bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Patients After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Bell David R. , Pfeiffer Karin A. , Cadmus-Bertram Lisa A. , Trigsted Stephanie M. , Kelly Adam , Post Eric G. , Hart Joseph M. , Cook Dane B. , Dunn Warren R. , Kuenze Christopher
Published: April 2017

Background:

Returning to a healthy level of physical activity is among the most commonly discussed clinical goals for patients recovering from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However, physical activity has not been objectively measured in this population.

Purpose:

To investigate differences in the mean time (min/d) spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as well as the daily step count (steps/d) between patients who underwent ACLR and matched controls. A second purpose was to investigate relationships between MVPA and objective assessments of the daily step count and Tegner and Marx activity scales.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Physical activity was assessed using ActiGraph accelerometers in 33 participants with a history of primary unilateral or bilateral ACLR (mean time from surgery, 27.8 ± 17.5 months; range, 6-67 months) as well as in 33 healthy controls (matched on age, sex, and activity level). Participants wore the accelerometer for 7 days and completed the International Knee Documentation Committee subjective form and the Tegner and Marx activity scales. Independent t tests were used to determine differences in each dependent variable per group.

Results:

Patients who underwent ACLR spent less time in MVPA (ACLR: 79.37 ± 23.95 min/d; control: 93.12 ± 23.94 min/d; P = .02) and had a lower daily step count (ACLR: 8158 ± 2780 steps/d; control: 9769 ± 2785 steps/d; P = .02) compared with healthy matched controls. However, the Marx (ACLR median: 11.0 [interquartile range (IQR), 7-14]; control median: 12.0 [IQR, 8-13]; P = .85) and Tegner (ACLR median: 6.0 [IQR, 5-8]; control median: 7.0 [IQR, 6-8]; P = .12) scores did not differ between the groups, and no relationships were observed between objectively measured physical activity and scale measures ( P > .05), except for a moderate relationship between the Tegner score and daily step count in the ACLR group ( r = 0.36, P = .04). Only 24% of patients who underwent ACLR met the guideline of 10,000 steps per day compared with 42% of controls.

Conclusion:

Patients who underwent ACLR spent less time in MVPA and had a lower daily step count compared with highly matched controls (age, sex, and activity level) with no history of knee injuries. This was true despite being similar in activity levels, which brings into question the utility of the Tegner and Marx activity scales.
High Rate of Osteoarthritis After Osteochondritis Dissecans Fragment Excision Compared With Surgical Restoration at a Mean 16-Year Follow-up
Authors: Sanders Thomas L. , Pareek Ayoosh , Obey Mitchel R. , Johnson Nicholas R. , Carey James L. , Stuart Michael J. , Krych Aaron J.
Published: April 2017

Background:

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a disorder of subchondral bone that causes adverse effects on the overlying cartilage and commonly affects the knee. The incidence of OCD and its long-term effect on the knee joint are controversial.

Hypothesis/Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to (1) evaluate the rate of osteoarthritis and knee arthroplasty in a population-based cohort of patients with OCD lesions treated operatively and (2) evaluate factors that may predispose patients to knee osteoarthritis and arthroplasty. The investigators hypothesized that OCD lesions diagnosed after skeletal maturity and treatment with fragment excision would be predictive of a diagnosis of osteoarthritis.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

The investigators identified 221 patients (mean ± SD age, 26.1 ± 13.6 years) with OCD lesions treated operatively between 1976 and 2010 and followed for 16.3 ± 11.4 years (mean ± SD) from diagnosis. Information related to the diagnosis, laterality of lesion, details of treatment, and progression to osteoarthritis was obtained from the medical record. Surgical treatment was classified as fragment excision, fragment preservation (lesion drilling and/or fragment fixation), or chondral defect grafting (osteochondral allograft or autograft). Factors predictive of osteoarthritis and arthroplasty were examined.

Results:

There were 134 patients in the fragment excision group, 78 patients in the fragment preservation group, and 9 patients in the chondral defect grafting group. In the fragment excision group, the cumulative incidence of osteoarthritis was 12.0% at 5 years, 17.0% at 10 years, 26.0% at 15 years, 39.0% at 20 years, and 70% at 30 years. The cumulative incidence of arthroplasty was 2.0% at 5 years, 4.0% at 10 years, 4.0% at 15 years, 10.0% at 20 years, and 32.0% at 30 years. In the fragment preservation group, the cumulative incidence of osteoarthritis was 3.0% at 5 years, 7.0% at 10 years, 16.0% at 15 years, 25.0% at 20 years, and 51% at 30 years. The cumulative incidence of arthroplasty was 0.0% at 5 years, 0.0% at 10 years, 3.0% at 15 years, 6.0% at 20 years, and 11.0% at 30 years. No patients in the chondral defect grafting group developed osteoarthritis or underwent arthroplasty. Body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 kg/m2 (hazard ratio [HR] 3.3; 95% CI, 1.6-7.0), older age at diagnosis (HR 4.9; 95% CI, 1.8-17.3), and fragment excision (HR 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2-4.6) were predictive of osteoarthritis.

