bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inclusion in Early Childhood Services: Ongoing Challenges
Authors: Llewellyn Gwynnyth , Thompson Kirsty , Fante Mathew
Published: June 2019

Inclusion for children with disabilities is well-established in Australia and receives commonwealth and state government funding. The international literature describes potential service models for which there is mounting empirical evidence. Typically these models are developed in university affiliated programs, which have access to funding and personnel not generally available in the Australian context. This paper provides a brief report of a project in which the aim was to identify the challenges for early childhood services in NSW, including children with disabilities.
Participatory approaches to physical activity and dance research with early childhood teachers
Authors: Gibbons Andrew , Nikolai Jennifer
Published: June 2019

This paper engages with multiplicity in methodology through reflections on a dance and risky play research project in a shared problematisation of children’s physical activity. A research-practitioner team explored perspectives on physical activity and risky play through dance. This project aimed to distance itself from the idea of an expert other in both research and professional development – an approach that employs a Foucauldian reading of power/knowledge to make sense of the multiplicity of agendas around dance and physical activity. One early childhood centre teaching team participated in two focus groups (pre and post) and a workshop. The workshop conducted in the centre was designed in response to the first focus group, applying creative dance elements within the Aotearoa New Zealand curriculum concept of people, places and things, indoors and outdoors. We reflect on how the relationships to expert knowledge emerged and aligned with the research aims and design.
Early years teachers’ perspectives on the effects of NAPLAN on stakeholder wellbeing and the impact on early years pedagogy and curriculum
Authors: Roberts Pauline , Barblett Lennie , Robinson Ken
Published: June 2019

National Assessment Program for Numeracy and Literacy (NAPLAN) is the national assessment programme for literacy and numeracy in Australia administered to children in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 each year. The testing process was introduced in 2008 and is described by the developers as low stakes, however, research has highlighted that this is not the case. This paper examines the perceptions of teachers in the early years of school on the impact NAPLAN has on wellbeing of stakeholders, and the pedagogy and curriculum in early years teachers’ classrooms. Through focus group interviews, the early childhood teachers in 10 independent Western Australian school sites were asked about their experiences of NAPLAN in terms of their wellbeing and that of the children and families with whom they interact. Findings highlight that early years teachers describe that the impact of NAPLAN is felt in the lower years of school by all stakeholders-parents, children and teachers. This study highlights the need for additional research in this area, particularly in diverse settings, to gain evidence of impact that could inform the practice of the NAPLAN testing programme.
Developing Social Competence in the Preschool Years
Authors: Knight Bruce Allen , Hughes Desma
Published: June 2019

Children who lack social competence, necessary for initiating and maintaining satisfying relationships, are at risk of peer rejection, academic failure and later social and emotional problems. This paper surveys the literature and discusses the importance of social skills acquisition for all young children. Factors that can influence the formation of social competence such as parental characteristics, parenting style and discipline; siblings; and quality of preschool care or interventions that enhance social skill development, are discussed.
Accreditation and Quality Care for Children with Special Needs
Authors: Sims Margaret
Published: June 2019

Children with special needs are increasingly attending long day care services in Australia. Currently these services are using an accreditation process designed to improve the quality of service delivery to all children and families. Accreditation consists of a set of 52 principles addressing interactions; programming; nutrition, health and safety practices; and centre management and staff development. This paper examines the factors which contribute to quality child care for children with special needs, and relates these factors to principles in the accreditation document. It is argued that while the child care industry has a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate high quality care for children with special needs, the overall impact of the document serves to reinforce existing stereotypes which place children with special needs on the periphery of community and neighbourhood services.
Storytelling and Rural Areas (SARA): Making Links between Home and School
Authors: Mallan Kerry
Published: June 2019

SARA (Storytelling And Rural Areas) was originally conceived as an oracy project for P–3 at Longreach School of Distance Education (LSODE), however, the interest shown by parents and teachers meant that the intended age range was extended to cover P–7. The purpose of Project SARA is to enhance the oral language skills and confidence of children and to explore ways that storytelling can be used to assist in this development. It is also designed to provide another important link between home and school with parents/home tutors, teachers and children actively involved in sharing stories and a range of other forms of spoken communication.
Separation Anxiety: A Study on Commencement at Preschool
Authors: Robbins Jill
Published: June 2019

In this study of the incidence and intensity of separation anxiety on entrance to preschool, differences in variables such as age, sex and prior experience at separation were examined, as well as the relationship between general anxiety and separation anxiety. The subjects were 221 three- and four-year-old children about to commence preschool, while the instruments employed were Doris et al. (1971) Parental Anxiety Rating Scale (PAR), which included a general anxiety subscale and another relating to separation anxiety and their Teacher Separation Anxiety Rating Scale (TSAR).

