bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Randomized cluster trial of a parenting program in Chile: Key mediators in the decrease in behavior problems in preschool children
Authors: Cova Félix , Rincón Paulina , Bustos Claudio , Streiner David , King Michael , Saldivia Sandra , Inostroza Carolina , Grandón Pamela , Novoa Consuelo
Published: July 2019

Background:

Parenting training is a proven strategy for the promotion of positive parenting practices and for the prevention and treatment of behavior problems in children. The processes that explain this efficacy are less clear. The aim of this study was to assess the mediating role of parenting practice modification, encouraged through the implementation of a universal parenting training program, for the decrease of behavior problems in 3- to 6-year-old children.

Method:

A cluster randomized trial was carried out in 19 educational centers in low and middle socioeconomic areas. A total of 178 families received the program and 154 of them were the control group. The following parenting practices were assessed: positive reinforcement, involvement, inconsistency, unsuitable treatment behaviors and physical punishment, as well as hostility and humiliation behaviors. Parent–child interaction was also assessed using an observational instrument. A multiple mediation analysis was carried out, identifying the indirect effects.

Results:

Reduction of harsh discipline and physical punishment, and parental inconsistency mediated the effects observed in the reduction of child behavior problems during the program.

Conclusion:

Within Chilean families, harsh discipline, physical punishment, and parental inconsistency are important aspects to be considered in the implementation of universal parenting training programs.
Flexural behaviour of a new lightweight glass fibre-reinforced polymer–metal string bridge with a box-truss composite girder
Authors: Mao Haifeng , Zhang Dongdong , Chen Li , Zhao Qilin , Su Xiaoping , Yuan Jiaxin
Published: July 2019

A new glass fibre-reinforced polymer–metal structure with a string box-truss girder was designed as a vehicular emergency bridge. The glass fibre-reinforced polymer–metal emergency bridge is intended to be lightweight, structurally sound, with a long span and modular feasibility, and associated with a faster construction bridging system. In this study, the detailed conceptual design of the new bridge is described first. A large-scale static bending loading test was carried out on a fabricated bridge to examine its actual flexural performance under the serviceability limit state. The experimental emergency bridge exhibited a satisfactory overall stiffness and loading-carrying capacity in terms of its intended applications. Its linear-elastic flexural behaviour implies that the structural design of such a unique emergency bridge subjected to positive flexural moment is stiffness-driven instead of strength-driven. Furthermore, structural computational models, including three-dimensional finite element models and a simplified analytical planar model, were constructed and validated by comparing with the experimental results. The elicited comparisons indicated that the realistic nodal stiffness of the hybrid pre-tightened teeth connection and its adjacent steel planar gusset plates ought to be considered in numerical and analytical modelling. Correspondingly, during the preliminary design phase and calculations, the flexural behaviour of this unique emergency bridge can be predicted using the validated numerical and simplified analytical models.
Constructing legitimation in Scottish newspapers: The case of the independence referendum
Authors: Alonso-Almeida Francisco , Luisa Carrió-Pastor María
Published: July 2019

This study is concerned with the use of epistemic legitimising strategies in online newspaper articles dealing with the Scottish referendum. In this sense, we seek to explore cases of epistemic stance that indicate epistemological positioning and persuade readers of the veracity of propositions. Our study covers Scottish journal articles published online within 5 days prior to results day. In this article, we are interested in the way the Scottish newspapers deal with the topic of the independence referendum and the degree of commitment in journalists’ choice of linguistic strategies. We analysed the newspaper articles manually but corpus tools were also used in order to verify initial findings and for statistical purposes. The results of the use of epistemic stance devices in the different categories were contrasted and our conclusions showed the preferred legitimising strategies used by journalists in the Scottish newspapers.
Reworking research: Interactions in academic articles and blogs
Authors: Zou Hang , Hyland Ken
Published: July 2019

The blog is an increasingly familiar newcomer to the panoply of academic genres, offering researchers the opportunity to disseminate their work to new and wider audiences of experts and interested lay people. This digital medium, however, also brings challenges to writers in the form of a relatively unpredictable readership and the potential for immediate, public and potentially hostile criticism. To understand how academics in the social sciences respond to this novel rhetorical situation, we explore how they discoursally recontextualize in blogs the scientific information they have recently published in journal articles. Based on two corpora of 30 blog posts and 30 journal articles with the same authors and topics, we examine the ways researchers carefully reconstruct a different writer persona and relationship with their readers using stance and engagement model. In addition to supporting the view that the academic blog is a hybrid genre situated between academic and journalistic writing, we show how writers’ rhetorical choices help define different rhetorical contexts.
Future workshops as a means to democratic, inclusive and empowering research with children, young people and others
Authors: Alminde Sarah , Warming Hanne
Published: July 2019