Conclusion:

OCD patients treated with fragment excision have a high rate of osteoarthritis and knee arthroplasty at long-term follow-up. In contrast, patients treated with fragment preservation or chondral defect grafting have lower rates of osteoarthritis and arthroplasty. BMI greater than 25 kg/m2, older age at diagnosis, and fragment excision were predictive of osteoarthritis.
Technology allows audience role in news construction
Authors: Ferrucci Patrick
Published: April 2017

This ethnographic study examines how technology affects gatekeeping and allows the audience more influence at The St. Louis Beacon, an online news nonprofi t. The study finds that a lack of resources results in less desire for innovation; however, technology does give the audience more power to shape content.
Embedding journalists shape Iraq news story
Authors: Maguire Miles
Published: April 2017

This study, based on a review of The New York Times’ inconsistent accounts of a Marine’s death while aiding two embedded Times journalists in Fallujah, illustrates the ethical challenges of embedded journalism and shows how the embedding process can shape news accounts to support military objectives at the expense of traditional journalistic values.
Policy, economic themes dominate ethanol headlines
Authors: Takahashi Bruno , Terracina-Hartman Carol , Amann Katheryn , Meisner Mark S.
Published: April 2017

This study examined U.S. elite newspaper headlines on articles about ethanol use as a biofuel. It focused on themes, issue attributes, tone and actors. Results show a dominance of policy and economic themes, similar to other studies on biofuels. Differences with those studies are found in the presence of actors, where the ethanol industry representatives are more prevalent than government sources.
Keeping Them Out, Letting You In
Authors: Alvarez Antonia R. G.
Published: April 2017

As a first-year doctoral student in my first quarter, I expected to be challenged, not rocked to my core. I entered the program with what I would have described as a strong, salient, and clear understanding of who I am and how I move in the world. At the end of my first year, I can say with conviction that I have more to learn. There were four critical moments that shifted/altered/jolted my learning forward. This article is structured around each of these moments and is an exploration of the themes and questions that emerged.
Women, Migration and Social Work
Authors: Lyons Karen
Published: April 2017

Recent events in the United Kingdom have implications for the migration of women. Migrant women feature significantly in the staffing of the National Health Service and the social care sector, both currently under economic and political pressure. International labor mobility is also evident in the social work profession, though transnational social workers constitute only a very small proportion of the workforce. The recent vote to leave the European Union (EU) raises questions about the trend from recruitment of social workers from English-speaking countries to those from the EU. The role of social workers in relation to migrants is considered.
Intimate Partner Violence Among Female OEF/OIF/OND Veterans Who Were Evaluated for Traumatic Brain Injury in the Veterans Health Administration: A Preliminary Investigation
Authors: Iverson Katherine M. , Sayer Nina A. , Meterko Mark , Stolzmann Kelly , Suri Pradeep , Gormley Katelyn , Nealon Seibert Marjorie , Yan Kun , Pogoda Terri K.
Published: April 2017

Many female veterans have deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND), and some experience traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although TBI is increasingly recognized as an important health issue for female OEF/OIF/OND veterans, there is little attention to stressful experiences that may exacerbate health problems or hinder recovery among veterans who may have experienced TBI. Lifetime intimate partner violence (IPV) is common among general samples of female veterans. Given the negative implications of IPV on women’s health, it is important to understand whether there is a relationship between lifetime IPV and health functioning among female veterans who have experienced possible TBI. This study provides an exploration of lifetime IPV and its associations with physical and mental health, as well as community reintegration, among female OEF/OIF/OND veterans who have been evaluated for TBI. The sample comprised 127 female veterans who participated in a larger study that examined reintegration among OEF/OIF/OND veterans who received a TBI evaluation in the Veterans Heath Administration (VHA) and completed an assessment of lifetime IPV. Primary and secondary data sources included survey responses (e.g., health symptoms and reintegration) and VHA administrative data (e.g., health diagnoses). Results indicated that nearly two thirds (63.0%) of women who completed a TBI evaluation reported lifetime IPV, though clinician-confirmed TBI was not associated with IPV. Women who experienced IPV, compared with those who did not, reported higher levels of neurobehavioral symptoms and were significantly more likely to have diagnoses of back pain (48.6% vs. 30.0%, respectively) and substance abuse (12.2% vs. 0%, respectively). Notwithstanding, women with and without lifetime IPV reported similar levels of reintegration. Findings provide evidence that lifetime IPV may be common among female OEF/OIF/OND veterans who are evaluated for TBI, and that IPV is associated with several treatable health problems among this population.
The Making of a National Park: Ruins of Nature and History in Northern Dobrudja
Authors: Cotoi Calin
Published: April 2017