The majority of the children were rated by their parents as exhibiting relatively low levels of age-appropriate anxiety and fears, and teachers found they made a relatively easy adjustment to preschool. No significant sex differences were found in the general fears of the children, but four-year-olds were rated more fearful than three-year-olds. On the separation anxiety subscale of the PAR prior experience with separation was found to be significant, as well as the combined effects of sex, age and experience. A link between separation anxiety and general anxiety proneness was evident. No significant sex, age or prior experience differences were found on the TSAR scale. The study failed to find a significant correlation between the TSAR and the PAR on either of its subscales.
Exclusion of Sick Children from Child Care Services
Authors: Furber Susan E
Published: June 2019

A survey was conducted to determine the types of problems directors of child care services experience in excluding sick children from their service. A questionnaire was sent to directors of all child care services in the Eastern Sydney Area. The major problems reported by directors were diagnosing the likely cause of illness; knowing whether the symptoms warrant exclusion; and convincing parents to keep their sick child at home. Most directors felt that parents, relatives or friends should take care of sick children. Directors also suggested that awards allowing for family leave to care for sick children, the provision of a room for sick children in the child care service, and special centres for sick children may benefit working parents with sick children. Problems associated with the exclusion of sick children would be ameliorated by the provision of more information as well as a range of alternative care arrangements for working parents with sick children.
Change and Criticism: Thinking Critically in Early Childhood Collaboration
Authors: Woodrow Christine , Fasoli Lyn
Published: June 2019

In early childhood, as in many fields confronted by criticism and change, adopting a critical stance has often been and continues to be difficult, uncomfortable, and poorly practised. Aspects of the current context of early childhood are creating a strong imperative to adopt a more critical perspective on policy and practice. This paper asserts that the strong tradition of collaboration in early childhood provides a foundation on which to build in adopting critical stances to researching our own practice, both informal and informal circumstances. Critical collaborative relationships provide supportive and potentially productive sites for the examination of the structures and assumptions that underpin practices. Adopting a critical stance to our collaborative endeavours has the potential to help the field to resist the temptations, overcome the challenges, and take advantage of the opportunities presented by change.
An Exploration of the Development of Young Children's Understanding of Time Concepts
Authors: Scott Catherine
Published: June 2019

This paper reports research which explored the development of children's understanding of some everyday time terms, particularly those which require understanding of and competence in the use of temporal dimensions. Eighty Australian children aged from three to six years participated in interviews designed to reveal the characteristics of the temporal ‘rulers’ they used to organise past and future experience. As predicted, older children showed more comprehension of the concepts involved, and a trend was found for the temporal ‘rulers’ employed to become more detailed and differentiated with increasing age. It was concluded that general principles found to apply to cognitive domains which may be characterised as ‘dimensionally structured’ also apply to the development of competence in the comprehension and use of time concepts.
Confusion, Heartache and Tears: Some Mother's Experiences of Children Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
Authors: Ziesing-Clark Sian
Published: June 2019

This article reports on some findings of a qualitative research study that interviewed mothers whose children had been diagnosed with ADHD in early childhood. In the study the mothers reflect on their experiences of the disorder as their children move through adolescence. Some current research indicates that ADHD is a disorder characterised by some structural or chemically based neurotransmitter problem in the nervous system. This study found that the mothers experienced feelings of guilt, anxiety, exhaustion, and isolation as they battled alone to meet the demands of all the family, including the child diagnosed with ADHD. The findings of the research concluded that early diagnosis combined with early positive intervention and support are essential to improving the outcomes for these vulnerable children and their families—especially the mothers.
Child Care Reform and Labour Market Participation by Women
Authors: Goward Pru
Published: June 2019

Reforms to the Commonwealth Government's Children's Services Program in the 1996 and 1997 Budgets have attracted considerable comment. Much of this comment has been predicated on the basis of a direct and causal link between changes to child care and changes in the participation of women with young children in the labour force.