During the past decades, awareness has grown concerning the need for more democratic and inclusive research methods. This is especially salient for marginalised, colonised and silenced groups, such as the elderly, children and young people. In this article, we present and discuss future workshops as an appropriate method to achieve such democratic and inclusive research, and we posit that it can fruitfully be used together with other approaches outside the field of action research in which it has mostly been used to date. The discussion is based on our research with children and young people on sensitive and conflictual issues. We show how future workshops offer particular advantages when conducting research with children and young people in vulnerable situations, and about silenced and sensitive topics. We argue that these advantages, as well as ethical and other insights, can be transferred to research with other groups of people.
Intensive home care supports, informal care and private provision for people with dementia in Ireland
Authors: Carter Laura , O’Neill Stephen , Keogh Fiona , Pierce Maria , O’Shea Eamon
Published: July 2019

Background

This study analysed the cost of intensive home care packages for people with dementia living on the boundary of home care and residential care facilities in Ireland. The cost of community-based services and supports, including informal care and private out-of-pocket expenditure, was compared to the cost of public and private residential care.

Methods

The study recruited 42 people with dementia and/or their caregivers, who were living on the boundary of home care and residential care, to an in-depth study on the cost of care. The Resource Utilization in Dementia scale was used to collect data on the utilization of standard formal care and informal care by people with dementia in receipt of an intensive home care package. Information on private out-of-pocket expenditure on care was also collected. Unit costs were assigned and community-based care was compared with public and private residential care alternatives.

Results

The average weekly cost of home care, including the intensive home care package, standard formal community care provision, medications, consumption and housing, was estimated at €1127. This is lower than the average weekly cost of public long-stay care facilities (€1526) and around the same as for private nursing home fees in the Dublin region (€1149). When the opportunity cost valuation of informal care is included, the cost of home care is higher than all types of residential care. Adding private care expenditure further inflates the cost of home care.

Conclusion

Keeping highly dependent people with dementia living at home is not cheap and raises questions about optimal resource allocation on the boundary of home care and residential care. Even with significant public spending on intensive home care packages, family care costs remain high. So too does private out-of-pocket expenditure on care for some people with dementia.
Analysis of key variables for energy efficiency in warships
Authors: Carrasco Pedro , Bendaña Ricardo , Paredes Angel , Michinel Humberto , Fernández de Córdoba Pedro , Arce M Elena , Zaragoza Sonia
Published: July 2019

The purpose of this work is to investigate the effect of environmental variables on the electric energy expenditure of a typical surface warship. Studies with similar objectives are much more frequent for merchant ships, but warship operations have peculiarities that will be emphasised. In particular, they spend large fractions of their life cycle at port, during which the vessel remains active. First, a discussion of the embarked systems is presented, pointing out the importance of auxiliary systems and, in particular, heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Quantitative estimates of the energy consumption of those systems are provided. Then, using data taken during real operations of a frigate of the Spanish Navy, correlations are computed between power consumption and different environmental variables. As a novelty, the analysis is carried out separating the different modes of operation of the ship. This leads to interesting conclusions, including a considerable positive correlation between seawater temperature and fuel consumption when the vessel is in port. The effect of a moored ship on the surrounding seawater temperature is studied by a numerical computation. The results suggest that the position of sea chests may be consequential for energy efficiency.
Help Me Else I Might Fail! Solutions for Academically Challenged Engineering Students
Authors: Maharaj Chris , Sirjoosingh Vashish , Ali Aadil , Primus Simone J. , Arjoon Surendra
Published: July 2019

This study concerns students in an internationally accredited undergraduate mechanical engineering program who due to consistent poor grades are academically dismissed and, by existing policy, required to take a 1-year leave of absence. The purpose was to determine whether the policy could be improved to offer more proactive solutions to address performance issues of academically challenged students. A review of studies, intervention mechanisms, and policies related to academically challenged students was undertaken. Using the Golden Circle framework, improvements to the existing policy are recommended to incorporate a more proactive approach to minimize the likelihood of a student becoming academically challenged. The proposed revised policy could include assessing psychological well-being, motivation, or “grit” for new students and following up with subsequent attendance, behavior, and course performance data to determine potentially at-risk students. With the at-risk students, a group intervention could be conducted followed by individual intervention if student performance continues to deteriorate.
Exploring Predictors of Community Participation Among Young Adults with Severe Disabilities
Authors: Lee Hyunjoo , Morningstar Mary E.
Published: July 2019