After 1990, nature conservation areas multiplied all over Central and Eastern Europe. National parks came into being as part of a dramatically changing society, economy, and culture. Scholarly efforts to understand national parks rely either on arguments about the social construction of nature or on political ecology. In this article, I attempt to point to the analytical potential of the literature on ruins for expanding studies carried out in both theoretical traditions. I draw from fieldwork in nature conservation areas in southeastern Romania to explore how actors gain access to critical discourses and complex ways of narrating and enrolling the landscapes. The mechanisms that counterpoise safeguarding and development are analyzed as parts of a longue durée articulation of ruination and modernization.
Belimumab for the treatment of recalcitrant cutaneous lupus
Authors: Vashisht P , Borghoff K , O’Dell J R , Hearth-Holmes M
Published: April 2017

Background

Belimumab is a monoclonal antibody that reduces B lymphocyte survival by blocking the binding of soluble human B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) to its B cell receptors. The utility of belimumab for management of resistant systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) skin manifestations has not been reported. We present our experience of using this novel molecule for the successful management of cutaneous lupus at our center.

Methods

We studied five patients with significant SLE skin manifestations. All patients met 1997 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) SLE criteria and had failed multiple medications to control their skin disease. SLE disease activity indexes (SLEDAI), Cutaneous LE disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI) and patient’s global assessment (PGA) were recorded before and 16 weeks after belimumab treatment. Belimumab was added to concomitant standard therapy.

Results

All five patients demonstrated marked clinical improvement subsequent to belimumab treatment. The average time to clinical improvement after treatment initiation was 8–12 weeks. SLEDAI scores (median, range) improved in all the patients ((2, 2–6) to (0, 0–4); p = 0.025). PGA scores (median, range) were better in all patients ((3, 2–3) to (1, 0–1); p = 0.039). CLASI activity scores (median, range) improved dramatically in all patients ((17, 9–31) to (3, 2–14); p = 0.043). There was no worsening of the CLASI damage scores. The mean daily prednisone dose decreased significantly from 31 mg (±18.8) at baseline to 3 mg (± 2.7) ( p = 0.042).

Conclusion

In this case series, the addition of belimumab to standard therapy improved the signs and symptoms of refractory cutaneous lupus. This is one of the first reports highlighting the potential utility of this medication for the treatment of severe skin involvement in SLE refractory to conventional therapies. Additional studies need to be performed to assess the use of belimumab in the treatment of cutaneous lupus.
Role of MMP-7 in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Authors: Vira H , Pradhan V , Umare V , Chaudhary A , Rajadhyksha A , Nadkar M , Ghosh K , Nadkarni A
Published: April 2017

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a clinically heterogeneous chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder. The association of MMP-7 and disease severity is still unclear. A total of 150 SLE patients and matched healthy controls were recruited for this study. Disease activity was scored according to SLEDAI (98 active and 52 inactive disease). Mean serum MMP-7 levels were significantly higher in SLE patients than controls ( p < 0.001). Patients with active disease showed higher levels (16.24 ± 6.2 ng/ml) as against inactive disease (10.50 ± 3.97 ng/ml) ( p ≤ 0.0001). Mean MMP-7 mRNA expression was significantly higher in patients (RQ = 3.16 ± 0.93) as compared to controls (RQ = 2.21 ± 0.89, p = 0.006). A positive correlation between MMP-7 levels, mRNA expression and SLEDAI score was observed ( r = 0.563, r = 0.427). The MMP-7 −181 G allele was found to be significantly higher among SLE patients ( p < 0.0001). A significant association was noted between MMP-7 −181 A/G +G/G genotypes with renal ( p = 0.0027) and CNS ( p = 0.0031) manifestations and anti-dsDNA autoantibodies ( p = 0.0312). Serum MMP-7 levels and mRNA expression were elevated in advanced stages of SLE, indicating that MMP-7 is associated with disease activity in SLE.
Descriptive Epidemiology of Hypertension and Its Association With Obesity: Based on the WHO STEPwise Approach to Surveillance in Palau
Authors: Wang Chaochen , Chiang Chifa , Yatsuya Hiroshi , Hilawe Esayas Haregot , Ikerdeu Edolem , Honjo Kaori , Mita Takashi , Cui Renzhe , Hirakawa Yoshihisa , Madraisau Sherilynn , Iso Hiroyasu , Aoyama Atsuko
Published: April 2017

The rise of noncommunicable diseases is a serious health burden for Palau. This study described the prevalence of hypertension, and assessed its association with obesity. Surveys following the WHO STEPwise approach to surveillance were conducted in 2529 adults. Multivariate prevalence ratios (PR) of hypertension for body mass index (BMI) categories were calculated by logistic regression models using conditional standardization procedure. Age- and sex-specified analyses were performed. Overall prevalence of obesity and hypertension were 40.4% and 46.8%, respectively. Prevalence of hypertension was positively associated with BMI. However, overweight men had as high prevalence of hypertension as the obese (multivariable-adjusted PR was 1.84 for overweight and 1.91 for obese compared with nonoverweight). The association between hypertension and BMI was similar across age groups. The prevalence of hypertension in women increased gradually with the increase of BMI whereas that in men reached a plateau already in the overweight.
What Is Given in Experience: The Phenomenological Account
Authors: Lingis Alphonso
Published: April 2017

