bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Educating for diversity: an evaluation of a sexuality diversity workshop to address secondary school bullying
Authors: Lucassen Mathijs FG , Burford James
Published: July 2015

Objective:

To evaluate the potential of a 60-minute sexuality diversity workshop to address bullying in secondary schools.

Methods:

Students completed pre- and post-workshop questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise results with pre- to immediate post-workshop changes compared using t-tests. Thematic analysis was used to analyse open-ended questionnaire responses.

Results:

We had 229 students (mean age 13.7 years) attending 10 workshops participate in the study. Three-quarters of students thought the workshop would reduce bullying in schools, and over 95% of the participants thought that other secondary schools should offer the workshop. There was a significant increase in valuing ( p < 0.001) and understanding ( p < 0.001) sexuality-diverse individuals (e.g. lesbian, gay and bisexual people), between the pre- and post-workshop results. School climates were largely perceived to be ‘hard’ and included ‘bullying/mocking’ of sexuality-diverse students; however, many individual students reported a desire to be supportive of their sexuality-diverse peers.

Conclusions:

Sexuality-based bullying is commonplace in secondary schools. This form of bullying is associated with depression and suicide attempts. Reducing sexuality-based bullying is very likely to have a positive impact on the mental health of young people. Brief workshops, as a part of a wider suite of interventions, have some potential to create safer school environments.
Keep It Simple
Authors: Klemke Roland , van Rosmalen Peter , Ternier Stefaan , Westera Wim
Published: July 2015

Background. Despite the continuous and abundant growth of the game market the uptake of serious games in education has been limited. Games require complex technologies and are difficult to organise and to embed in the curriculum.

Aim. This article explores to what extent game templates and game authoring processes can be designed so that they can easily be adopted and adapted by teachers while only using openly available tools.

Method. It discusses the design and first evaluation of two game platforms: ARGUMENT, based on a wiki, and ARLEARN, a toolkit based on openly available Google technologies. ARGUMENT is a text-based game challenging students to take a position on a given topic. ARLEARN offers an explicit mobile and virtual gameplay environment and a defined authoring process to create game scripts.

Results. ARGUMENT and ARLEARN have been evaluated in four small-scale studies, where educators designed game scenarios and students played the resulting games.

Conclusions. The results indicate that both tools are useful instruments that can be operated by teachers to build games and game-alike educational activities and, additionally, are a valuable step to gain experience with serious games.
Feeling Well and Having Good Numbers
Authors: Kang Helen , Stenfors-Hayes Terese
Published: July 2015

Individuals living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) must be mindful of their diet and exercise, take multiple medications, and deal with other compounding illnesses. We observed renal patients’ encounters with health professionals at a renal clinic for tensions and gaps in patients’ and health professionals’ understandings of “living well” with CKD. We found that the renal patients at the clinic become emotionally invested in the fluctuations in the numbers on their blood work. Narrative practices of health professionals greatly affect how patients emotionally deal with the possibility of dialysis, transplant, death, or aging. Expectations to “live well” can become a moral burden to be a “good” patient. The gaps between the priorities of patients, their caregivers, and health professionals complicate the notion of “living well” with CKD. Trust, rapport and the practice of listening appear to have the greatest impact in addressing these gaps.
Living Well? Strategies Used by Women Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Lewis Sophie , Willis Karen , Yee Jasmine , Kilbreath Sharon
Published: July 2015

Metastatic breast cancer is a disease of changing status—once an imminent death sentence, now a chronic (albeit incurable) disease. Medical intervention advances mean women with metastatic breast cancer now have symptoms alleviated and, potentially, life extended. Living with this disease, however, requires more than a medical approach to symptoms. We were interested to know whether women manage, and if so, how, to “live well” with metastatic cancer. We conducted interviews with 18 women. Women differed in the approaches they used. Most common was the attempt to reestablish a sense of normality in their lives. However, a second group reevaluated and reprioritized their lives; and a third group was restricted in their capacity to live well because of symptoms. The findings provide the foundation for future research exploring normalization of experiences of metastatic cancer, and other chronic illnesses, where people are living with knowledge that they have contracted time.
β3-Adrenoceptor Impairs Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Energy Metabolism During Rapid Atrial Pacing-Induced Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Dong Jingmei , Zhao Jingjing , Zhang Miaomiao , Liu Guangzhong , Wang Xiaobing , Liu Yixi , Yang Ning , Liu Yongwu , Zhao Guanqi , Sun Jiayu , Tian Jingpu , Cheng Cheping , Wei Lin , Li Yue , Li Weimin
Published: July 2015

Background:

The β3-adrenoceptor (β3-AR) is implicated in cardiac remodeling. Since metabolic dysfunction due to loss of mitochondria plays an important role in heart diseases, we examined the effects of β3-AR on mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism in atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods:

Atrial fibrillation was created by rapid atrial pacing in adult rabbits. Rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, pacing (P7), β3-AR antagonist (L748337), and β3-AR agonist (BRL37344) groups. Atrial effective refractory period (AERP) and AF induction rate were measured. Atrial concentrations of adenine nucleotides and phosphocreatine were quantified through high-performance liquid chromatography. Mitochondrial DNA content was determined. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to examine the expression levels of signaling intermediates related to mitochondrial biogenesis.