A secondary analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study–2 (NLTS2) was conducted to examine predictors associated with improved postschool community participation of young adults with severe disabilities. Multidimensional item response theory was used to establish criterion and predictor constructs and examine predictive relationships between these constructs. Results identified two outcome constructs (community involvement, social engagement) and four predictors (functional skills, classroom behaviors, participation in social networks, access to vocational programs) establishing good model fit. Participation in social networks while in school was a strong predictor of both community involvement and social engagement. Functional skills of young adults predicted postschool community involvement. Implications for future research and practice promoting and supporting community participation are discussed.
Defibrillator-Heart Pump: An Implantable Ventricular Assist Device With Integrated Defibrillator Component—The First In Vitro Testing
Authors: Aboud Anas , Liebing Kai , Abraham Charlie , Reil Jan-Christian , Turkistani Yara , Eitz Thomas , Ensminger Stephan , Gummert Jan , Morshuis Michiel
Published: July 2019

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are an important therapeutic option for patients with end-stage heart failure waiting for heart transplantation or in older patients as definite therapy for heart failure. Interestingly, about 62% of patients receiving LVADs do not have an automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) at the time of implantation, although these patients have increased risk of being confronted with dangerous arrhythmia. Therefore, an LVAD system including AICD function is a reasonable alternative for such heart failure patients thereby avoiding a second surgical intervention for AICD implantation. In this article, a newly developed system including LVAD and AICD function is introduced, and we also report its first in vitro testing.
Analytical and experimental research on transmission backlash in precise cable drive for an electro-optical targeting system
Authors: Xie Xin , Qi Chao , Zhang Lianchao , Fan Dapeng
Published: July 2019

Due to transmission backlash of precise cable drive in electro-optical targeting system, it is difficult to predict force and pointing precisely during target detection. This article aims to develop a rigorous model for predicting the cable tension and transmission backlash of precise cable drive in electro-optical targeting system to better evaluate the performance in the preliminary design stages. The model of transmission backlash in different phase is established by satisfying the system’s geometric and equilibrium constraints, which is applicable to cable drive systems with any external load, pretension, and motion trajectories. Simulations are conducted to reveal the changes of cable deformation, cable tension, and deflection angles. The model is validated by experiments using a suitable experimental setup, predicting transmission backlash with the error level of 8.27%. The sensitivities of the preload force and external load are tested, and corresponding results are in good agreement with the theoretical ones. The backlash plunges dramatically when the preload force is small and flattens out when the preload force is larger than the threshold value. A proper preload force should be applied to keep the backlash in stable state. The threshold value could be predicted by the proposed model. The method presented in this article could provide a theoretic guide for system design and nonlinearity compensation.
Whose fault is failure? Contested perspectives of academic support in tertiary educational institutions in South Africa
Authors: Jeffery David , Johnson David
Published: July 2019

This paper explores the argument that to widen participation in higher education, educational institutions should bear a greater responsibility for students’ learning. Central to this debate is the notion of ‘academic support’. There are many perspectives on what works to scaffold student participation and learning but rarely are the perspectives of those receiving support taken into account. This paper reports the findings of an exploratory ethnographic study in which students in a vocational college in South Africa reflected on the nature of academic support and access to it. Student narratives that underpin their understandings of how the support system ‘worked’, and what responsibilities they and the college respectively bore for their studies, are compared to the official prescript on student support services in South Africa – the so-called ‘Student Support Services Manual’ which was developed by the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). The data indicate sharp incongruences in thinking. While the student support services manual maintains that students are a product of their disadvantaged contexts and therefore require an institutional form of academic support, students themselves placed much less responsibility for the provision of academic support on the colleges. Instead, they attributed their success or failure to ‘character’ and their own dispositions towards learning. This is an unexpected finding in the context of an often highly charged debate on the factors that constrain learning and learning outcomes. This paper argues that it is this ‘locus of control’ that undermines the idea that student success is dependent on prescription alone.
Diagnostic evaluation of the hospital depression scale (HADS) and the Beck depression inventory II (BDI-II) in adults with congenital heart disease using a structured clinical interview: Impact of depression severity
Authors: Westhoff-Bleck Mechthild , Winter Lotta , Aguirre Davila Lukas , Herrmann-Lingen Christoph , Treptau Jens , Bauersachs Johann , Bleich Stefan , Kahl Kai G
Published: July 2019

Objective

The purpose of this study was the diagnostic evaluation of the hospital anxiety and depression scale total score, its depression subscale and the Beck depression inventory II in adults with congenital heart disease.

Methods

This cross-sectional study evaluated 206 patients with congenital heart disease (mean age 35.3 ± 11.7 years; 58.3% men). Major depressive disorder was diagnosed by a structured clinical interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV and disease severity with the Montgomery–Åsberg depression rating scale. Receiver operating characteristics provided assessment of diagnostic accuracy. Youden’s J statistic identified optimal cut-off points.