What is given in observation? A basic tenet of empirical science is that reliable knowledge results from observation, with natural perception and with refined instruments, which is repeatable and verifiable by impartial observers in standard conditions. An observer’s observation, in the first-person singular, is then equivalent and interchangeable with those of others. But what is really observed and given in such observation? There is a task here for phenomenology: to discern just what is given and how. What does a particular scientific discipline determine to count as an observation? In what language is the observation to be recorded? What counts as evidence? What counts as a description or an argument? What theories are implicated in the observational statements? Next, the phenomenologist asks, “What is given in experience? What is the phenomenological account?”
The Political Origins of Racial Inequality
Authors: Maltby Elizabeth
Published: April 2017

Policy feedback theory argues that public policies shape mass political behavior by teaching citizens about their relationship to government. I reevaluate this argument by examining how criminal justice policy shapes the political orientations and participation of blacks and whites. I argue that, because these policies send different messages to blacks than to whites about the treatment they can expect from government, these groups have opposite reactions to criminal justice enforcement. Using data from a 2014 national survey and information on local criminal justice outcomes, I find that racially skewed criminal justice enforcement is associated with negative political orientations and lower rates of political participation for highly educated blacks. I also find that whites respond positively to similar criminal justice outcomes when they reside in areas with large black populations. The results show that unequal policy outcomes lead to political inequality.
Computer-Mediated Social Support for Physical Activity: A Content Analysis
Authors: Stragier Jeroen , Mechant Peter , De Marez Lieven , Cardon Greet
Published: April 2017

Purpose. Online fitness communities are a recent phenomenon experiencing growing user bases. They can be considered as online social networks in which recording, monitoring, and sharing of physical activity (PA) are the most prevalent practices. They have added a new dimension to the social experience of PA in which online peers function as virtual PA partners or supporters. However, research into seeking and receiving computer-mediated social support for PA is scarce. Our aim was to study to what extent using online fitness communities and sharing physical activities with online social networks results in receiving various types of online social support. Method. Two databases, one containing physical activities logged with Strava and one containing physical activities logged with RunKeeper and shared on Twitter, were investigated for occurrence and type of social support, by means of a deductive content analysis. Results. Results indicate that social support delivered through Twitter is not particularly extensive. On Strava, social support is significantly more prevalent. Especially esteem support, expressed as compliments for the accomplishment of an activity, is provided on both Strava and Twitter. Conclusion. The results demonstrate that social media have potential as a platform used for providing social support for PA, but differences among various social network sites can be substantial. Especially esteem support can be expected, in contrast to online health communities, where information support is more common.
A Cross-Sectional Study of Indoor Tanning in Fitness Centres
Authors: Huang Christina M. , Kirchhof Mark G.
Published: April 2017

Background:

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a human carcinogen and is associated with the development of skin cancer. The promotion of indoor tanning (IT) at fitness centres is of particular concern as it reinforces the idea that a tan is associated with health and fitness. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of IT in fitness centres, with an emphasis on determining the financial costs, adherence to regulations, and safety precautions.

Methods:

Ten cities, representing 9 different Canadian provinces, were chosen for the study. From each province, a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 30 fitness centres were randomly selected from the Yellow Pages website. Each fitness centre was contacted by the principal investigator and inquiries were made from a consumer’s perspective.

Results:

Of the 203 gyms surveyed, 43% (88/203) offered tanning facilities. Of these, 10.23% (9/88) were found to be noncompliant with the provincial IT regulations for age and/or time between tanning sessions.

Interpretation:

Despite the known risks of IT, not all fitness centres are compliant with provincial legislations regarding IT, and some continue to promote tanning access to minors.
A “kissing lesion”: In-vivo 7T evidence of meningeal inflammation in early multiple sclerosis
Authors: Kolber Pierre , Droby Amgad , Roebroeck Alard , Goebel Rainer , Fleischer Vinzenz , Groppa Sergiu , Zipp Frauke
Published: April 2017

Background:

The role of cortical lesions (CLs) in disease progression and clinical deficits is increasingly recognized in multiple sclerosis (MS); however the origin of CLs in MS still remains unclear.

Objective:

Here, we report a para-sulcal CL detected two years after diagnosis in a relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patient without manifestation of clinical deficit.

Methods:

Ultra-high field (7T) MR imaging using magnetization-prepared 2 rapid acquisition gradient echoes (MP2RAGE) sequence was performed.

Results:

A para-sulcal CL was detected which showed hypointense rim and iso- to hyperintense core. This was detected in the proximity of the leptomeninges in the left precentral gyrus extending to the adjacent postcentral gyrus.