Results:

After pacing for 7 days, β3-AR was significantly upregulated, AERP was reduced, and the AF induction rate was increased. The total adenine nucleotides pool was significantly reduced due to the decrease in adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The P7 group showed decreased activity of F0F1-ATPase. Mitochondrial DNA content was decreased and mitochondrial respiratory chain subunits were downregulated after pacing. Furthermore, expression of transcription factors involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1), and mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam), was lower in the P7 group in response to β3-AR activation. Further stimulation of β3-AR with BRL37344 exacerbated these effects, together with a significant decrease in the levels of phosphocreatine. In contrast, inhibition of β3-AR with L748337 partially restored mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism of atria in the paced rabbits.

Conclusion:

The activation of β3-AR contributes to atrial metabolic remodeling via transcriptional downregulation of PGC-1α/NRF-1/Tfam pathway that are involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, which ultimately perturbs mitochondrial function in rapid pacing-induced AF. The β3-AR is therefore a potential novel therapeutic target for the treatment or prevention of AF.
The RSK Inhibitor BIX02565 Limits Cardiac Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Shi Xi , O’Neill Margaret M. , MacDonnell Scott , Brookes Paul S. , Yan Chen , Berk Bradford C.
Published: July 2015

Aims:

During ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) activates Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1) by phosphorylating NHE1 at serine 703 (pS703-NHE1), which promotes cardiomyocyte death and injury. Pharmacologic inhibition of NHE1 effectively protects animal hearts from I/R. However, clinical trials using NHE1 inhibitors failed to show benefit in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). One possible explanation is those inhibitors block both agonist-stimulated activity (increasing I/R injury) and basal NHE1 activity (necessary for cell survival). We previously showed that dominant-negative RSK (DN-RSK) selectively blocked agonist-stimulated NHE1 activity. Therefore, we hypothesized that a novel RSK inhibitor (BIX02565) would blunt agonist-stimulated NHE1 and protect hearts from I/R.

Methods and Results:

Serum/angiotensin II-stimulated pS703-NHE1 was significantly decreased by BIX02565 in cultured cells. Intracellular pH recovery assay showed that BIX02565 selectively inhibited serum-stimulated NHE1 activity. Ischemia/reperfusion decreased left ventricular–developed pressure (LVDP; inhibited) to 8.7% of the basal level in non-transgenic littermate control (NLC) mouse hearts, which was significantly improved (44.6%) by BIX02565. Similar protection was observed in vehicle-treated, cardiac-specific DN-RSK-Tg mice (43%). No additional protective effect was seen in BIX02565-treated DN-RSK-Tg hearts. BIX02565 also improved LVDP in cardiac-specific wild-type (WT)-RSK-Tg mouse hearts (7.4%-40.9%, P < .01). Finally, Western Blotting results confirmed DN-RSK and BIX02565 significantly decreased I/R-induced pS703-NHE1.

Conclusion:

The RSK plays a crucial role in I/R-induced activation of NHE1 and cardiac injury. The RSK inhibition may provide an alternative target for patients with MI.
Parameter identification of nonlinear rotor-bearing system based on improved kriging surrogate model
Authors: Han Fang , Guo Xinglin , Mo Changki , Gao Haiyang , Hou Peijun
Published: July 2015

This paper presents a new method which can identify the structure parameters (such as the bearing parameters, the nonlinear rub-impact parameters, and so on) of a nonlinear rotor-bearing system. Based on an improved kriging surrogate model and evolutionary algorithm (IKSMEA), the new method can provide more accurate results with less computation time. The initial kriging surrogate model (KSM) is constructed by the samples of varying structure parameters and their response values. According to the identified process, a multi-point addition criterion is proposed and more appropriate predicted points are added to update the KSM. Numerical studies and experimental validation of a nonlinear rotor-bearing system are performed. Comparing to the previous method (KSM and evolutionary algorithm), the new method satisfies the condition of convergence with less updating steps and increased robustness to noise. The identified results indicate that the IKSMEA can identify the nonlinear rotor system more effectively and accurately.
Effect of micronization on the physicochemical properties of insoluble dietary fiber from citrus (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka) pomace
Authors: Ye Fayin , Tao Bingbing , Liu Jia , Zou Yan , Zhao Guohua
Published: July 2015