Results

Fifty-three participants (25.7%) presented with major depressive disorder. Of these, 28 (52.8%) had mild and 25 (47.2%) had moderate to severe symptoms. In the total cohort, the optimal cut-off of values was >11 in the Beck depression inventory II, >11 in the hospital anxiety and depression scale and >5 in the depression subscale. Optimal cut-off points for moderate to severe major depressive disorder were similar. The cut-offs for mild major depressive disorder were lower (Beck depression inventory II >4; hospital anxiety and depression scale >8; >2 in its depression subscale). In the total cohort the calculated area under the curve varied between 0.906 (hospital anxiety and depression scale) and 0.93 (Beck depression inventory II). Detection of moderate to severe major depressive disorder (area under the curve 0.965–0.98) was excellent; detection of mild major depressive disorder (area under the curve 0.851–0.885) was limited. Patients with major depressive disorder had a significantly lower quality of life, even when they had mild symptoms.

Conclusion

All scales were excellent for detecting moderate to severe major depressive disorder. Classification of mild major depressive disorder, representing 50% of cases, was limited. Therapy necessitating loss of quality of life is already present in major depressive disorder with mild symptoms. Established cut-off points may still be too high to identify patients with major depressive disorder requiring therapy. External validation is needed to confirm our data.
Cardiac rehabilitation after acute myocardial infarction in Sweden – evaluation of programme characteristics and adherence to European guidelines: The Perfect Cardiac Rehabilitation (Perfect-CR) study
Authors: Ögmundsdottir Michelsen Halldora , Sjölin Ingela , Schlyter Mona , Hagström Emil , Kiessling Anna , Henriksson Peter , Held Claes , Hag Emma , Nilsson Lennart , Bäck Maria , Schiopu Alexandru , Zaman M Justin , Leosdottir Margret
Published: July 2019

Background

While patient performance after participating in cardiac rehabilitation programmes after acute myocardial infarction is regularly reported through registry and survey data, information on cardiac rehabilitation programme characteristics is less well described.

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate Swedish cardiac rehabilitation programme characteristics and adherence to European Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention.

Method

Cardiac rehabilitation programme characteristics at all 78 cardiac rehabilitation centres in Sweden in 2016 were surveyed using a web-based questionnaire (100% response rate). The questions were based on core components of cardiac rehabilitation as recommended by European Guidelines.

Results

There was a wide variation in programme duration (2–14 months). All programmes reported offering an individual post-discharge visit with a nurse, and 90% ( n = 70) did so within three weeks from discharge. Most programmes offered centre-based exercise training ( n = 76, 97%) and group educational sessions ( n = 61, 78%). All programmes reported to the national audit, SWEDEHEART, and 60% ( n = 47) reported that performance was regularly assessed using audit data, to improve quality of care. Ninety-six per cent ( n = 75) had a core team consisting of a cardiologist, a physiotherapist and a nurse and 76% ( n = 59) reported having a medical director. Having other allied healthcare professionals included in the cardiac rehabilitation team varied. Forty per cent ( n = 31) reported having regular team meetings where nurses, physiotherapists and cardiologist could discuss patient cases.

Conclusion

The overall quality of cardiac rehabilitation programmes provided in Sweden is high. Still, there are several areas of potential improvement. Monitoring programme characteristics as well as patient outcomes might improve programme quality and patient outcomes both at a local and a national level.
Socioeconomic position and one-year mortality risk among patients with heart failure: A nationwide register-based cohort study
Authors: Andersen Julie , Gerds Thomas Alexander , Gislason Gunnar , Schou Morten , Torp-Pedersen Christian , Hlatky Mark A , Møller Sidsel , Madelaire Christian , Strandberg-Larsen Katrine
Published: July 2019

Aims

We sought to determine whether socioeconomic position affects the survival of patients with heart failure treated in a national healthcare system.

Methods

We linked national Danish registers, identified 145,690 patients with new-onset heart failure between 2000 and 2015, and obtained information on education and income levels. We analysed differences in survival by income quartile and educational level using multiple Cox regression, stratified by sex. We standardised one-year mortality risks according to income level by age, year of diagnosis, cohabitation status, educational level, comorbidities and medical treatment of all patients. We standardised one-year mortality risk according to educational level by age and year of diagnosis.

Results

One-year mortality was inversely related to income. In women the standardised average one-year mortality risk was 28.0% in the lowest income quartile and 24.3% in the highest income quartile, a risk difference of −3.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) −4.9% to −2.6%). In men the standardised one-year mortality risk was 26.1% in the lowest income quartile and 20.2% in the highest income quartile, a risk difference of −5.8% (95% CI −6.8% to −4.9%). Similar gradients in standardised mortality were present between the highest and lowest educational levels: −6.6% (95% CI −9.6% to −3.5%) among women and −5.0% (95% CI −6.3% to −3.7%) among men.