Conclusion:

This finding indicates that inflammatory infiltration into the cortex through the meninges underlies cortical pathology already in the early stage of disease and in mild disease course.
From wealth to health: Evaluating microfinance as a complex intervention
Authors: McHugh Neil , Biosca Olga , Donaldson Cam
Published: April 2017

Innovative interventions that address the social determinants of health are required to help reduce persistent health inequalities. We argue that microcredit can act in this way and develop a conceptual framework from which to examine this. In seeking to evaluate microcredit this way we then examine how randomized controlled trials, currently considered as the ‘gold standard’ in impact evaluations of microcredit, compare with developments in thinking about study design in public health. This leads us to challenge the notion of trials as the apparent gold standard for microcredit evaluations and contend that the pursuit of trial-based evidence alone may be hampering the production of relevant evidence on microcredit’s public health (and other wider) impacts. In doing so, we introduce new insights into the global debate on microfinance impact evaluation, related to ethical issues in staging randomized controlled trials, and propose innovations on complementary methods for use in the evaluation of complex interventions.
Enhancing participatory evaluation in a humanitarian aid project
Authors: Rossignoli Cristiano M. , Giani Alberto , Di Iacovo Francesco , Moruzzo Roberta , Scarpellini Paola
Published: April 2017

This article examines participatory evaluation of humanitarian aid projects in post-conflict contexts, through the presentation of a particular case: the evaluation of a project supporting herders and Bedouin communities breeding small ruminants in the Gaza Strip. The article analyses the current situation in the Gaza Strip, a unique humanitarian context, in order to gain insight into the value of participatory evaluation in post-conflict settings. The article analyses the participatory evaluation in order to understand how participation functions, what lessons can be learned and what outcomes can be generated. Finally, this experience demonstrates how participatory evaluation can work effectively in humanitarian settings despite the obvious constraints of conflict and post-conflict settings. Whilst participatory evaluation contributes to improving humanitarian-aid interventions, a more structural approach to participation is needed to achieve concrete and durable results.
Profile of a national sample of Canadian children with participation and activity limitations
Authors: Lawson Joshua Allan , Goodridge Donna , Rennie Donna C , Zhao Guangming , Marciniuk Darcy D
Published: April 2017

Little is known about the nature of Canadian children with participation or activity limitations. Our objective was to profile a nationally representative sample of Canadian children with report of participation or activity limitation including identifying the major medical reasons attributed to these limitations and describe their sociodemographic and functional characteristics. We used data from the Canadian 2006 Participation and Activity Limitation Survey, a post-census Statistics Canada national survey of adults and children whose everyday activities were limited because of a condition or health problem. Data were collected by telephone interview of children’s (<15 years) parents. A sample of those who answered ‘yes’ to the 2006 Canada Census disability filter questions was chosen for follow-up. Functional ability was assessed using the Health Utility Index. Mental health (26.1%) was the most common reason reported for participation and activity limitations followed by respiratory (9.8%), neurological (5.5%), and congenital (4.6%) conditions. Having a comorbid condition was associated with each major reason for limitation. Mental health, neurological, and congenital conditions showed the highest risk of functional limitation. In conclusion, mental health conditions and those with multiple conditions should be a primary focus for interventions aimed at reducing the impact of health conditions.
The state of dying. Mortality in a comparative perspective – the interplay between cash and care*
Authors: Forslund Maria
Published: April 2017

The purpose of this paper is to explore the interplay between cash and care in the welfare state by analysing a specific mortality cause, cerebrovascular disease, in relation to health care and sickness benefits. Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Health Statistics and the Comparative Welfare Entitlements Dataset2 (CWED2) are pooled for the time period 1980–2011. Fourteen countries are analysed by Prais-Winsten regression with panel correct standard errors, using fixed effect models. The results show that health care and sickness benefits have a combined effect on reducing mortality. The results indicate that the level of sickness benefits to some extent modifies the mortality. Holding health-care provision at a fixed level, measured as medication and technology, mortality is reduced when increasing the level of sickness benefits. The results are quite similar for men and women.
Worlds of welfare collide
Authors: McKeever Gráinne , Simpson Mark
Published: April 2017

The post-2007 financial crisis has brought renewed interest in a European Unemployment Benefit Scheme (EUBS) as a manifestation of solidarity between citizens of different Member States and an economic stabiliser in the event of future asymmetric shocks. The EU-wide benefit would operate in tandem with existing national unemployment benefits. This creates challenges of compatibility given the diversity of approaches to social security within the Union, based on at least four philosophies of welfare: liberal, conservative, social democratic and southern European. This article examines potential legal, operational and political difficulties associated with marrying a EUBS that is at heart a conservative system of social insurance to the UK’s liberal welfare state. Few legal obstacles exist and although the addition of a new, earnings-related benefit to an already complex mix of social protection would raise significant operational issues, these need not be insurmountable. However, fundamental ideological differences would have rendered the EUBS as proposed politically ill-matched with the UK even absent the June 2016 vote to leave the EU. A contributory income maintenance benefit is a poor fit with a residual, largely means-tested national system whose role is limited to offering protection against severe poverty while maintaining work incentives and minimising costs.
Educating for British values: Kant’s philosophical roadmap for cosmopolitan character education
Authors: Hildebrand Carl
Published: April 2017

