practiced tying a necktie knot onto a mannequin, (b) a non-contextually relevant (NCR) group that practiced tying the same type of knot with a rope onto a wooden pole, and (c) a control group that did not practice at all during the acquisition phase. Participants in all three groups tied a necktie onto themselves during the transfer phase. Dependent variables were movement time, movement units, and the quality of the necktie knot.

Results. No difference in the rate of performance change was found during the acquisition phase between the CR and NCR groups. The difference among the CR, NCR, and control groups’ initial transfer phase performance was near significance for movement time and movement units. A significant difference in the rate of performance change was found among the three groups in movement time and movement units during the transfer phase but not in the quality of necktie knot measures.

Conclusion. The degree of similarity during the acquisition of a dressing skill may influence the rate of performance improvement in a similar dressing skill during a transfer phase. Until further research has been established, generalization of these results to special populations should be done conservatively.
Physical Properties of Short-Stretch Compression Bandages Used To Treat Lymphedema
Authors: King Theodore I. , Droessler Jessica L.
Published: September 2010

This study examined the physical properties of six common brands of short-stretch compression bandages used to treat lymphedema. The physical properties examined were (a) maintenance of pressure over a 12-hr period, (b) variability of pressure across the width of the bandages, and (c) variability of pressure when the bandages were wrapped with a 50% overlap. The results of the study indicate that all six brands of bandages tested maintain pressure well over a 12-hr period. Each has a variance of pressure between the middle and edge of the bandage, with the edges measuring (in mmHg) between 6% and 28% lower than the middle. When the bandages were wrapped with an 50% overlap, all six brands measured fairly consistently in pressure readings (in mmHg) across the width. These results indicate that the six brands of short-stretch compression bandages tested have similar physical characteristics.
Using a Head-Mounted Video Camera To Study Clinical Reasoning
Authors: Unsworth Carolyn A.
Published: September 2010

Studies of clinical reasoning are essential if we are to extend our knowledge of occupational therapy practice, better communicate our work to clients and colleagues, and reveal to our students the nuances of therapy that cannot be gained from texts. However, accessing therapists’ clinical reasoning is not an easy task because these cognitive processes can be studied only indirectly. The aim of this article is to promote the study of clinical reasoning by reviewing a new approach to data collection in this field. To achieve this purpose, the article outlines current data collection methods, such as the think-aloud method written notes, free recall, and audio-assisted and video-assisted recall. A novel method involving a head-mounted video camera is described, and details are provided on a modified approach to debriefing using video-assisted recall. Anecdotes from the author’s experience of using this technology illustrate the text.
Prediction of School Performance Using the Miller Assessment for Preschoolers (MAP): A Validity Study
Authors: Parush Shula , Winokur Monica , Goldstand Sarina , Miller Lucy Jane
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to examine the ability of the Miller Assessment for Preschoolers (MAP) to predict academic performance of Israeli preschoolers after a period of 5 to 7 years.

METHOD. Thirty children who were classified according to the MAP as preschoolers at risk (n = 15) and not at risk (n = 15) for pre-academic problems were tracked after 5 to 7 years. Follow-up evaluations were done on motor, visual-motor integrative, and cognitive performance components; reading and handwriting academic performance areas; and a variety of measures taken to establish overall school functional status.

RESULTS. Results indicate that children classified by the MAP as preschoolers at risk performed significantly worse 5 to 7 years later on visual-motor, cognitive, and reading and handwriting tests than those preschoolers classified not at risk and demonstrated reduced overall school functional status.

CONCLUSION. The findings indicate that the MAP can predict academic performance even over a 5-year to 7-year interval. Furthermore, by linking academic performance data to performance components of children in different cultures, our investigation contributes to the overall understanding of children’s functioning.
Shifts in Parent–Therapist Partnerships: Twelve Years of Change
Authors: Hinojosa Jim , Sproat Christine T. , Mankhetwit Supawadee , Anderson Jill
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. A national survey was conducted to identify occupational therapists’ current attitudes and values in their working relationships with parents of preschool children with developmental disabilities. This study replicated a 1987 national survey that examined therapists’ relationships with parents of preschool children with cerebral palsy.

METHOD. Surveys were sent to a random sample of 400 therapists, with 199 returned from respondents who identified themselves as working with preschool children with developmental disabilities. After calculating descriptive statistics for each item in the survey, a one-way analysis of variance was performed to test for differences based on four demographic variables.