Conclusions

Income and educational level affect the survival of patients with heart failure, even in a national health system. Research is needed to investigate how socioeconomic differences affect survival.
Can social media facilitate a European public sphere? Transnational communication and the Europeanization of Twitter during the Eurozone crisis
Authors: Hänska Max , Bauchowitz Stefan
Published: July 2019

Asking whether social media can plausibly facilitate a European public sphere, this article provides the first operationalization and empirical examination of Europeanization of social media communications. It maps the geospatial structure of Twitter activity around Greece’s 2015 bailout negotiations. We find that Twitter activity showed clear signs of Europeanization. Twitter users across Europe tweeted about the bailout negotiations and coalesced around shared grievances. Furthermore, Twitter activity was remarkably transnational in orientation, as users interacted more often with users in other European Union (EU) countries than with domestic ones. As such, social media allowed users to communicate with one another unencumbered by national boundaries, to bring into existence an ad hoc, issue-based European public sphere.
Leadership Styles and Employees’ Commitment: Empirical Evidence From Nigeria
Authors: Abasilim U. D. , Gberevbie D. E. , Osibanjo O. A.
Published: July 2019

Leadership style has often been considered as one of the vital factors that can enhance employees’ commitment and it is seen as the live wire for the attainment of organizational goals. Although research has focused on the nexus between leadership styles and employees’ commitment, little consideration has been paid to identify the influence of demographic variables on the nexus between leadership styles and employees’ commitment in Nigeria, thereby leaving a gap. It is based on the foregoing that this article examines the relationship between leadership styles (transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership) and employees’ commitment and also identify the influence of demographic variables on the relationship between leadership styles and employees’ commitment in Lagos State Civil Service Commission of Nigeria. The survey data were collected from the employees of the organization, and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 was used for the statistical analysis. The results show that there is a significant medium positive relationship between transformational leadership style and employees’ commitment, whereas transactional leadership style shows an insignificant small negative relationship with employees’ commitment. In addition, laissez-faire leadership style has an insignificant small positive relationship with employees’ commitment in the study context. The study, therefore, recommends that employees’ commitment is more likely to be achieved when the appropriate leadership style is adopted and specific demographic variables like gender, age, marital status, academic qualification, and employment status are taken into account regarding the role they play in the relationship between leadership styles and employees’ commitment of Lagos State Civil Service Commission of Nigeria.
Stakeholders’ Attributions of Whistleblowers: The Effects of Complicity and Motives on Perceptions of Likeability, Credibility, and Legitimacy
Authors: Richardson Brian K. , Garner Johny
Published: July 2019

Organizational wrongdoing remains a persistent, prevalent problem, one that leads to exponentially more injuries, deaths, and cost than street crime in the United States each year. Whistleblowing has become one of the primary ways in which wrongdoing is exposed and investigated, but without support from key stakeholders, whistleblowing may not affect constructive change. This study used an attribution theory framework to explore relationships between stakeholders’ perceptions of different types of whistleblowers. Specifically, we varied whistleblowers’ motives (altruistic and selfish) and involvement in wrongdoing (complicit or innocence) to test their effects on stakeholders’ intentions to ostracize the whistleblower and their perceptions of the whistleblower’s likeability, legitimacy, and three dimensions of credibility (goodwill, trustworthiness, and competence). Respondents were composed of two stakeholder groups, fraternity and sorority members and university alumni. Results indicate that both stakeholder groups found the innocent whistleblower more likeable and credible than the complicit whistleblower, while the fraternity/sorority respondents found the altruistic whistleblowers more likeable, credible, and legitimate, than their selfish counterparts. The article concludes with implications of the findings for whistleblowers, and limitations and directions for future research.
Could mindfulness-based cognitive therapy prevent a lifelong recurrent course of depression or anxiety by addressing key mechanisms of vulnerability in high-risk adolescents?
Authors: Ford Tamsin , Richardson Jessica , Wilkinson Kath , Smith Patrick , Berry Vashti , Barnhofer Thorsten , Fox Jerry , Kuyken Willem
Published: July 2019

We explore the potential of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, a skills-based intervention that provides participants with sustainable tools for adaptive responses to stress and negative mood, for the large group of young people with depression or anxiety who only partially or briefly respond to currently available first-line interventions.
Input and Soft-Tissue Vibration Characteristics during Sport-Specific Tasks
Authors: TRAMA ROBIN , HAUTIER CHRISTOPHE , BLACHE YOANN
Published: July 2019

Purpose

To assess the influence of sport-specific tasks on the characteristics of input and soft-tissue vibrations.

Methods

Triaxial accelerometers were used to quantify the input (heel cup of the shoe) and soft-tissue vibrations of the gastrocnemius medialis and vastus lateralis muscles during seven sport-specific tasks performed by 10 healthy volunteers. A wavelet analysis was used to analyze the acceleration signals in the time–frequency domain. The energy and frequency of the input and soft-tissue vibrations, as well as the transmission of energy from the input to the muscles and the damping properties of soft tissues, were computed.