The UK’s 2016 decision to exit the European Union and the discussion surrounding it indicate that public understanding of British identity has important consequences, one way or another. Defining British identity will be an important task in the years to come. The UK government not long ago provided some guidance on the matter of British identity in their requirement that schools actively promote fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and respect of those with different faiths and beliefs. These values are not British in the parochial sense: they are forward-looking, conciliatory, cosmopolitan values. They are meant to structure and guide any commitments to more particular features of what British identity might include. Because they are rational and somewhat abstract, it is not easy to see how they might be cultivated in children (who are not fully rational) or how they might fit together with the non-rational aspects of the human person. Kant’s account of education is seen to face similar challenges and is seen by some as unsuccessful in dealing with them. I argue this is not the case and that his idea of education contains a viable and philosophically interesting account of how values like these may be integrated into a theory of education that takes seriously the whole person, rational and non-rational aspects alike. I begin by outlining Kant’s conception of rational action before examining three further features in his account: habit, shame, and desire (including pleasure). I conclude by looking briefly at some of Kant’s work that reveals how education is oriented toward the formation of a cosmopolitan society with citizens whose duties and sympathies extend beyond the immediate horizon of their local community. I argue that Kantian ethics therefore provides a helpful philosophical roadmap, as it were, for the successful cultivation of cosmopolitan, British values.
The Use of the Major Components of Social Marketing
Authors: Almestahiri Ra’d , Rundle-Thiele Sharyn , Parkinson Joy , Arli Denni
Published: April 2017

This study provides a qualitative systematic review of social marketing tobacco cessation programs identify the extent to which seven major components of social marketing are used in social marketing programs targeting tobacco cessation and to classify them according to social marketing stream: downstream midstream or upstream. Sixteen databases were examined to identify studies reporting the use of social marketing to address cigarette smoking cessation. Fourteen empirical studies were classified. Only one of 14 interventions used all seven of the major components of social marketing. The review identified that downstream ( n = 11) interventions remain the dominant focus in social marketing interventions targeting tobacco, despite calls for social marketers to move upstream during this time. The current review was restricted to studies that self-identified as social marketing and studies published in peer-reviewed journals in the English language which is limiting. This study included all empirical studies published from 2002 to January, 2016; however only using published studies may bias results. The results indicate that social marketing interventions targeting tobacco cessation can be successful even when some of seven distinguishing and mutually exclusive features of social marketing are applied. This article presents the first attempt to review the extent that social marketing principles are used in interventions targeting tobacco intake cessation and to classify social marketing interventions into social marketing streams.
International Summit Consensus Statement: Intellectual Disability Inclusion in National Dementia Plans
Authors: Watchman Karen , Janicki Matthew P. , Splaine Michael , Larsen Frode K. , Gomiero Tiziano , Lucchino Ronald
Published: April 2017

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for the development and adoption of national plans or strategies to guide public policy and set goals for services, supports, and research related to dementia. It called for distinct populations to be included within national plans, including adults with intellectual disability (ID). Inclusion of this group is important as having Down’s syndrome is a significant risk factor for early-onset dementia. Adults with other ID may have specific needs for dementia-related care that, if unmet, can lead to diminished quality of old age. An International Summit on Intellectual Disability and Dementia, held in Scotland, reviewed the inclusion of ID in national plans and recommended that inclusion goes beyond just description and relevance of ID. Reviews of national plans and reports on dementia show minimal consideration of ID and the challenges that carers face. The Summit recommended that persons with ID, as well as family carers, should be included in consultation processes, and greater advocacy is required from national organizations on behalf of families, with need for an infrastructure in health and social care that supports quality care for dementia.
Does Social Interaction Matter Psychological Well-Being in Persons With Dementia?
Authors: Lee Kyung Hee , Boltz Marie , Lee Hana , Algase Donna L.
Published: April 2017

Background:

Social interaction between residents and staff is an important factor influencing sense of well-being. This study examined the relationship between staff–resident interactions and psychological well-being of persons with dementia.

Methods:

A total of 831 observations of 110 persons with dementia in 17 nursing homes and 6 assisted living facilities were included. Psychological well-being was measured by observed displays of positive and negative emotional expressions. Social interaction was determined by the type of social interaction (ie, verbal interaction, nonverbal interaction, and both verbal and nonverbal interactions) and the quality of interaction (ie, positive, negative, and neutral).

Results:

Verbal or both verbal and nonverbal interactions showed significant relationship with positive and negative emotional expressions. Positive interaction was significantly associated with more positive emotional expression, whereas negative interaction was not.