The aim of this work was to study the effect of micronization (mechanical and jet grindings) on the physicochemical properties of the insoluble dietary fiber from citrus pomace in comparison with ordinary grinding. The results showed that micronization treatment effectively pulverized the IDF-CP powders to micron scale and significantly increased the soluble dietary fiber content ( p < 0.05). Compared with mechanical grinding, jet grinding was more effective in size reduction and resulted in IDF-CP powders with narrower particle size distributions. Micronized IDF-CP powders had smaller particle size, smoother surface, higher fluidity, cation-exchange capacity, and metal cation binding capacity values, but lower water holding capacity, oil holding capacity, and swelling capacity values. These functional properties were significantly dependent on surface area and particle size ( D0.5). The present study suggested that micronization treatments could modify functional properties of IDF-CP powders, which promotes their use in food applications.
Fault-y Reasoning
Authors: Lederman Jaimee , Garrett Mark , Taylor Brian D.
Published: July 2015

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) hold great promise to improve personal and commercial travel, but intelligently linking vehicles and travelers via increasingly interconnected real-time data systems creates a host of new and largely untested liability questions when things go wrong. In this article, we examine current policies, laws, and administrative codes guiding ITS liability by reviewing the scholarly literature and case law in the United States. We find (a) a patchwork of industry self-regulation, (b) a modicum of tort case law precedent that varies substantially across states, (c) many unresolved questions, and (d) little prospect of guiding federal legislation on the horizon. While the liability questions raised by driverless cars have received much attention, we conclude that ITS liability standards are likely to be settled incrementally in the near term on decidedly narrow grounds via case law on navigation and collision-avoidance systems, long before fully automated vehicles are deployed.
Optimizations in a high-performance conjugate gradient benchmark for IA-based multi- and many-core processors
Authors: Park Jongsoo , Smelyanskiy Mikhail , Vaidyanathan Karthikeyan , Heinecke Alexander , Kalamkar Dhiraj D , Patwary Md Mosotofa Ali , Pirogov Vadim , Dubey Pradeep , Liu Xing , Rosales Carlos , Mazauric Cyril , Daley Christopher
Published: July 2015

This paper presents optimizations in a high-performance conjugate gradient benchmark (HPCG) for multi-core Intel® Xeon® processors and many-core Xeon Phi™ coprocessors. Without careful optimization, the HPCG benchmark under-utilizes the compute resources available in modern processors due to its low arithmetic intensity and challenges in parallelizing the Gauss–Seidel smoother (GS). Our optimized implementation fuses GS with sparse matrix vector multiplication (SpMV) to address the low arithmetic intensity, overcoming the performance otherwise bound by memory bandwidth. This fusion optimization is progressively more effective in newer generation Xeon processors, demonstrating the usefulness of their larger caches for sparse matrix operations: Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, and Haswell processors achieve 93%, 99%, and 103%, respectively, of the ideal performance with a constraint that matrices are streamed from memory. Our implementation also parallelizes GS using fine-grain level-scheduling, a method that has been believed not to scale with many cores. Our GS implementation scales with 60 cores in Xeon Phi coprocessors, for the finest level of the multi-grid pre-conditioner. At the coarser levels, we address the limited parallelism using block multi-color re-ordering, achieving 21 GFLOPS with one Xeon Phi coprocessor. These optimizations distinguish our HPCG implementation from the others that stream most of the data from main memory and rely on multi-color re-ordering for parallelism. Our optimized implementation has been evaluated in clusters with various configurations, and we find that low-diameter high-radix network topologies such as Dragonfly realize high parallelization efficiencies because of fast all-reduce collectives. In addition, we demonstrate that our optimizations not only benefit the HPCG dataset, which is based on a structured 3D grid, but also a wide range of unstructured matrices.
Promoting Positive Behavior Using the Good Behavior Game
Authors: Bowman-Perrott Lisa , Burke Mack D. , Zaini Samar , Zhang Nan , Vannest Kimberly
Published: July 2015

The Good Behavior Game (GBG) is a classroom management strategy that uses an interdependent group-oriented contingency to promote prosocial behavior and decrease problem behavior. This meta-analysis synthesized single-case research (SCR) on the GBG across 21 studies, representing 1,580 students in pre-kindergarten through Grade 12. The TauU effect size across 137 phase contrasts was .82 with a confidence interval 95% CI = [0.78, 0.87], indicating a substantial reduction in problem behavior and an increase in prosocial behavior for participating students. Five potential moderators were examined: emotional and behavioral disorder (EBD) risk status, reinforcement frequency, target behaviors, GBG format, and grade level. Findings suggest that the GBG is most effective in reducing disruptive and off-task behaviors, and that students with or at risk for EBD benefit most from the intervention. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Sport without referees? The power of the International Olympic Committee and the social politics of accountability
Authors: Nelson Travis , Cottrell M. Patrick
Published: July 2015