RESULTS. Respondents reported that working with parents, more than any other aspect of intervention, had the greatest impact on the progress of a child with disabilities. Consistent with the 1987 survey, respondents believed that parents focus on their own adjustment to their child’s disability as well as on their child’s progress more than any other issues. Therapists continue to report satisfaction when generating positive change for child and parent through education and use of clinical knowledge and skill.

CONCLUSION. Results suggest that efforts to foster family-centered intervention in occupational therapy educational programs are increasing therapists’ confidence and skills in working with parents of children with disabilities. Implications for occupational therapy practice and education include a need for therapists to expand their knowledge and expertise in working effectively with vulnerable families. Educators need to focus on teaching strategies not only to refine the role of occupational therapy as a direct treatment provider, but also to incorporate creative ways to deal with the psychosocial issues of parents and families.
The Relationship of Infant Sleep and Play Positioning to Motor Milestone Achievement
Authors: Salls Joyce S. , Silverman Lyn N. , Gatty Carolyn M.
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. Limited information is available on how sleep and play positions affect infant gross motor skills and occupational development. The overall objective of this descriptive developmental pilot study was to compare normative and sampled infants relative to sleep and awake positioning using the Denver II Gross Motor Sector.

METHOD. A cross-sectional sample of 66 infants 2.0 (n = 23), 4.1 (n = 26), and 6.0 (n = 17) months of age were administered the Denver II Gross Motor Sector. Caregivers identified infants’ primary sleep positions and amount of awake-time in prone. Data were analyzed using chi-square goodness-of-fit tests.

RESULTS. The sample of 2.0-month-old supine and side sleeping infants differed significantly from the normative population on three gross motor milestones. Two-month-old infants spending 15 min or fewer of awake-time in prone passed the gross motor milestones at significantly lower percentages than the normative population. No significant differences were noted between sampled and normative populations at 4.1 and 6.0 months of age.

CONCLUSION. Results suggest that infant gross motor development may be related to sleep and play positioning. Information regarding infants’ sleep and awake positioning may be important to occupational therapists when evaluating gross motor development. Implications for caregiver education and future research are proposed.
Family centres: protection and promotion at the heart of theChildren Act1989
Authors: Warren‐Adamson Chris , Lightburn Anita
Published: September 2010

This article reflects on the significance of family centres in the UK as a mirror of new possibilities for child welfare in the years following the Children Act 1989. The Act empowered local authorities in England and Wales to provide family centres as part of ‘family support practice’. The article reveals a rich vein of family‐centred, centre‐based activity internationally and shows practice combining intervention from the sophisticated to the very informal. The authors focus on so‐called ‘integrated centres’ as complex systems of care with wide implications for practice and outcome evaluation in an ‘evidence‐based’ context.
Reconnecting care and education: from the Children Act 1989 to Care Matters
Authors: Jackson Sonia
Published: September 2010

The Children Act 1989 ended a period of four decades during which the education of children and young people in care was almost entirely neglected. However, it was another 20 years before education took its rightful place at the centre of provision for the care of children away from home. This article considers the contribution made to this process by the Act and its accompanying Guidance, what progress has been made and what were the obstacles, past and continuing, that have made it so difficult to narrow the gap in attainment between looked‐after children and others.
From public health to Ofsted: the impact of the Children Act 1989 on early years services
Authors: Hevey Denise
Published: September 2010

Early years policy and services have been subjected to substantial and rapid reform over the past 20 years. This article provides a brief overview of legislative and policy changes over this period, with a particular focus on regulation and workforce issues, and traces the enduring influence of the Children Act 1989 to the present. It identifies a paradigm shift in early years services from a world view based on public health and care and on devolution of responsibility, to one in which promoting children's learning and development is core and centralised regulation and national standards are seen as essential. This is reflected in changed responsibilities at government department and regulatory body level. Despite these major changes, the article concludes that the key principles of the Act ‐ in terms of children's rights, parents' responsibilities, listening to children and inter‐agency co‐operation ‐ are still apparent.
Services are not enough: child well‐being in a very unequal society
Authors: Rowlands John
Published: September 2010

This article offers a resumé of, and reflection on, policy ideas that have emerged since the implementation of the Children Act 1989 concerning child need, vulnerability and universalism. It acknowledges the significance of working to beneficial child outcomes as both a cement to pull services into coherence and as a measure of how well our children are doing. However, children in the UK are not doing well when compared with other affluent societies. The article invites consideration of whether we are asking too much of services in the face of enduring inequality in our society.
Dynamic adjustment of climatological ozone boundary conditions for air-quality forecasts
Authors: Makar P. A. , Gong W. , Mooney C. , Zhang J. , Davignon D. , Samaali M. , Moran M. D. , He H. , Tarasick D. W. , Sills D. , Chen J.
Published: September 2010