Evidence of changes to the labour market participation of women is very limited. Furthermore, the relationship between the labour market participation of women and child care is complicated by a range of other influences which makes drawing simple conclusions difficult.
Counterpoint: Child Care Reform and Labour Market Participation by Women
Authors: Brennan Deborah
Published: June 2019

The public hearings conducted by the Senate Inquiry into Child Care Funding earlier this year provided a window onto the concerns of child care service providers and users. As both a participant and an observer at the Sydney hearings I listened to detailed reports of the crisis facing this sector. The reports came from a range of sources: parents, staff, service providers, local councils, early childhood professionals, sponsoring agencies, and peak bodies. Overwhelmingly they presented a consistent and depressing picture: many middle- and low-income Australian families can no longer afford child care; parents are being compelled to reduce the hours their children attend child care or withdraw them from formal care altogether (at the same time reducing their own commitment to paid work); children are increasingly subjected to a patchwork of arrangements involving family care, informal care, and limited formal provision; and some parents, as a last resort, have withdrawn from paid employment.
Through young Children's Eyes: The Experience of Migration to Australia
Authors: Candy Judith , Butterworth Dawn
Published: June 2019

Research on migrant children has concentrated mostly on their acquisition of English as a second language (ESL), educational assessment, and parental influences on learning in older children. There has been little research, particularly from an early childhood perspective, into the child's own perceptions of the experience of being a migrant child.

This paper reports on a research investigation into young children's migration experiences before, during, and after the journey to Australia. Discussions with migrant children in Years 2 and 3 of primary school established important differences and similarities in experiences between both Humanitarian and Non-Humanitarian migrant categories and English and non-English-speaking background children. Recommendations for teachers are made to meet the established needs of young migrant children and to promote tolerance and understanding of different peoples and cultures.
From Child Care to School: Experience and Perceptions of Children and their Families
Authors: Elliott Alison
Published: June 2019

This paper reports on a study that traced the experiences of Australian working families as their children started school. Each family faced the prospect of moving their child from the intimate environment of a child care centre that operated from early in the morning to early evening to a large primary school with a 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. day.

Children and parents were interviewed on two occasions during the transition period and interview transcripts analysed to provide detailed descriptive, interpretative, and evaluative information on experiences and perceptions of the transition. Findings from the study highlight the processes and systems of the transition and relationships between various processes and systems. At the interpretative level they assist in: (a) understanding the complexity of the transition, (b) heightening awareness of factors to be taken into account when planning for children's transitions, and (c) drawing attention to the social and systemic processes that are likely to affect parents’ management of the transition and influence children's adjustment to school.
The State of Victoria: Preschools and the Reform Agenda
Authors: Fell Kevin John
Published: June 2019

Victorian preschools (kindergartens) have always been administered by a human services department. In August 1997 the Victorian Government announced that primary schools would be allowed to establish and run preschool services as joint ventures with the Department of Human Services. This would not seem to be such a revolutionary development in societies where preschools have long been under the umbrella of education bureaucracies, but in Victoria this decision was the result of an agonising process which reflects the political divisions in the early childhood field and the public sector reform agenda of the Liberal Government. The policy is an administratively ingenious compromise which meets the stated objectives of most stakeholders, particularly Kindergarten Parents Victoria, the peak body representing volunteer parent committees of management, which has resisted incorporation into the Education Department. Many stakeholders who support a complete merger with schools (i.e. most kindergarten teachers, many struggling parent committees of management, the Early Years Foundation, the Primary Principals’ Association, and key politicians from both parties) wish it had gone further. The government is well-satisfied with this arrangement, since it allows it to provide an integrated early childhood educational service in schools, using the much cheaper Human Services salary and cost structures to fund it. This paper outlines the new policy and the impact of public sector reform on key stakeholders’ attitudes to it.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Using a concept of rights as a basis for practice
Authors: Nyland Berenice
Published: June 2019

This article looks at the status of the Convention of the Rights of the Child in Australia and the possibilities that exist for the child care professional to meet responsibilities under this agreement. Australia signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990. Since ratifying this international treaty there has been a growing interest in the concept of rights and the idea that children are possessors of rights from birth. Early childhood advocates have a special responsibility to incorporate ideals of the citizen child into their teaching and service provision. Within this framework of the Rights of the Child the infant's rights and development in a group setting are discussed. There is a need to examine programs and relate them to our societal views of children. If social views of children are unsatisfactory we must formulate a democratic vision of the child within an Australian context to make effective changes to our programs.
A Vision for Quality in Early Childhood Education
Authors: Grey Anne E.
Published: June 2019

This article discusses the different perceptions of quality in early childhood education. It argues that quality should be perceived as a process which is specific to the context of each service, and is, therefore, best defined by the values and beliefs of the stakeholders. This article suggests that forming a vision by the participants involved in early childhood centres can be the starting point of a quality process, and can forge a commitment to working towards excellence, as well as be a tool for evaluation. Methods for developing a vision are outlined, and the benefits to management, staff, and families in supporting this process are discussed.
Politics, the Provision of Physical Amenities, and the ‘Push-Down’ Curriculum
Authors: Corrie Loraine
Published: June 2019