Results

Different inputs, energy transmissions, and damping properties were found between the various movements. Landings and side cuts induced the greatest input frequency and energy, as well as the greatest soft-tissue vibration energy. These tasks produced up to three times greater energy than in-line running. Positive energy transmission was found for frequencies under 50 Hz and for frequencies up to 90 Hz for some movements, indicating a possible change in the natural frequency of vibration within muscle. Only small differences in damping properties were found, which may indicate that the attenuation of the vibration was not the priority during these tasks.

Conclusions

Athletes are subject to greater energy impacts and vibrations during some sport-specific tasks compared with running. It may be useful to decrease such input/vibration energy via the usage of footwear or compression tools to limit their potential deleterious effects on the musculoskeletal system. It is, therefore, recommended to quantify and control the number of impacts induced by the different sport-specific tasks.
Effects of Lifestyle Physical Activity on Vascular Function in Asymptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease
Authors: LASLOVICH STEVE , ALVAR BRENT A. , ALLISON MATTHEW , RAUH MITCHELL J.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 12-wk in-home self-monitored physical activity (PA) program targeting a combination of lifestyle PA program on changes in endothelial reactivity, arterial stiffness, sedentary behaviors, and upright and stepping activities in individuals with asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease (APAD).

Methods

Participants (n = 38) with APAD (ages 52–87 yr) were randomized to attention control (AC) or a PA sedentary reduction (PASR) group using an interactive online 3-month program focusing on increasing lifestyle PA and decreasing sedentary behaviors. The ActivPal™ PA monitor was used to measure postural and stepping parameters. Endothelial reactivity (peripheral arterial tone–reactive hyperemia index [PAT-RHI]) and augmentation index (AIx) were measured using the EndoPAT™ system at baseline and 3 months.

Results

The PASR group significantly decreased daily sit/lie hours (−0.80 ± 0.87 vs 0.18 ± 0.77 P = 0.001), increased sit-to-stand transitions per day (7.1 ± 10.5 vs −1.4 ± 5.71, P < 0.001), and increased daily step counts (2814 ± 1753 vs 742 ± 1321, P < 0.001). The PASR group also increased steps per day accumulated within specific cadence bands 61–80 steps per minute (1252 ± 447 vs 177 ± 359, P < 0.001), 81–100 steps per minute band (919 ± 511 vs −98 ± 697, P < 0.001), and within the 101–120 steps per minute band (415 ± 625 vs −327 ± 467, P < 0.001) versus the AC group. PAT-RHI significantly increased in the PASR group (0.179 ± 0.180 vs 0.0.044 ± 0.101, P = 0.019), whereas no significant changes were observed in PAT-AIx.

Conclusions

Modest improvements in microvascular reactivity, PA, sedentary behavior, but not arterial stiffness were demonstrated after a 12-wk intervention targeting sedentary behavior reduction and increased lifestyle PA in individuals with APAD.
Multidimensional Reasoning in Games: Framework, Equilibrium, and Applications
Authors: Arad Ayala , Rubinstein Ariel
Published: July 2019

We develop a framework for analyzing multidimensional reasoning in strategic interactions, which is motivated by two experimental findings: (i) in games with a large and complex strategy space, players tend to think in terms of strategy characteristics rather than the strategies themselves; (ii) in their strategic deliberation, players consider one characteristic at a time. A multidimensional equilibrium is a vector of characteristics representing a stable mode of behavior: a player does not wish to modify any one characteristic. The concept is applied to several economic interactions, where a vector of characteristics, rather than a distribution of strategies, is identified as stable. (JEL C72, D11, D91)
Lumbar spine radiographs — is it time for widespread adoption of posteroanterior projection?
Authors: Green Christopher , Karnati Guru , Thomson Katharine , Subramanian Ashok
Published: July 2019

Objective:

Phantom studies and a prior patient study have shown up to 53% effective dose reduction when lumbar spine radiographs are acquired posteroanterior (PA) instead of anteroposterior (AP). Since November 2017, Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has acquired all standing lumbar spine radiographs PA. The aim of this study was to locally evaluate dose and image quality in both projections and survey current UK practice.

Methods:

80 outpatients having a standing lumbar spine radiograph (40 AP; 40 PA) had their dose–area product recorded at a constant KV and focus film distance. Effective dose was calculated using PCXMC software. Each blinded radiograph was scored against an optimal reference image using European Guidelines criteria. The data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U tests and linear regression. Eighty radiologists nationally were sent an anonymous survey to establish their current practice.