As governor of the world’s pre-eminent sporting event, the International Olympic Committee exercises considerable power on the world stage. It has also been widely accused of corruption, corporate greed, and hypocrisy. However, for all of the media attention that the International Olympic Committee receives, it has seldom been examined theoretically and in the context of global governance. Why have so few stakeholders, including the states that host the events and field the teams, engaged in serious efforts to hold it accountable for its actions? In addition, what can the experience of the International Olympic Committee tell us about accountability in global governance more generally? Drawing from conceptual treatments of accountability, we argue that the challenges of the International Olympic Committee are rooted in the organization’s social position and social power. The IOCs position in international society dilutes the base of potential accountability holders and exacerbates collective action problems, while its social power allows it to maintain a reputational shield to guard against meaningful accountability efforts. The article concludes by considering whether these dynamics ripple beyond the experience of the International Olympic Committee into other areas of global governance.
Validation of a Kinect-based telerehabilitation system with total hip replacement patients
Authors: Antón David , Nelson Mark , Russell Trevor , Goñi Alfredo , Illarramendi Arantza
Published: July 2015

The evolving telecommunications industry combined with medical information technology has been proposed as a solution to reduce health care cost and provide remote medical services. This paper aims to validate and show the feasibility and user acceptance of using a telerehabilitation system called Kinect Rehabilitation System (KiReS) in a real scenario, with patients attending repeated rehabilitation sessions after they had a Total Hip Replacement (THR). We present the main features of KiReS, how it was set up in the considered scenario and the experimental results obtained in relation to two different perspectives: patients’ subjective perceptions (gathered through questionnaires) and the accuracy of the performed exercises (by analysing the data captured using KiReS). We made a full deployment of KiReS, defining step by step all the elements of a therapy: postures, movements, exercises and the therapy itself. Seven patients participated in this trial in a total of 19 sessions, and the system recorded 3865 exercise executions. The group showed general support for telerehabilitation and the possibilities that systems such as KiReS bring to physiotherapy treatment.
Soluble vascular endothelial-cadherin and auto-antibodies to human vascular endothelial-cadherin in human diseases: Two new biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction
Authors: Blaise Sophie , Polena Helena , Vilgrain Isabelle
Published: July 2015

Vascular endothelial-cadherin is the most important transmembrane component of endothelial adherens junctions, exclusively expressed by endothelial cells in all types of vessels. Targeting either the extracellular domain or the cytoplasmic tail deleteriously affects the junctional strength and leads to vascular permeability. Recently, cytokine-induced phosphorylation of the vascular endothelial-cadherin cytoplasmic domain was reported to trigger cleavage of its extracellular domain, producing the soluble form of the protein – soluble vascular endothelial-cadherin. Hence, the presence of soluble vascular endothelial-cadherin or auto-antibodies to human vascular endothelial-cadherin in human serum could signalize the presence of vascular abnormalities. This systematic review covers many human studies reporting increased levels of soluble vascular endothelial-cadherin, as well as auto-antibodies to human vascular endothelial-cadherin, which could be promising biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction in a large panel of diseases.
Integration of digging forces in a multi-body-system model of an excavator
Authors: Bennett Nureddin , Walawalkar Ashwin , Heck Meike , Schindler Christian
Published: July 2015

The digging process using an excavator bucket was modelled, with the objective of introducing the interaction with the environment into the multi-body-simulation method. With today’s software tools, the dynamic behaviour of complex machinery can be effectively simulated. However, interaction with the environment, especially with soil is very challenging. This paper aims to contribute to meeting the challenges in this field of simulation. The given implementation makes use of analytical approaches originating from classical soil mechanics. After an analysis of the digging process, excavating tools, digging mechanisms and existing force calculation methods, approaches based on the ‘fundamental earthmoving equation’ and the ‘cavity expansion theory’ were used to model bucket filling, soil transport and bucket emptying along with accompanying forces throughout the described process. The simulation results are compared with experimental data available in publications. The main finding of this paper is a co-simulation, with a multi-body-simulation model capable of estimating the digging forces dynamically, with very high accuracy for low cohesion soil. Furthermore, the model also visualises the geometry of the soil surface, and the bucket contents, during the excavation cycle, in 2D, and can be extended for use in 3D.
What did we say they’ve said? Four encounters between theory, method and the production of data
Authors: Benzecry Claudio E.
Published: July 2015

Following Reed (2010 , 2011) , we can think of ethnography as the encounter between two sets of meanings: those of the ethnographer on those of the subjects whose lives are being studied. If we are able to recognize the contested, unfinished, reflexive and complex character of how people think about themselves, we should be able to imagine ourselves in the same terms and go into the field armed with a theoretical helmet with interchangeable lenses, imagining which theoretical concepts would best fit the case. In this paper, I develop how this approach finds a fruitful analogue in psychoanalysis as a practical endeavor that produces a particular kind of truth; what we can learn from that equivalency; how this epistemological approach works in parallel to Reed’s plea for theoretical pluralism; and what are then the consequences of this book for practitioners of cultural ethnography.
Investigation of wall heat transfer and thermal stratification under engine-relevant conditions using DNS
Authors: Schmitt Martin , Frouzakis Christos E , Wright Yuri M , Tomboulides Ananias G , Boulouchos Konstantinos
Published: July 2015