Early childhood practitioners may like to think that politics has nothing to do with their work, but the analysis of the effects of educational reform shows that politics and education are linked inextricably. This paper discusses recent education reform in Western Australia and links it to the provision of physical amenities in early childhood settings and the prevalent push-down’ curriculum that makes early childhood programs look like traditional primary school classrooms. Practitioners are asked to consider whose interests they are furthering when their programs embody primary school pedagogy: it is unlikely that the answer will include the young children they serve.
Positive Transitions
Authors: Sims Margaret , Hutchins Teresa
Published: June 2019

For young children, the transition from the home environment to the care environment (child care centre, kindergarten, school) is a crucial component of their relationship building with caregivers. Young children who develop secure relationships with caregivers will feel more confident in the care environment, and will be more able to learn from that environment. Transitions set the scene for relationship building with caregivers. Well-managed transitions facilitate children's trust in caregivers and make the development of secure attachments more likely. Focusing on creating positive transitions is a crucial component of quality early childhood practice. This paper discusses ways in which caregivers can plan for positive transitions.
A holistic approach to flipped classroom: A conceptual framework using e-platform
Authors: Liu Connie KW
Published: June 2019

The extensive adoption of Internet technology led to a second wave of change in many different industries: education being one of them. As we witnessed the explosion of free online e-learning platforms and videos, physical educational institutions also felt the pressure to enhance their classroom learning experience in order to stay competitive. Coupled with the popularity of mobile devices, physical educational institutions could also utilize a combination of technologies to enhance teaching and learning, increasing their competitive edge. Flipped classroom is the teaching pedagogy which is gaining growing popularity among educational institutions. Fundamentally, it is a way of teaching such that individual learning could be conducted online outside of class, while group interactive learning would be conducted during class time. Since this is a relatively new concept using mobile and Internet technology, literature is limited and there is yet a systematic approach to conduct flipped classroom-related research. Nevertheless, it is gaining much attention in the West. However, teaching style in Asia is different and its feasibility and performance outcome warrant much of our attention. Relatively little research has been conducted on its feasibility in Asian culture, acceptance, as well as the relationship between the pedagogy and learning outcome. Through building the proposed flipped classroom platform in this study, it could facilitate research on flipped classroom in different types of knowledge transfer. Thus, its feasibility and impact on performance outcome could be thoroughly studied across different fields and levels of education in a host of countries.
Within- and Between-Body-Site Agreement of Skin Autofluorescence Measurements in People With and Without Diabetes-Related Foot Disease
Authors: Fernando Malindu E. , Crowther Robert G. , Lazzarini Peter A. , Sangla Kunwarjit S. , Wearing Scott , Buttner Petra , Golledge Jonathan
Published: June 2019

Background:

Skin autofluorescence has been used to assess longer term glycemic control and risk of complications. There is however no agreed site at which autofluorescence should be measured. This study evaluated the within- and between-site agreement in measurement of skin autofluorescence using a noninvasive advanced glycation end product (AGE) reader.

Methods:

Overall, 132 participants were included: 16 with diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFU), 63 with diabetes but without foot ulcers (DMC), 53 without diabetes or foot ulcers (HC). Skin autofluorescence was measured using the AGE Reader (DiagnOptics technologies BV, the Netherlands). Three consecutive skin autofluorescence measurements were each performed at six different body sites: the volar surfaces of both forearms (arms), dorsal surfaces of both calves (legs), and plantar surfaces of both feet (feet). Within- and between-site agreements were analyzed with concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), absolute mean differences (±standard deviation), and Bland-Altman limits of agreement.

Results:

The agreement between repeat assessments at the same site was almost perfect (CCC [95% CI] ranging from 0.94 [0.91-0.96] for assessments in the right foot to 0.99 [0.99-0.99] for assessments in the left arm). The limits of agreement were narrow within ±0.5 arbitrary units for all sites. The between-site agreement in measurements was poor (CCC < 0.65) with large maximum absolute mean differences (±SD) in arbitrary units (DFU = 3.40 [±2.04]; DMC = 3.15 [±2.45]; HC = 2.72 [±1.83]) and wide limits of agreement.