Results:

A lumbar spine radiograph acquired PA instead of AP reduced effective dose by 41% (p < 0.001) with no difference in image quality (p = 0.9). 21 radiologists completed our survey and only 1 NHS Trust is currently using PA.

Conclusion:

PA lumbar spine radiography reduces patient radiation exposure with no affect on image quality, acquisition time or cost. The majority of NHS Trusts nationally are still using AP and it is time to standardize to PA.

Advances in knowledge:

This patient study provides further good evidence of how reduction in exposure to ionizing radiation can be achieved in lumbar spine radiography and more widespread adoption of PA protocol could improve patient safety.
Effectiveness of a mobile health intervention on infant and young child feeding among children ≤ 24 months of age in rural Islamabad over six months duration
Authors: Akber Subhana , Mahmood Hana , Fatima Razia , Wali Ahmed , Alam Ashraful , Sheraz Syed Yahya , Yaqoob Aashifa , Najmi Hina , Abbasi Saleem , Mahmood Humaira , Dibley Michael J. , Hazir Tabish
Published: July 2019

Background: Childhood development is highly influenced by feeding practices at infancy and young age of the children. Unfortunately, according to the National Nutrition Survey (2011), the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in Pakistan was 21% at four months, and 13% at six months of age with 51.3% of mothers initiating semisolid foods to their children at the recommended 6-8 months of age. Pakistan Demographic & Health Survey (PDHS 2018) however; indicates that only 48% of infants are exclusively breastfed which has been improved from 38% as reported in the past five years but still more improvement is envisaged.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study design was employed for this post-intervention survey assessing effectiveness of mobile health (mhealth) regarding infant & young child feeding (IYCF) among pregnant and lactating mothers in Tarlai, Islamabad from May to June 2018. A total of 135 mothers who were earlier included in the intervention phase were recruited after obtaining verbal & written consent. The data was entered in EpiData (3.1) and analyzed in SPSS version 21.

Results: The mean age of these pregnant and lactating mothers was 30.5 years ± 4.5 SD with the majority of mothers in the age group of 25 to 29 years. After intervention, the overall knowledge of mothers regarding IYCF nutrition was raised among 94 mothers (69.6%) as compared to 74 (54.8%) mothers prior to the intervention. Overall attitude regarding IYCF was found to be positive among 86 (63.7%) of the mothers, whereas 88 (65.2%) of the mothers had good IYCF related practices.

Conclusion: Our post-intervention survey signifies the effectiveness of mhealth in raising knowledge, attitude, and practices of mothers regarding IYCF in rural Islamabad. However, implementation of mhealth in masses requires future research specifically to address cost-effectiveness of such interventions in maternal & child health programmes.
Sofro, logo me Medico: A Medicalização da Vida como Enfrentamento do Mal-Estar / I Suffer, therefore, i use Self-Medication: The Medicalization of Life as a Coping with Malaise
Authors: Rocha Amanda Corrêa , Barrios Nathália Da Silva , Rolim Paulo Daniel Da Silva , Zucolotto Marcele Pereira da Rosa
Published: July 2019

A sociedade contemporânea marcada pelo discurso de consumo e medicalização produz modos de subjetividades individualizantes. Elabora estratégias de saídas para o mal-estar que negam a subjetividade e sustentam seu modo de produção. Nesse sentido, o trabalho objetiva compreender como se dão os modos de subjetivação e a relação com o mal-estar e a medicalização da vida. A metodologia utilizada para esse artigo foi a pesquisa bibliográfica de caráter qualitativa. Como resultados, evidenciou-se que, devido a ascensão do discurso médico e o crescimento da indústria farmacêutica, os indivíduos passaram a buscar na medicalização uma solução rápida para seu sofrimento. Essa alternativa, entretanto, gerou enormes prejuízos para a vida das pessoas, bem como a negação do sofrimento e o uso desregulado de fármacos. Concluiu-se que a medicalização da vida como forma de (não)lidar com esse mal-estar é uma estratégia que deve ser repensada, visto que o sofrimento é algo inerente à vida humana.
PEMBELAJARAN PAI BAGI ANAK BERKEBUTUHAN KHUSUS
Authors: Hanum Lathifah
Published: July 2019