Unsteady wall heat transfer and thermal stratification during the compression stroke under engine relevant conditions are investigated using direct numerical simulations (DNS). In order to avoid artificial initial and boundary conditions the initial conditions are obtained from a separate DNS of the intake stroke involving thermal and composition mixing. The dynamically changing thermodynamic properties were found to strongly affect turbulence and wall heat transfer during the compression stroke. The increasing pressure results in a strongly reduced kinematic viscosity, and thus in significantly reduced length scales in the flow and temperature fields towards the top dead center (TDC). This has a direct impact on wall heat transfer, since reduced length scales lead to increased temperature gradients at the walls. Hence the heat transfer coefficient, which expresses the hydrodynamic influence on the heat transfer, increases by a factor of approximately five during compression. For the simulated conditions, the heat transfer coefficient extracted from the DNS data is found to agree reasonably well with the global correlation by Hohenberg but deviates strongly from the Woschni correlation. The influence of the boundary layers is not limited to the region close to walls, since close to TDC it affects the temperature distribution in the cylinder core. Vortical structures are identified, which transport cold gases from the boundary layer into the inner cylinder indicating that the assumption of an isentropic core temperature in the inner cylinder is not valid.
Cavitation in a hydraulic system: The influence of the distributor geometry on cavitation inception and study of the interactions between bubbles
Authors: Adama Maiga Mahamadou , Coutier-Delgosha Olivier , Buisine Daniel
Published: July 2015

Hydraulic systems are often subjected to pressure drops, which may lead to cavitation. In systems such as power steering, hoist loads, or ventricular assist devices, distributors are generally used. Significant pressure losses can happen in a distributor due to gap and overlap, which may lead to cavitation development. However, this issue is almost never included in the conception of the distributors. In this study, the multibubble model of the modified Rayleigh–Plesset equation is applied to the rotary distributor of an oil hydraulic system. The influence of the overlap length, the gap, the rotation speed, and distributor inlet pressure on the cavitation and particularly the interactions between bubbles at cavitation inception are studied. The study highlights a critical length of the overlap; over this value, the overlap length influences significantly the cavitation duration and the void fraction. More generally, some geometrical details have a strong influence on cavitation. Optimization of these details in engine parts, taking account the occurrence of cavitation, would be an appropriate solution to reduce its effects. The study also demonstrates that the growth of small bubbles may be delayed by the interactions with the nearby bigger ones, even if the ambient pressure is lower than their theoretical critical pressure. They eventually collapse at the first moments of the cavitation development. However, if the ambient pressure drops further, that is, beyond a critical pressure, a small bubble gains enough inertial energy to overcome these interaction phenomena and thus to grow. The growth of small bubbles increases the interactions between bubbles and slows down the growth of nearby bigger ones. The results show that the interactions between bubbles are of primary importance in the first moments of the cavitation development, which suggests that they should be taken into account in the definition of the critical pressure.
Active learning: The importance of developing a comprehensive measure
Authors: Carr Rodney , Palmer Stuart , Hagel Pauline
Published: July 2015

This article reports on an investigation into the validity of a widely used scale for measuring the extent to which higher education students employ active learning strategies. The scale is the active learning scale in the Australasian Survey of Student Engagement. This scale is based on the Active and Collaborative Learning scale of the National Survey of Student Engagement. The particular focus of the study was to investigate effects resulting from the addition of a small number of items to the active learning scale designed to capture some highly engaging, mostly online, activities. The items were developed in response to concerns that students studying in distance mode often report lower average scores on active learning scales than their on-campus counterparts. The additional items relate to activities such as working online with other students and faculty. The findings show that average scores on the Australasian Survey of Student Engagement/National Survey of Student Engagement scale increase significantly when the new items are included and that some differences between on-campus and distance education students narrow significantly. These findings have implications for the development of more robust and comprehensive instruments to measure active learning.
The effects of ePortfolio-based learning model on student self-regulated learning
Authors: Nguyen Lap Trung , Ikeda Mitsuru
Published: July 2015

Self-regulated learners are aware of their knowledge and skills and proactive in learning. They view learning as a controllable process and accept more responsibility for the results of this process. The research described in this article proposes, implements, and evaluates an ePortfolio-based self-regulated learning model. An ePortfolio system was developed based on self-regulated learning theories. This ePortfolio system was used in designing a learning model for fostering self-regulated learning in higher education. Two surveys were conducted with the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire at the beginning and at the end of the courses. The differences in Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire scales between pre-test and post-test, or control group and experimental group were evaluated. The trace data of learning activity were also analyzed to evaluate the effects of the learning model on students’ self-regulated learning. The results show that students implemented self-regulated learning processes, and their intrinsic goal orientation, metacognitive self-regulation, effort regulation, elaboration, rehearsal, and critical thinking improved after applying ePortfolio-based learning model in the courses. In conclusion, the ePortfolio system and the proposed learning model had positive effects on students’ self-regulated learning skills.
Analysis of circadian stimulus allowed by daylighting in hospital rooms
Authors: Acosta I , Leslie RP , Figueiro MG
Published: July 2015