Conclusion:

Staff–resident interactions are important to promote the psychological well-being of persons with dementia in residential care.
Are Alpha-2D Adrenoceptor Subtypes Involved in Rat Mydriasis Evoked by New Imidazoline Derivatives: Marsanidine and 7-Methylmarsanidine?
Authors: Raczak-Gutknecht Joanna , Frąckowiak Teresa , Nasal Antoni , Kornicka Anita , Sączewski Franciszek , Kaliszan Roman
Published: April 2017

The imidazoline compounds may produce mydriasis after systemic administration to some species (rats, cats, and mice). In mydriatic activity of imidazolines, α2D-adrenoceptors subtype(s) seems to be involved. In this study, the pupil dilatory effect evoked by 2 newly synthesized imidazoline derivatives—α2-adrenoceptor agonists: marsanidine and 7-methylmarsanidine—was compared. The compounds were tested alone as well as in the presence of α2-adrenoceptor antagonists (nonselective, yohimbine, and selective toward the following α2-adrenoceptor subtypes—α2A-2-[(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl]-2,3-dihydro-1-methyl-1H-isoindole maleate (BRL44408), α2B-2-[2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl)ethyl]-4,4-dimethyl-1,3-(2H,4H)-isoquinolindione dihydrochloride (ARC239), α2C-JP1302, α2D-2-(2,3-dihydro-2-methoxy-1,4-benzodioxin-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole hydrochloride [RX821002]). The agonists were studied in male Wistar rats and were administered intravenously in cumulative doses. The antagonistic compounds were given in a single dose before the experiment with marsanidine or 7-methylmarsanidine. Pupil diameter was measured with stereoscopic microscope equipped in green light filter. Marsanidine and 7-methylmarsanidine exerted marked mydriatic effects. BRL44408, JP1302, and ARC239 did not cause significant parallel shift to the right of the dose–effect curves obtained for both imidazolines. In case of yohimbine and RX821002, the marked parallel shifts of dose–response curves were observed, with the antagonistic effects of RX821002 more pronounced. In vivo pharmacodynamics experiment suggests that α2D-adrenoceptor subtype is mainly engaged in mydriatic effects evoked in rats by imidazoline derivatives, in particular by clonidine.
Narrative Inquiry With Activity Systems
Authors: Yamagata-Lynch Lisa C. , Do Jaewoo , Deshpande Deepa , Skutnik Anne L. , Murphy Brenda K. , Garty Erin
Published: April 2017

The goal of this article is to introduce activity systems as a methodological tool in narrative inquiry to gain a holistic understanding of socially shared experiences from an examination of documents. The research question was how can qualitative researchers use activity systems as a tool for engaging in narrative inquiry of socially shared experiences to uncover new meanings by constructing a story? In this article, we share a sample analysis of our experience relying on documents and media as a form of narrative to begin to understand the socially shared human activity associated with net neutrality and its potential impact on U.S. residents. We end this article with reflections of lessons learned from our activity systems guided story construction process.
Effect of different cyclic expansion–extrusion processes on microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ80 magnesium alloy
Authors: Xue Yong , Yang Zhihui , Bai Bing , Zhang Zhimin , Du Yue , Ren Luying
Published: April 2017

In this work, cyclic expansion–extrusion process in the same plane and cyclic expansion–extrusion process in two orthogonal planes have been employed, and the isothermal finite element simulations of both processes have been carried out. The equivalent plastic strains of AZ80 magnesium alloy billets produced by cyclic expansion–extrusion process in the same plane and cyclic expansion–extrusion process in two orthogonal planes were analyzed. Furthermore, the distinction between the accumulated equivalent plastic strains of both processes was also explored. The AZ80 magnesium alloy samples machined from the deformed billets were tested by tensile test machine, hardness tester, and optical microscope. This work also discussed the relationships between the microstructure and mechanical properties of deformed billets. The research results show that the average equivalent plastic strain of deformed billet is larger caused by two-pass cyclic expansion–extrusion process in two orthogonal planes than that by two-pass cyclic expansion–extrusion process in the same plane, and furthermore, the deformation uniformity after two-pass cyclic expansion–extrusion process in two orthogonal planes is far superior to that after two-pass cyclic expansion–extrusion process in the same plane. Cyclic expansion–extrusion process in the same plane can partly refine the grain size of annealed alloy from 190 to around 10 µm; however, cyclic expansion–extrusion process in two orthogonal planes can substantially refine that from 190 to approximately 3 µm. Two-pass cyclic expansion–extrusion process in the same plane can significantly improve the Brinell hardness of annealed alloy from 61.5 to 88.5 HB. Similarly, two-pass cyclic expansion–extrusion process in two orthogonal planes can also obviously improve that from 61.5 to 86.6 HB. Ultimate tensile strengths via two-pass cyclic expansion–extrusion process in the same plane and cyclic expansion–extrusion process in two orthogonal planes increase by 60 and 40 MPa than the annealed alloy, respectively. With the identical strain accumulation and deformation temperature, cyclic expansion–extrusion process in two orthogonal planes might look to be attractive when compared with equal-channel angular pressing for improvement of ultimate tensile strength and hardness as well as for grain refinement.
Hemolysis in a continuous-flow ventricular assist device with/without chamfer
Authors: Li Donghai , Wu Qingyu , Ji Jingjing , Liu Shuhong , Zhang Mingkui , Zhang Yu
Published: April 2017