Conclusions:

Skin autofluorescence measurements can be repeated at the same site with adequate repeatability but measurements at different sites in the same patient have marked differences. The reason for this variation across sites and whether this has any role in diabetes-related complications needs further investigation.
Cytotoxicity of New Diterpene Alkaloids, Ceylonamides G-I, Isolated From Indonesian Marine Sponge of Spongia sp.
Authors: Jomori Takahiro , Setiawan Andi , Sasaoka Miho , Arai Masayoshi
Published: June 2019

In the course of the search for cancer cell growth inhibitors, 3 new diterpene alkaloids, designated ceylonamides G-I (1-3), together with ceylonamide F (4) were isolated from an Indonesian marine sponge of Spongia sp. The chemical structures of compounds 1-3 were determined using spectroscopic analysis and compared with those of compound 4. Among the isolated compounds, 1 and 4 inhibited the growth of human prostate cancer DU145 cells in a two-dimensional monolayer culture, with an IC50 of 6.9 and 18.8 µM, respectively. Furthermore, these compounds are also effective on spheroid of three-dimensional cell culture model, which was prepared from DU145 cells. Based on the morphological changes in the spheroids, the minimum effective concentrations of compounds 1 and 4 were 10 and 25 µM, respectively.
Technical Characteristics in the Diffusion of Cleaner Residential Heating System in China: The Case of Air-Source Heat Pump Technology
Authors: Su Dejin , Zhou Wenli , Du Qixia , Huang Yongchun
Published: June 2019

This study aims to explore the technical characteristics that affect user satisfaction with air-source heat pump technology which is recognized as one typical cleaner residential heating system and being promoted in China in response to the national “coal to electricity” policy. Moderated hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted to analyze data from a questionnaire survey of 256 residents in suburban Beijing. Empirical results indicated that product convenience, product design, product reliability, product knowledge, and total cost, respectively, affect user satisfaction, but product safety has no significant effect on user satisfaction. Meanwhile, total cost is an important contingent factor that might weaken the positive effects of product convenience (or product design) on user satisfaction. Our research provides empirical evidence for identifying factors that influence user satisfaction with cleaner residential heating system in response to new energy policy and further provides useful managerial implications for market practice.
Bipolar Cartilage Lesions of the Knee: A Systematic Review of Techniques, Outcomes, and Complications
Authors: Melugin Heath P. , Bernard Christopher D. , Camp Christopher L. , Saris Daniel B.F. , Krych Aaron J.
Published: June 2019

Objective

The purpose of this systematic review was to determine (1) treatment options for bipolar cartilage lesions of the knee, (2) patient-reported outcomes following various surgical treatments, and (3) complication and failure rates following surgery.

Design

A literature search of PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and CINHAL was performed using PRISMA guidelines. Patients were included if they had bipolar cartilage lesions of the knee treated surgically. Lesion characteristics, surgical technique, patient-reported outcomes, complication rates, failure rates, and survivorship were recorded.

Results

Fourteen studies yielded 301 knees treated surgically. Patient age ranged from 15 to 74 years. Surgical techniques included 138 autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), 156 osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA), and 7 osteochondral autograft transfer system (OATS). Seven studies reported a concomitant procedure rate that ranged from 0% to 88%. Eight studies reported that both reciprocal lesions received surgical treatment, while 6 studies did not specify. Lesion size ranged from 1 to 41 cm2. All reported postoperative improvements in patient-reported outcomes, but the measures were very heterogeneous. There were no major complications and the rate of minor complications ranged from 0% to 50%. Survivorship ranged from 40% to 100% for OCA, 76% to 95% for ACI, and 100% for the 1 study evaluating OATS.

Conclusions

Bipolar cartilage lesions of the knee typically involve a large surface area and are most commonly treated with ACI or OCA, while OATS may be an option for smaller lesions. Improvements in mid-term patient-reported outcomes were reported for all surgical procedures and they can be performed safely with a low rate of major complications.
AI cheerleaders: Public relations, neoliberalism and artificial intelligence
Authors: Bourne Clea
Published: June 2019

Public relations’ (PR) professional habitus is defined by a relentless focus on optimism and futurity. This professional habitus renders PR indispensable to the corporate world after crisis, when new, potentially controversial, growth strategies must be sold-in to stakeholders. This article argues that PR’s professional habitus is heavily influenced by neoliberalism, an ideology which ‘confidently identifies itself with the future’. The discussion is timely, as 21st-century neoliberal capitalism becomes redefined by artificial intelligence (AI). The article combines PR theory, communications theory and political economy to consider the changing shape of neoliberal capitalism, as AI becomes naturalised as ‘common sense’ and a ‘public good’. The article explores how PR supports AI discourses, including promoting AI in national competitiveness and promoting ‘friendly’ AI to consumers, while promoting Internet inequalities. The article concludes that the PR profession’s myopia regarding the implications of promoting AI and neoliberalism is shaped by poor levels of diversity in the PR profession.
Safety and efficacy of intraoperative administration of intravenous tranexamic acid in transurethral resection of prostate: A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Karkhanei Behrooz , Musavi-Bahar Seyyed Habibollah , Bayat Masume , Kaseb Kaveh , Rezaee Haress , Moradi Abbas , Moradi Mahmoudreza
Published: June 2019