Light is the major synchronizer of circadian rhythms to the 24-hour solar day. Compared to the visual system, the circadian system requires more light to be activated and is more sensitive to short-wavelength light. Without access to daylight, or electric lighting providing a comparable amount, spectrum, distribution, duration, and timing, human health and well-being may be compromised. This may be particularly true for those confined indoors, such as patients in hospitals and residents in care facilities. Architectural and design features, including window size, surface reflectances, and furniture placement, impact circadian stimulus levels. This paper details results of simulations used to determine the percentage of days that patients would receive a minimum level of circadian stimulation as a function of different window-to-façade ratios, surface reflectances, and latitudes.
LED life prediction based on lumen depreciation and colour shift
Authors: Padmasali AN , Kini SG
Published: July 2015

Light emitting diodes, with advantages in energy savings, luminous efficacy and greater reliability, are becoming preferred over conventional white light sources. Currently, only light output depreciation is considered for life estimation of light emitting diode luminaires but it is recommended to include colour shift variations for applications demanding colour stability. In this paper, an extended Kalman filter is employed to determine L70 life and colour temperature degradation over life of a light emitting diode luminaire. The colour shift in terms of Duv is determined by statistical polynomial cure fitting. The variation in chromaticity coordinates over life is determined and life based on colour shift is determined by acceptable Duv limits. The results are compared to life determined by the IES-TM-21 method and the correlated colour temperature limits taken from the luminaire data sheet.
Analysis of Ulcer Recurrences After Metatarsal Head Resection in Patients Who Underwent Surgery to Treat Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis
Authors: Sanz-Corbalán Irene , Lázaro-Martínez José Luis , Aragón-Sánchez Javier , García-Morales Esther , Molines-Barroso Raúl , Alvaro-Afonso Francisco Javier
Published: July 2015

Metatarsal head resection is a common and standardized treatment used as part of the surgical routine for metatarsal head osteomyelitis. The aim of this study was to define the influence of the amount of the metatarsal resection on the development of reulceration or ulcer recurrence in patients who suffered from plantar foot ulcer and underwent metatarsal surgery. We conducted a prospective study in 35 patients who underwent metatarsal head resection surgery to treat diabetic foot osteomyelitis with no prior history of foot surgeries, and these patients were included in a prospective follow-up over the course of at least 6 months in order to record reulceration or ulcer recurrences. Anteroposterior plain X-rays were taken before and after surgery. We also measured the portion of the metatarsal head that was removed and classified the patients according the resection rate of metatarsal (RRM) in first and second quartiles. We found statistical differences between the median RRM in patients who had an ulcer recurrence and patients without recurrences (21.48 ± 3.10% vs 28.12 ± 10.8%; P = .016). Seventeen (56.7%) patients were classified in the first quartile of RRM, which had an association with ulcer recurrence ( P = .032; odds ratio = 1.41; 95% confidence interval = 1.04-1.92). RRM of less than 25% is associated with the development of a recurrence after surgery in the midterm follow-up, and therefore, planning before surgery is undertaken should be considered to avoid postsurgical complications.
HbA1c and Lower Extremity Amputation Risk in Patients With Diabetes
Authors: Zhou Zhen-Yu , Liu Ya-Ke , Chen Hong-Lin , Yang Hui-Lin , Liu Fan
Published: July 2015

In this meta-analysis, we aimed to assess glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level and lower extremity amputation (LEA) risk in patients with diabetes. Systematic computerized searches of the PubMed and Web of Knowledge were performed. We compared HbA1c level between groups with LEA and without LEA by meta-analysis; we also examined the dose–response relationship between HbA1c level and LEA risk. Sixteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. Eleven studies with 43 566 patients compared HbA1c between groups with and without LEA. The mean HbA1c (%) ranged from 8.3 to 12.5 in the group with LEA and from 7.4 to 11.3 in the group without LEA. The pooled weighted mean difference was 1.110 (95% confidence interval = 0.510-1.709; Z = 3.63, P = .008). The funnel plot was symmetrical, and Begg’s test ( z = 0.00, P = 1.000) and Egger’s test ( t = −0.02, P = .984) suggested no significant publication bias. Six studies with 109 933 patients included in the dose–response meta-analysis. The LEA incidence ranged from 0.3% to 14.6% between different HbA1c levels. Dose–response meta-analysis showed statistically significant association between HbA1c and LEA risk (χ2 = 65.51, P = .000). In linear model, the odds ratio for LEA incidence was 1.229 (95% confidence interval = 1.169-1.292) for every 1% HbA1c increase. In the spline model, the odds ratio of LEA risk increased with HbA1c levels, especially when HbA1c ranged from 5% to 9%. Our meta-analysis indicates that high level of HbA1c is an important risk factor for LEA in patients with diabetes. This evidence supports the strategy for lowering glucose levels to reduce amputation in patients with diabetes.
An Institutional Approach to First-Year Adjustment
Authors: Mouraz Ana , Sousa Armando
Published: July 2015