This study aimed to describe the process of implementation, knowing the results of learning, find problems, and find solutions for the improvement of educational qualification improvement program S1 for Madrasa teachers and PAI (Islamic Education) teachers through dual mode system in Tarbiya and Teaching Faculty of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta.This research is a qualitative descriptive study, the subject of research, program managers, lecturers, and students participating in the Dual Mode System Program. Data collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis using inductively mindset.Results show that: 1). The process of implementation of the program for the improvement of educational qualifications S1 Madrasah teachers and PAI teachers through a dual mode system in Tarbiya and Teaching Faculty of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, has been performing well, with reference to the established regulations; 2). Learning outcomes 80% categorized as very satisfactory, and 20%, satisfactory; 3). Problem Management covers eight aspects, namely the curriculum, learning, student recruitment, system conversion, distribution module, LPTKs relationships with partners, completion of thesis, and quality assurance. 4). The suggested solution is the improvement of curriculum and learning, new student recruitment system, conversion, distribution module, the system of cooperation with LPTKs Partners, and improvement of quality assurance commitment.
Анализ возможностей описания влияния гидростатического давления на кривые ползучести и коэффициент поперечной деформации реономных материалов в рамках линейной теории вязкоупругости
Authors: Хохлов Андрей Владимирович , Khokhlov Andrew Vladimirovich
Published: July 2019

Исследуются арсенал возможностей и индикаторы границы области применимости
линейного интегрального определяющего соотношения вязкоупругости
Больцмана-Вольтерры с двумя произвольными материальными функциями (сдвиговой
и объемной ползучести) для изотропных реономных материалов, пренебрегающего
влиянием шаровой и девиаторной частей тензоров напряжений и деформаций друг
на друга и влиянием их третьих инвариантов. Аналитически изучены общие
свойства семейств кривых объемной, продольной и поперечной ползучести и
коэффициента поперечной деформации («коэффициента Пуассона»), порождаемых
этим соотношением при одноосном нагружении постоянной нагрузкой в сочетании
с постоянным гидростатическим давлением, и их зависимость от качественных
характеристик функций ползучести и уровней осевого напряжения и давления.
Показано, что объемная ползучесть и давление могут существенно изменить
качественное поведение кривых осевой и поперечной ползучести и коэффициента
Пуассона. Доказано, что линейная теория вязкоупругости способна моделировать
немонотонное изменение и знакопеременность поперечной деформации и
коэффициента Пуассона даже при нулевом давлении, а осевой деформации - при
достаточно большом давлении; исследованы условия наличия у них точек
экстремума и перегиба. Исследованы выражения для коэффициента Пуассона и
параметра вида деформированного состояния через отношение функций
ползучести, время и отношение давления к осевому напряжению. Получены общие
точные оценки для диапазона изменения коэффициента Пуассона, условия его
монотонности и немонотонности в зависимости от времени и критерий его
отрицательности.
В результате анализа обнаружен ряд характерных общих свойств семейств кривых
ползучести и зависимости коэффициента Пуассона от времени и относительной
величины давления, которые удобно проверять в испытаниях материалов и
использовать как индикаторы границы области линейного поведения (индикаторы
неприменимости линейной теории вязкоупругости) по данным серии испытаний
материала на ползучесть при совместном действии растягивающей силы и
гидростатического давления. Исследованы специфические свойства кривых
ползучести, порождаемых линейной теорией вязкоупругости в сочетании
с предположением об упругом изменении объема, и соответствующие индикаторы
неприменимости подобной модели (с одной материальной функцией).
Оценка механических характеристик кристаллов соляных пород на основе математической модели процесса наноиндентирования на зондовом силовом микроскопе Dimension Icon
Authors: Аптуков Валерий Нагимович , Aptukov Valery Nagimovich , Митин Виктор Юрьевич , Mitin Victor Yurievich
Published: July 2019

Зондовый силовой микроскоп (ЗСМ) Dimension Icon применяется как для оценки рельефа поверхности исследуемого образца, так и для получения силового отклика образца при взаимодействии кантилевера (индентора специальной формы, расположенного на конце упругой консоли) с поверхностью образца. При этом, в отличие от других приборов, например NanoTest-600, где в результате индентирования исследователь получает величину твердости и эффективного модуля упругости с помощью программного обеспечения, «зашитого» в данный прибор, ЗСМ позволяет получить только кривую отклонения индентора в зависимости от перемещения основания кантилевера. Зная коэффициент жесткости на изгиб упругой консоли, исследователь может самостоятельно определить кривую «усилие-перемещение» индентора на этапе нагрузки и разгрузки. Далее возникает задача интерпретации полученной кривой: каким образом можно оценить механические характеристики материала на ее основе? Ответ на этот вопрос зависит, в частности, от характера механического поведения материала. Для диапазона глубин индентирования, превышающих головную сферическую часть зонда кантилевера, при предположении упруго-идеально-пластической модели материала рассмотрена двумерная осесимметричная задача индентирования образца на этапе нагрузки и разгрузки. Численное моделирование осуществлено в пакете ANSYS в рамках контактной задачи в предположении абсолютно жесткого наконечника кантилевера. Путем обработки результатов вычислительного эксперимента предложена методика оценки предела текучести и модуля упругости поверхностных слоев образца. На основе данных ранее проведенных экспериментов получены конкретные значения механических характеристик для кристаллов соляных пород.