Purpose:

The purpose of this article is to evaluate and compare the effect of intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) with placebo on haemorrhage and quality of vision during and post-transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

Methods:

For nine months (September 2016 until June 2017), a randomised clinical trial was conducted with 70 patients, age 50–80 years, who were included in the study according to inclusion criteria (patients who required surgical intervention because of benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate weight (<100 cc), American Society of Anesthesiologists score ⩽II, etc.) and enrolled randomly one to one in two study groups, and who underwent TURP in Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences by a single surgeon.

Interventions:

The study group participants received 500 mg TXA in 500 ml ringer serum (concentration of 1 mg/ml, infusion rate 100 mg/min, maximum dose of 15 mg/kg), whereas the control group received only ringer serum during surgery. The results were then compared for the variables operation time, amount of haematocrit (HCT)-haemoglobin (Hb) reduction following surgery and surgeon satisfaction.

Results:

Both groups had no difference in age, weight and prostate weight. Surgeon satisfaction was evaluated at the end of the operation. The frequency of high satisfaction in case and control groups was 74.3% and 8.65%, whereas low satisfaction was 0% and 42.69%, respectively ( p < 0.05). The mean time of operation was 53.57±16.43 vs 120.71±47.76 minutes in the case and control group, respectively ( p < 0.05). The mean HCT-Hb decrease ( p = 0.00) and the amount of infused volume before and after the operation ( p = 0.03) between both groups were significantly different. None of the patients experienced TXA side effects.

Conclusions:

Intravenous TXA can prevent haemorrhage and higher Hb and HCT reduction following TURP, shortening the operation time and improving surgeon vision during TURP.

Level of evidence:

1b
2-Hydroxyglutaric aciduria as a cause for seizure-like episodes in a domestic shorthair cat
Authors: Nye George J , Major Alison C , Liebel Francois X
Published: June 2019

Case summary

A 14-month-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat, which 2 months prior to presentation underwent hindlimb amputation following a road traffic accident, presented for investigation of four suspected generalised tonic–clonic seizures. Neurological examination was unremarkable. Routine blood work (haematology, biochemistry, ammonia, preprandial bile acids) was unremarkable. MRI of the brain identified marked symmetrical T2-weighted hyperintensities of the cerebellum and brainstem, mainly affecting the grey matter. Urine amino acid and mucopolysaccharide levels were unremarkable. Urine organic acids on two separate samples, 35 days apart, identified highly increased excretion of 2-hydroxyglutaric acid, indicative of 2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria. The cat was started on anticonvulsant therapy with phenobarbitone, which, at the point of writing, has improved seizure control, although the cat has not achieved seizure freedom.

Relevance and novel information

This case report describes the first reported case of a 2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria, an inherited neurometabolic disorder, as a cause for seizure-like episodes in a cat.
Suspected symmetrical peripheral gangrene in a cat
Authors: Casey Kelsey , Dickinson Amy
Published: June 2019

Case summary

An 8-year-old female spayed domestic shorthair cat was presented for evaluation of non-specific lethargy and pain. It was diagnosed with septic shock secondary to wounds on the dorsum and required treatment with multiple vasopressors for circulatory support. During the course of hospitalization, it was weaned from vasopressors but subsequently developed symmetric skin necrosis and sloughing of the paws on the right thoracic and right pelvic limbs leading to a presumptive diagnosis of suspected symmetrical peripheral gangrene (SPG).

Relevance and novel information

This report documents the first case of suspected SPG in a cat that received multiple vasopressors for treatment of septic shock. Early recognition, cessation of vasopressor therapy and surgical management are necessary for treatment of this condition.
#VegasStrong: Sport, Public Memorialization, and the Golden Knights
Authors: Burroughs Benjamin , Rugg Adam , Becker David , Edgmon Madeline
Published: June 2019