This article intends to debate the institutional modes of first-year adjustment to higher education. Specifically, the aim is to analyze and consider the need to include social and academic integration activities in the curricular programs. The presented contributions are based on the investigations over the case study course that was studied using non-experimental and descriptive approach. The “Projeto FEUP” (Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto) course is analyzed as it addresses the mentioned integration concerns explicitly by providing tutoring by selected older students (relating to social integration) and adequate teamwork challenges (relating to academic integration). The presented case study course is given to about 1,000 students across nine engineering degrees at the Faculty of Engineering of University of Porto, in Portugal. The article includes some details about not infrequent practices such as “hazing” of newcomer students and strategies for circumventing associated disadvantages. The results shown in the article indicate that the students involved tend to see it as a significant academic integration device, regarding mainly academic work and expectations.
The Perils of Participatory Planning
Authors: Busch Andrew M.
Published: July 2015

In the 1970s, urban planners in Austin, Texas, developed Austin Tomorrow, a public planning initiative that sought to undermine the hegemony of the city’s growth coalition in urban planning by using a neighborhood-based model. The aim was to mitigate development to minimize environmental degradation. The initiative failed largely because it did not take the historical racial inequities and spatial discrimination inherent in Austin’s geography into account. Racial minorities were skeptical of Austin Tomorrow and had far different political aims and perceptions of what constituted the environment than Anglo Austinites. While urban planning usually looks to create a better city in the future, I argue that planners must also be very cognizant of the past to effectively include vulnerable populations.
Breaking the Silence
Authors: Dubovi Abigail S. , Li Yue , Martin Jessica L.
Published: July 2015

Men remain largely underrepresented in the eating disorder literature and few studies have investigated risk factors for disordered eating among men. The current study examined associations between Big Five personality traits and eating disorder symptoms in a sample of college men (N = 144). Participants completed the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale and Ten Item Personality Inventory online. Results suggested that openness was positively associated with purging-type behaviors and that emotional stability was positively related to symptoms of anorexia nervosa and global eating pathology. Findings highlight the prevalence of eating disorder symptoms among college men and suggest that these symptoms are associated with a different constellation of personality traits than is typically reported among women. Implications for targeted prevention and intervention programs and future research are discussed.
Impact of Tailored Interventions to Reduce Drug Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Homeless Gay and Bisexual Men
Authors: Nyamathi Adeline , Reback Cathy J. , Shoptaw Steven , Salem Benissa E. , Zhang Sheldon , Yadav Kartik
Published: July 2015

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with homeless gay and bisexual men to assess the impact of two culturally sensitive intervention programs on reduction of drug use and risky sexual behavior. In this study, gay and bisexual men between 18 and 46 years of age were randomly assigned to one of two culturally sensitive behavioral intervention programs: a Nurse Case Management Plus Contingency Management (NCM + CM; n = 204) or a Standard Education Plus Contingency Management (SE + CM; n = 210) program. Regardless of group assignment, significant and clinically relevant reductions were observed in stimulant use over time. Multivariable predictors of stimulant use at 4- and 8-month follow-up evaluations were recent injection drug use, tested positive for HIV, or for use of amphetamine. Data revealed a significant linear decline over time for those who had sex with multiple partners. Furthermore, being HIV positive was associated with reporting multiple partners, while higher homophobia scores and having children were inversely related to reports of having sex with multiple partners at follow-up. Culturally sensitive approaches are needed to successfully reduce drug use and risky sexual activities among gay and bisexual populations.
Penile Dimensions of Diabetic and Nondiabetic Men With Erectile Dysfunction: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Salama Nader
Published: July 2015

This study aimed to report penile dimensions in diabetic and nondiabetic men with erectile dysfunction (ED) and correlate their dimensions with other study variables. A case–control study was designed through retrospective data analysis of diabetic and nondiabetic patients consulting for ED and a control group ( n = 105, each group). Study data retrieved included history, clinical evaluation, and penile dimensions (pendulous length [PL], total length [TL], and circumference [CF]) at flaccid and erect states. Results identified that patients had lower values (mean, cm) for almost all penile dimensions. The diabetic patients identified significant differences in most dimensions, whether in flaccid (PL: 7.46 vs. 7.51 and 7.81, p = .11; TL: 11.8 vs. 12.77 and 12.88, p = .000; CF: 8.84 vs. 9.1 and 9.14, p = .016) or erect state (PL: 9.66 vs. 9.61 and 10, p = .092; TL: 13.96 vs. 14.88 and 15.04, p = .000; CF: 11.56 vs. 12.06 and 11.92, p = .018) as compared with the nondiabetic patients and controls, respectively. No significant correlation was detected between the dimensions and age, durations of diabetes and ED, or erectile function scores. In conclusion, diabetic and nondiabetic patients with ED presented, in varying degrees, significant decline in their penile dimensions, and this was more prevalent in diabetic patients. As changes in penile size could be a silent corollary of comorbidities, monitoring the changes in penile dimensions should be an important component of the clinical checkup of any patient with ED, especially a diabetic patient.
Intensive Therapeutic Lifestyle Change Programs
Authors: Mechley Amy R. , Dysinger Wayne
Published: July 2015