Abstract. Ten different approaches for applying lateral and top climatological boundary conditions for ozone have been evaluated using the off-line regional air-quality model AURAMS, driven with meteorology provided by the GEM weather-forecast model. All ten approaches employ the same climatological ozone profiles, but differ in the manner in which they are applied, via the inclusion or exclusion of (i) a dynamic adjustment of the climatological ozone profile in response to the model-predicted tropopause height, (ii) a sponge zone for ozone on the model top, (iii) upward extrapolation of the climatological ozone profile, and (iv) different mass consistency corrections. The model performance for each approach was evaluated against North American surface ozone and ozonesonde observations from the BAQS-Met field study period in the summer of 2007. The original daily one-hour maximum surface ozone biases of about +15 ppbv were greatly reduced (halved) in some simulations using alternative methodologies. However, comparisons to ozonesonde observations showed that the reduction in surface ozone bias sometimes came at the cost of significant positive biases in ozone concentrations in the free troposphere and upper troposphere. The best overall performance throughout the troposphere was achieved using a methodology that included dynamic tropopause height adjustment, no sponge zone at the model top, extrapolation of ozone when required above the limit of the climatology, and no mass consistency corrections (global mass conservation was still enforced). The simulation using this model version had a one-hour daily maximum surface ozone bias of +8.6 ppbv, with small reductions in model correlation, and the best comparison to ozonesonde profiles. This recommended and original methodologies were compared for two further case studies: a high-resolution simulation of the BAQS-Met measurement intensive, and a study of the downwind region of the Canadian Rockies. Significant improvements were noted for the high resolution simulations during the BAQS-Met measurement intensive period, both in formal statistical comparisons and time series comparisons of events at surface stations. The tests for the downwind-Rockies region showed that the coupling between vertical transport associated with troposphere/stratosphere exchange, and that associated with boundary layer turbulent mixing, may contribute to ozone positive biases. The results may be unique to the modelling setup employed, but the results also highlight the importance of evaluating boundary condition and mass consistency/correction algorithms against three-dimensional datasets.
Measurements of tropospheric HO2 and RO2 by oxygen dilution modulation and chemical ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Hornbrook R. S. , Crawford J. H. , Edwards G. D. , Goyea O. , Mauldin III R. L. , Olson J. S. , Cantrell C. A.
Published: September 2010

Abstract. An improved method for the measurement of hydroperoxy radicals (HO2) and organic peroxy radicals (RO2, where R is any organic group) has been developed that combines two previous chemical conversion/chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) peroxy radical measurement techniques. Applicable to both ground-based and aircraft platforms, the method provides good separation between HO2 and RO2 and frequent measurement capability with observations of both HO2 and HO2 + RO2 amounts each minute. This allows for analyses of measured [HO2]/[HO2 + RO2] ratios on timescales relevant to tropospheric photochemistry. By varying both [NO] and [O2] simultaneously in the chemical conversion region of the PeRCIMS (Peroxy Radical CIMS) inlet, the method exploits the changing conversion efficiency of RO2 to HO2 under different inlet [NO]/[O2] to selectively observe either primarily HO2 or the sum of HO2 and RO2. Two modes of operation have been established for ambient measurements: in the first half of the minute, RO2 radicals are measured at close to 100% efficiency along with HO2 radicals (low [NO]/[O2] = 2.53 × 10−5) and in the second half of the minute, HO2 is detected while the majority of ambient RO2 radicals are measured with approximately 15% efficiency (high [NO]/[O2] = 6.80 × 10−4). The method has been tested extensively in the laboratory under various conditions and for a variety of organic peroxy radicals relevant to the atmosphere and the results of these tests are presented. The modified PeRCIMS instrument has been deployed successfully using the current measurement technique on a number of aircraft campaigns, including on the NSF/NCAR C-130 during the MIRAGE-Mex and NASA INTEX-B field campaigns in the spring of 2006. A brief comparison of the peroxy radical measurements during these campaigns to a photochemical box model confirms that the PeRCIMS is able to successfully separate and measure HO2 and RO2 under the majority of tropospheric conditions.
Spatial distribution of spectral parameters of high latitude geomagnetic disturbances in the Pc5/Pi3 frequency range
Authors: Yagova N. V. , Pilipenko V. A. , Baransky L. N. , Engebretson M. J.
Published: September 2010