Ventricular assist device has been increasingly used in the treatment of end-stage heart failure, with a high incidence of hemolysis in clinical use, which is a serious problem to be solved. In this study, a complete set of continuous-flow ventricular assist device in vitro test platform for hydraulic performance and hemolysis was established. A self-developed continuous-flow ventricular assist device was employed, with the impeller being chamfered or unchamfered, respectively, to undergo the hydraulic performance and in vitro hemolysis tests, using computational fluid dynamics and a rheometer to investigate the influences of the shear stress on hemolysis. Computational fluid dynamics results showed that the shear stress of continuous-flow ventricular assist device with chamfered impeller was significantly decreased; as a result, the normalized index of hemolysis of the chamfered was reduced, demonstrating that lowering the shear stress of the impeller could significantly reduce hemolysis. Moreover, it was further confirmed by a fixed shear stress test. When the shear stress was greater than 100 Pa, the hemolytic effects were increased significantly. In standard operating conditions, lowering the impeller’s shear stress to less than 100 Pa could effectively reduce the hemolytic effects of ventricular assist device.
Improvement of turbine blade lifetime assessment by more accurate estimation of the thermal boundary conditions
Authors: Maravilla Herrera Cristhian , Yepifanov Sergiy , Loboda Igor
Published: April 2017

The known studies in the area of gas turbine lifetime prediction do not result in the algorithms for on-line engine monitoring. This article introduces and investigates a new method for developing “light” mathematical models to estimate static thermal boundary conditions for gas turbine hot elements. In contrast to the previous developments, these models allow on-line lifetime monitoring of such elements. The blade of the high-pressure turbine of a two-spool free turbine power plant was chosen as a test case. The models of blade boundary conditions were developed based on well-known thermodynamic relations and a steady-state nonlinear physics-based model of this engine. Many candidate models are analyzed in the article, and the best models are selected by their accuracy and robustness to engine faults using instrumental and truncation errors as criteria. The instrumentation errors are induced by measurement inaccuracy of gas path variables used. For the analysis of the model robustness, the truncation errors are computed. They appear when performance of an engine deviates from a baseline due to normal degradation of the engine and because of its faults. The gas path parameters under healthy and faulty engine health conditions are simulated by the thermodynamic model. These simulated quantities are used as the input data to perform the comparison of the candidate models. The final accuracy analysis shows that the proposed method improves the estimates of the thermal boundary conditions. As a result, prediction of an engine lifetime becomes significantly more accurate. The article also determines the positive effect of the compressor discharge temperature sensor. When it is installed in addition to a standard gas path measurement system, the accuracy of the measurement-based lifetime prediction grows drastically.
Dynamic displacement monitoring of flexural structures with distributed long-gage macro-strain sensors
Authors: Wang Tao , Tang Yongsheng
Published: April 2017

A new method is proposed to monitor dynamic displacement for flexural structures especially. In this method, the distributed macro-strain is first obtained using long-gage fiber Bragg grating sensors. Then, the conjugated beam theory is applied to calculate the displacement. To verify the method, a cantilever beam, installed with the proposed sensors, is subjected to free vibrations. The results from the proposed method agree well with those measured by the traditional displacement transducer as the error for the first three peak values is less than 5%. A finite element model of a simply supported multi-girder bridge is also simulated with a truck load. The results show that the proposed method can evaluate dynamic displacement accurately as the error for the maximum displacement is less than 3% in all the cases. Finally, the method is verified using simply supported beam models subjected to random dynamic loads. However, the sensor gage length shows some influence on the results. To ensure exact measurements, the sensor gage length should be limited to be smaller than 1/20 of the beam length. Considering other advantages of fiber optic sensing, the proposed method shows promise in the field of long-term structural health monitoring.
Total completion time minimization for scheduling of two-machine flow shop with deterioration jobs and setup time
Authors: He Ning , Qiao Yan , Wu NaiQi , Qu Ting
Published: April 2017

This article studies a scheduling problem of a two-machine flow shop with both time-dependent deteriorating jobs and sequence-independent setup time. It is assumed that the deterioration of processing time and setup time is of a linear increasing function with respect to the starting time. The objective is to minimize the total completion time of all jobs. For such a scheduling problem, a mixed integer programming model is developed to find an optimal solution for small-sized problems. For medium- and large-sized problems, a modified variable neighborhood search algorithm is presented. To improve the performance of the algorithm, a greedy algorithm is proposed to find a good initial solution. Also, lower bounds are presented for performance evaluation. Numerical experiments are used to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method, and the results show that an optimal or near-optimal solution can be obtained.