Intensive therapeutic lifestyle change (ITLC) programs have been shown to consistently achieve improved biologic markers for cardiac heart disease risk in short periods of time. We propose a standard definition of ITLC and discuss the specifics that are critical to their success. We include a discussion of our experiences with delivering ITLC programs in large health care systems and use that to illustrate opportunities for ITLC implementation in the future. Finally, we discuss the current drivers of change in the US health care reform movement and comment on their predictable effects on the current health care landscape.
Clinical Effectiveness of Lifestyle Health Coaching
Authors: Gordon Neil F. , Salmon Richard D. , Wright Brenda S. , Faircloth George C. , Reid Kevin S. , Gordon Terri L.
Published: July 2015

We have developed, tested, and successfully implemented an affordable, evidence-based, technology-enabled, data-driven, outcomes-oriented, comprehensive lifestyle health coaching (LHC) program. The LHC program has been used primarily to provide services to employees of larger employers (ie, with at least 3000 employees) but has also been implemented in a variety of other settings, including hospitals, cardiac rehabilitation centers, physician practices, and as part of multicenter clinical trials. The program is delivered mainly using the telephone and Internet. Health coaches are guided by a Web-based participant management and tracking system. Lifestyle management interventions are based on several behavior change models and strategies, especially adult learning theory, social learning theory, the stages of change model, single concept learning theory, and motivational interviewing. The program is administered by nonphysician health professionals whose services are integrated with the care provided by participants’ physicians. Outcomes data from published studies, including randomized clinical trials and independent third-party conducted research, have documented the clinical effectiveness of this evidence-based approach in terms of modification of multiple risk factors in healthy persons as well as those with certain common chronic diseases.
Investigating discourses for administrators’ learning within instructional rounds
Authors: Allen David , Roegman Rachel , Hatch Thomas
Published: July 2015

Instructional rounds is a professional learning practice for supporting school and district leaders’ understanding of the instructional core, the interaction among curricular content, instruction, and student learning, which is a foundation for instructional leadership practices. This article examines instructional rounds visits within a network of school district superintendents in a northeastern state of the USA over five years. It investigates how discussions within visits demonstrate features of discourse that afford opportunities for learning, that is, those that employ specific evidence in interpreting classroom practice. The analysis suggests that such instruction-specific discourse can be initiated by facilitators or participants. However, instruction-specific discourse is relatively rare and easily threatened, thus limiting opportunities for learning. The article offers implications for enhancing opportunities for instruction-specific discourse, thus making instructional rounds more generative of learning.
Failed Surgical Management of Acute Proximal Fifth Metatarsal (Jones) Fractures
Authors: Granata Jaymes D. , Berlet Gregory C. , Philbin Terrence M. , Jones Grant , Kaeding Christopher C. , Peterson Kyle S.
Published: July 2015

Nonunion, delayed union, and refracture after operative treatment of acute proximal fifth metatarsal fractures in athletes is uncommon. This study was a failure analysis of operatively managed acute proximal fifth metatarsal fractures in healthy athletes. We identified 149 patients who underwent operative treatment for fifth metatarsal fractures. Inclusion criteria isolated skeletally mature, athletic patients under the age of 40 with a minimum of 1-year follow-up. Patients were excluded with tuberosity fractures, fractures distal to the proximal metaphyseal-diaphyseal region of the fifth metatarsal, multiple fractures or operative procedures, fractures initially treated conservatively, and medical comorbidities/risk factors for nonunion. Fifty-five patients met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Four (7.3%) patients required a secondary operative procedure due to refracture. The average time to refracture was 8 months. All refractures were associated with bent screws and occurred in male patients who participated in professional basketball, professional volleyball, and college football. The average time for release to progressive weight-bearing was 6 weeks. Three patients were revised to a bigger size screw and went on to union. One patient was revised to the same-sized screw and required a second revision surgery for nonunion. All failures were refractures in competitive athletes who were initially treated with small diameter solid or cannulated stainless steel screws. The failures were not associated with early postoperative weight-bearing protocol. Maximizing initial fixation stiffness may decrease the late failure rate in competitive athletes. More clinical studies are needed to better understand risk factors for failure after screw fixation in the competitive, athletic population.

Level of Evidence: Prognostic, Level IV: Case series