Abstract. We analyze spectral parameters of the geomagnetic disturbances within the 1–4 mHz (Pc5/Pi3) frequency range for 29 observatories from polar to auroral latitudes. The main object of this study is the broadband (noise) background under quiet and moderately disturbed conditions. To obtain a quantitative description of background high-latitude long period ULF activity the log-log dependence of the spectral power on frequency is expanded over Legendre polynomials, and the coefficients of this expansion (spectral moments) are used to describe the most common features of these spectra. Not only the spectral power, but also the spectral slope and higher spectral moments, averaged over relatively long time intervals, demonstrate a systematic dependence on corrected geomagnetic (CGM) latitude, Φ, and magnetic local time, MLT. The 2-D distributions of the spectral moments in Φ-MLT coordinates are characterized by existence of structures, narrow in latitude and extended in MLT, which can be attributed to the projections of different magnetospheric domains. Spatio-temporal distributions of spectral power of elliptically (P-component) and randomly (N-component) polarized signal are similar, but not identical. The N-component contribution to the total signal becomes non-negligible in regions with a high local activity, such as the auroral oval and dayside polar cusp. The spectral slope indicates a larger relative contribution of higher frequencies upon the latitude decrease, probably, as a result of the resonant effects in the ULF noise. The higher spectral moments are also controlled mostly by CGM latitude and MLT and are fundamentally different for the polarized and non-polarized components. This study is a step towards the construction of an empirical model of the ULF wave power in Earth's magnetosphere.
Carbon isotopic composition of branched tetraether membrane lipids in soils suggest a rapid turnover and a heterotrophic life style of their source organism(s)
Authors: Weijers J. W. H. , Wiesenberg G. L. B. , Bol R. , Hopmans E. C. , Pancost R. D.
Published: September 2010

Abstract. Branched Glycerol Dialkyl Glycerol Tetraethers (GDGTs) are membrane spanning lipids synthesised by as yet unknown bacteria that thrive in soils and peat. In order to obtain more information on their ecological niche, the stable carbon isotopic composition of branched GDGT-derived alkanes, obtained upon ether bond cleavage, has been determined in a peat and various soils, i.e. forest, grassland and cropland, covered by various vegetation types, i.e., C3- vs. C4-plant type. These δ13C values are compared with those of bulk organic matter and higher plant derived n-alkanes from the same soils. With average δ13C values of −28‰, branched GDGTs in C3 soils are only slightly depleted (ca. 1‰) relative to bulk organic carbon and on average 8.5‰ enriched relative to plant wax-derived long-chain n-alkanes ( nC29–nC33). In an Australian soil dominantly covered with C4 type vegetation, the branched GDGTs have a δ13C value of −18‰, clearly higher than observed in soils with C3 type vegetation. As with C3 vegetated soils, branched GDGT δ13C values are slightly depleted (1‰) relative to bulk organic carbon and enriched (ca. 5‰) relative to n-alkanes in this soil. The δ13C values of branched GDGT lipids being similar to bulk organic carbon and their co-variation with those of bulk organic carbon and plant waxes, suggest a heterotrophic life style and assimilation of relatively heavy and likely labile substrates for the as yet unknown soil bacteria that synthesise the branched GDGT lipids. However, a chemoautotrophic lifestyle, i.e. consuming respired CO2, could not be fully excluded based on these data alone. Based on a natural labelling experiment of a C3/C4 crop change introduced on one of the soils 23 years before sampling and based on a free-air CO2 enrichment experiment with labelled CO2 on another soil, a turnover time of ca. 18 years has been estimated for branched GDGTs in these arable soils.
Mapping surface soil moisture over the Gourma mesoscale site (Mali) by using ENVISAT ASAR data
Authors: Baup F. , Mougin E. , de Rosnay P. , Hiernaux P. , Frappart F. , Frison P. L. , Zribi M.
Published: September 2010