This article examines the response to the 1 October, 2017, mass shooting in Las Vegas by both the city and its National Hockey League team, the Golden Knights. In analyzing these responses, we argue that the Golden Knights’ memorialization efforts, while operating within a familiar public relations script of the sporting commercialization of memorial, productively turned T-Mobile Arena into a space, however sanitized, for the enactment of rituals and a discourse of renewal. This space was otherwise absent from the rest of the tourist-oriented confines of the Strip. Further, the rhetorical conjoining of the hashtags #VegasStrong, which emerged shortly after the shooting, and #VegasBorn, which was originally used to market the team, operated as simultaneous symbols for both the team and its community. This allowed the sporting franchise to move between commercial and civic uses, operating as both branding for the team and as an embodied act of remembrance for local residents.
BMP-2 and type I collagen preservation in human deciduous teeth after demineralization
Authors: Bono Nina , Tarsini Paolo , Candiani Gabriele
Published: June 2019

Background:

Great interest has recently been focused on tooth and tooth derivatives as suitable substrates for the treatment of alveolar bone defects. Here, we propose the use of demineralized baby teeth (BT) as potential grafting materials for bone augmentation procedures.

Methods:

Particles of human BT (Ø < 1 mm) were demineralized by means of a chemical/thermal treatment. Demineralized BT particles were thoroughly characterized by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray analyses to evaluate the effects of the demineralization on BT topography and mineral phase composition, and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to quantify collagen and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) protein contents. The response of SAOS-2 cells to exogenous BMP-2 stimulation was evaluated to identify the minimum BMP-2 concentration able to induce osteodifferentiation in vitro (alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity).

Results:

The demineralization treatment led to a dramatic decrease in relative Ca and P content (%) of ≈75% with respect to the native BT particles, while preserving native protein conformation and activity. Interestingly, the demineralization process led to a rise in the bioavailability of BMP-2 in BT particles, as compared to the untreated counterparts. The BMP-2 content found in demineralized BT was also proved to be very effective in enhancing ALP activity, thus in the osteodifferentiation of SAOS-2 cells in vitro, as confirmed by cell experiments performed upon exogenously added BMP-2.

Conclusions:

In this study we demonstrate that the BMP-2 content found in demineralized BT is very effective in inducing cell osteodifferentiation, and strengthens the idea that BTs are very attractive bioactive materials for bone-grafting procedures.
Comparing the effects of Triptorelin and Calendula officinalis on size and pathology of induced endometriosis in rats
Authors: Poordast Tahere , Najib Fatemeh Sadat , Tanide Nader , Kanani Afsoon , Mokhtari Maral , Chaman-Ara Kefayat
Published: June 2019

Background:

Endometriosis is defined as the growth of endometrial glands and stoma extra-uterine sites. It is an estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease estimated to affect 10% of women of reproductive age. This study aimed at comparing the effects of Triptorelin and Calendula officinalis on the induced endometriosis in female rats.

Materials and Methods:

In this experimental study in an animal model, 52 rats with induced endometriosis were divided into four groups. The control group was treated with 0.5 mL/kg normal saline orally, the second group with single intramuscular injection of Triptorelin S.R.11.25 (3 mg/kg), the third group with Calendula 1000 mg/kg, and the fourth group with Calendula 2000 mg/kg for 6 weeks. The mean area and volume of endometriosis and pathological scores of endometriotic implants were compared between groups.

Results:

After 6 weeks of treatment, Triptorelin was able to reduce the mean area and volume of endometriotic implants (p < 0.05), but Calendula did not have a significant effect compared to the control group. Mean rank of pathologic score in Triptorelin group had a significant difference with the control group and Calendula 1000 mg/kg (adjusted α < 0.001, adjusted α = 0.004). There was no significant difference in score between the control group and Calendula 1000 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg.

Conclusion:

Based on our findings in the used doses, Calendula was not effective for the treatment of experimental endometriosis in rats.
Lower Back Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Players: A 5-Season Epidemiological Study
Authors: Makovicka Justin L. , Patel Karan A. , Deckey David G. , Hassebrock Jeffrey D. , Chung Andrew S. , Tummala Sailesh V. , Hydrick Thomas C. , Gulbrandsen Matthew , Hartigan David E. , Chhabra Anikar
Published: June 2019

Background:

Low back injuries are common in collegiate football players and can frequently lead to persistent pain, reinjuries, and time lost from participation.

Purpose:

To describe the epidemiology of back injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football players during the 2009/2010 through 2013/2014 academic years utilizing the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program (ISP) database.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

A convenience sample of NCAA varsity football teams was utilized to determine the rates and patterns of back injuries as well as to generate national injury estimates. The rates and distribution of back injuries were identified within the context of mechanism of injury, injury chronicity, and time lost from sport. Injury rates were calculated as the number of injuries divided by the total number of athlete-exposures (AEs). Incidence rate ratios were calculated to compare the rates of injury between season, event type, mechanism of injury, injury chronicity, and time lost from sport.