Abstract. The potentialities of ENVISAT ASAR (Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar) multi-angle data for mapping surface soil moisture (SSM) in Sahelian rangelands are investigated at medium scale (30 000 km2). The Wide Swath data are selected to take advantage of their high temporal repetitivity (about 8 days at the considered scale) associated to a moderate spatial resolution (150 m). In the continuity of previous studies conducted at a local scale in the same region, SSM maps are here processed over the whole AMMA Gourma mesoscale site at 1 km resolution scale. Overall, the generated maps are found to be in good agreement with field data, EPSAT-SG (Estimation des Pluies par SATellite – Second Generation) rainfall estimates and ERS (European Remote Sensing) Wind Scatterometer (WSC) SSM products. The present study shows that the spatial pattern of SSM can be realistically estimated at a kilometric scale. The resulting SSM maps are expected to provide valuable information for initialisation of land surface models and the estimation of the spatial distribution of radiative fluxes. Particularly, SSM maps could help to desaggregate low-resolution products such as those derived from WSC data.
Handling of Particulate Solids
Authors: Feise Hermann J. , Letzelter Thomas
Published: September 2010

The article contains sections titled:1.Introduction2.History3.Characterization of Bulk Solids3.1.Particle Properties3.2.Bulk Solids Properties3.2.1.Bulk Solids Density3.2.2.Angle of Repose3.2.3.Angle of Slide3.2.4.Wall Friction3.2.5.Internal Friction3.2.6.Flow Properties3.2.7.Lateral Stress Ratio3.2.8.Fluidization Properties4.Storage of Bulk Solids4.1.Flow Patterns in Silos4.2.Flow Problems4.3.Caking of Bulk Solids4.3.1.Significance of Time Consolidation4.3.2.Caking Mechanisms4.3.3.Formation of Solid Bridges4.3.4.Solutions to Caking Problems4.4.Stress Patterns4.5.Janssen Equation4.6.Silo Design4.6.1.Hopper Design4.6.2.Outlet Design4.6.3.Silo Shapes4.6.4.Design Standards5.Transport of Bulk Solids5.1.Selection of a Transportation System5.2.Pneumatic Conveying5.2.1.State Diagram of Pneumatic Conveying5.2.2.Estimation of Pressure Drop5.2.3.Basic Components of a Pneumatic Conveying System5.2.4.Classification of Pneumatic Conveying Systems5.3.Mechanical Conveying5.3.1.Screw Conveyors and Screw Feeder5.3.2.Belt Conveyors5.3.3.Vibratory Conveyors5.3.4.Elevators5.3.5.En Masse Conveyors5.3.6.Apron Feeders5.3.7.Rotary Table Feeders5.4.Hydraulic Conveying5.4.1.Classification of Slurries5.4.2.Principles of Design Calculations5.4.3.Pump Selection5.5.Dosing of Bulk Solids5.5.1.Volumetric Feeders5.5.2.Gravimetric Feeders5.5.3.Mass Flow Measurement6.Acknowledgements
Continuous Mixing of Fluids
Authors: Kraume Matthias , Merz Cornelia , Henzler Hans‐Jürgen
Published: September 2010

The article contains sections titled:1.Introduction2.Basic Concepts2.1.Scales of Mixing2.2.Definitions of the Degree of Mixing2.3.Description of the Mixing Process2.4.Required Power Input3.Mixing in Pipes3.1.Mixing Properties3.2.Pressure Drop4.Jet Mixers4.1.Mixing Properties4.2.Configurations of Jet Inlets5.Static Mixers5.1.Mixing Properties5.2.Pressure Drop6Micromixers6.1.Classification6.2.Operation Ranges of Micromixers7.Dynamic Mixers7.1.Mixing Properties7.2Power Requirements8.Residence Time Distribution9.Mixing of Non‐Newtonian Fluids9.1.Mixing Behavior9.2.Pressure Drop for Non‐Newtonian Fluids9.3.Power Requirements of Dynamic Mixers10.Selection and Comparison of Continuous Mixers10.1.Parameters for Energetic Comparison10.2.Energetic Comparison
Fearscapes: Caracas Postcards from a Violent City
Authors: Kairuz Eduardo
Published: September 2010

Venezuelan architect, artist and educator Eduardo Kairuz reveals how beneath the stereotypical view of Caracas as the ‘Murder Capital of the World’ lies a history of savage imposition, dating back to its founding in the 16th century and its colonial past and manifested today in the stark social segregation between parts of the city. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Very Mark of Repression: The Demolition Theatre of the Palast der Republik and the New Schloss Berlin
Authors: La Khadija Caroll
Published: September 2010

Built on the site of the Imperial Palace in East Berlin, the Palast der Republik was erected by the Soviets in 1976 as a direct expression of their power. As new plans are afoot for a replacement institution on the site of the demolished palast, Khadija Carroll La traces ‘the traumatic process of becoming, of construction, destruction and theatrical re‐enactment’. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.