Results:

Nationally, there were 267 low back injuries reported in the database. These were used to estimate 7076 back injuries over the 5-year period, approximately 82% of which were new injuries. The injuries occurred at a rate of 2.70 per 10,000 AEs. Overall, injuries were 3.12 times more likely to occur in competitions than in practices. Athletes were 4.67 times more likely to sustain a back injury during the preseason compared with the postseason but were 1.41 times more likely to sustain a low back injury during the preseason compared with the regular season. Both contact and noncontact were reported equally as the mechanism of injury (37.8% and 38.3%, respectively), and unspecified low back pain was the most common injury (64.2%). Only 1.6% of patients required surgery for their injury, and the majority of athletes (59.6%) returned to play within 24 hours.

Conclusion:

There was a relatively high rate of lumbar back injuries at the collegiate level (2.70/10,000 AEs), the majority of which were new injuries. About 18% of reported injuries were reinjuries. Although very few required surgery, a careful examination and work-up should be conducted to evaluate each injury. Regimented physical therapy and reconditioning programs are recommended to avert reinjuries.
Hip Arthroscopy: A Social Media Analysis of Patient Perception
Authors: Haeberle Heather S. , Bartschat Nicholas I. , Navarro Sergio M. , Rooney Patrick W. , Rosneck James , Westermann Robert W. , Ramkumar Prem N.
Published: June 2019

Background:

The rate of hip arthroscopy has increased significantly in recent years, although understanding of patient perception remains limited.

Purpose:

To analyze posts shared on Instagram and Twitter referencing hip arthroscopy to evaluate perspective, tone, timing, content, visibility, and location.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A search of public posts on Instagram and Twitter was performed over a 1-year period, selected through use of the following hashtags: #hiparthroscopy, #hipscope, and #labralrepair. A total of 1850 Instagram posts and 163 Twitter posts were included in the analysis. A categorical classification system was used for media format (picture or video), perspective (patient, family or friend, physician, hospital or physical therapy group, professional organization, news media, or industry), timing (preoperative, postoperative, nonoperative), perioperative period (within 1 week before or after surgery), tone (positive, negative, or neutral), and content (surgical site, hospital or surgeon, imaging, rehabilitation, activities of daily living (ADLs), return to work, surgical instruments, or education). Post popularity (number of likes) and geographic location were also recorded.

Results:

Of the 1850 Instagram posts analyzed, 91.2% were made by patients, and 52.9% were positive. The most common content included in Instagram posts was rehabilitation, ADLs, and hospital or surgeon. A total of 163 Twitter posts were analyzed, with 59.0% of posts made by physicians. A majority of posts had a positive tone, and the most frequently referenced themes included education, hospital or surgeon, and rehabilitation. Overall, posts originated from 24 different countries.

Conclusion:

The majority of patients who undergo hip arthroscopy have a positive tone when discussing their procedure. Posts commonly focused on rehabilitation, ADLs, hospital or surgeon, and education. This analysis provides insight into patient perspectives toward hip arthroscopy.
Remaking Metropolitan America? Residential Mobility and Racial Integration in the Suburbs
Authors: Parisi Domenico , Lichter Daniel T. , Taquino Michael C.
Published: June 2019

This article provides estimates of white residential mobility within and between specific suburban places differentiated by ethnoracial diversity. The authors draw on intrametropolitan mobility data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, linked to social and economic data measured at the metropolitan, place, and block levels. First, analyses show that the exodus of whites is significantly lower in predominantly white suburbs than in places with racially diverse populations. Most suburban whites have mostly white neighbors, a pattern reinforced by white residential mobility. Second, suburban whites who move tend to choose predominantly white communities with mostly white neighbors. Third, patterns of white intrametropolitan suburban mobility and minority avoidance are highly segmented. Affluent whites are seemingly better positioned to leave diversifying places for mostly white communities with white neighbors. White residential mobility, from more diverse to less diverse suburban places, builds on most previous studies emphasizing neighborhood-to-neighborhood mobility in metropolitan areas.
Building Leadership Storytelling Skills: A Collaboration Between Management and Theater Students
Authors: Clark Ryan M. , Kayes Anna B.
Published: June 2019

Storytelling is an important skill in management education for leaders. However, even though students learn about storytelling, they do not often practice it. When students do practice storytelling, they frequently prepare speeches that they deliver in front of a class. Interacting with theater students can help management students convey a message in conversational format, which is more representative of the skill in practice. We present an experiential exercise involving collaboration between management and theater students that simulates a career networking event; the format of interactive drama offers a structured process for student engagement and leadership storytelling skill development.