bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low-velocity impact response of sandwich conical shell with agglomerated single-walled carbon nanotubes-reinforced face sheets considering structural damping
Authors: Azizi A , Khalili SMR , Malekzadeh Fard K
Published: December 2017

In the present article, dynamic response of a thick sandwich truncated conical shells with a transversely flexible/inflexible core and nanocomposite face sheets subjected to low-velocity impact was studied. The face sheets are reinforced with single-walled carbon nanotubes where the agglomeration effects are considered based on Mori–Tanaka model. A new equivalent three-degree-of-freedom spring-mass-damper model is utilized to describe the contact force between impactor and sandwich truncated conical shells. Based on an improved higher order sandwich panel theory, the equations of motion are derived by Hamilton’s principal incorporating the curvature, in-plane stress of the core and the structural damping effects. Differential quadrature method is applied for obtaining the contact force and displacement histories. After validity of the present study, the effects of the single-walled carbon nanotubes volume fraction, single-walled carbon nanotubes agglomeration, number of the layers of the face sheets, boundary conditions, semi-vertex angle of the cone, impact velocity, and mass of impactor on the low-velocity impact response of the nanocomposite structure are studied in details. Numerical results show that increasing the volume fraction of single-walled carbon nanotubes can reduce the amplitude of the dynamic response of the nanocomposite structure.
Investigation of behaviors of glass/epoxy laminate composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes under quasi-static punch shear loading
Authors: Sadeghi Mohammad , Pol Mohammad Hossein
Published: December 2017

In this paper, in addition to investigation of the effects of adding of nanotubes on the tensile properties of epoxy matrix and glass/epoxy laminate composite, the effects of adding of nanotubes and the effect of indenter shape on quasi-static punch shear properties of glass/epoxy laminate are experimentally studied. Laminate nanocomposites have 12 layers of plain weave glass fibers which are made by hand lay-up method. Resin is composed of a two-component epoxy; Epon 828 as the base and Epikure F-205 as the curing agent. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified by hydroxid (–COOH) are used with 0%, 0.5% and 1% ratio in weight with respect to the matrix. In quasi-static punch shear tests, three indenters (flat, conical and ogival) are utilized. Tensile test results for nanomatrix show that the most changes are obtained on 0.5 wt.% specimen, in which the ultimate strength and strain energy are increased 22% and 17% respect to the neat sample, respectively. No distinct change was observed in tensile behavior of the hybrid composite samples by the addition of carbon nanotubes. Punch shear test results show that addition of carbon nanotubes reduces the contact force and the absorbed energy in ogival and conical indenters. In presence of nanotube particles, the maximum decreasing in the contact force and the absorbed energy happens in conical nose indenter with 23% and 26% decrease, respectively. Comparison of different indenters shows that in the neat samples, the maximum and minimum contact force belongs to the flat nose indenter (2.45 kN) and the ogival nose indenter (0.75 kN), respectively, while the maximum and minimum absorbed energy belongs to the conical nose indenter (13.5 J) and the flat nose indenter (10 J), respectively. Moreover, change of indenter geometry changes the failure mechanism, so that the failure of flat indenter is plugging and failure of sharp indenter is petaling.
Investigation of progressive failure in the composite sandwich panels with elastomeric foam core under concentrated loading
Authors: Nazari AR , Kabir MZ , Hosseini-Toudeshky H , Alizadeh Vaghasloo Y , Najafian S
Published: December 2017

Failure and damage of crushable materials employed as core for the sandwich structures reduces serviceability and energy absorption capacity of the components especially under bending load so that many beneficial properties seem to be achieved by application of noncrushable lightweight materials instead of crushable foams as core for the sandwich structures. In this paper, an elastomeric foam is employed as core for two aspect ratios of the composite sandwich panels and the enhancement of the load-carrying capacity in the elastomeric foam-cored sandwich panels is investigated in comparison to which is measured about the individual composite panels applied as skins. Both experimental and finite element simulation programs are included in the research. The load-carrying performance of the elastomeric foam-cored sandwich panels is considered dependent on two main features of the constituent materials as hyperelastic behavior of the foam core and progressive damage of the composite skins which are simulated in the finite element models in order to describe the failure mechanism in the panels. Collapse of the elastomeric foam-cored sandwich panels is considered due to connection of some failure lines in the composite skins; however, the foam core remains undamaged. The elastomeric foam core can transfer the load from the top composite skin to the bottom one so that a great energy absorption capacity is provided for these panels. The elastomeric foam after failure of the composite skins can mobilize the residual strength of the laminates to endure against large deformations prior to final collapse. By application of the composite laminates in sandwich form with elastomeric foam core, the maximum load carrying and energy absorption capacity of the composite laminates increased about 60 and 110%, respectively. The results show more favorite failure behavior for the elastomeric foam-cored sandwich panels in comparison to which is expected usually for the crushable foam-cored sandwich panels which may be concerned in many industrial applications.
An analytical model for the response of carbon/epoxy-aluminum honeycomb core sandwich structures under quasi-static indentation loading
Authors: Singh Abhendra K , Davidson Barry D , Zehnder Alan T , Hasseldine Benjamin PJ
Published: December 2017

An analytical model is developed to predict the loading and unloading response, as well as the residual dent diameter and dent depth, of carbon/epoxy-aluminum honeycomb core composite sandwich structures undergoing quasi-static indentation loading. The model considers damage created using spherical indenters and is valid up to the barely visible external damage threshold. The initial low load regime (until the onset of core crushing) is modeled using a combination of local Hertzian indentation of an elastic half-space and small deflection plate theory of a circular plate on an elastic foundation. For loads above those required to cause core crushing, the model uses the Rayleigh-Ritz method of energy minimization with the total system energy determined using a combination of face sheet bending energy, face sheet membrane energy and work done to the core during both elastic deformation and crushing. Degraded face sheet properties are used in the model beyond the onset of face sheet delamination, which is predicted using Griffith’s energy criterion. The model is validated using experimental results for sandwich structures consisting of quasi-isotropic 8- (thin) and 16- (thick) ply carbon/epoxy face sheets and aluminum honeycomb cores. The results show that the overall mechanics of the model are fundamentally correct and reflective of physical behavior. Thus, in its present form the model shows promise as a preliminary design tool.
Nonlinear high-order dynamic stability of AL-foam flexible cored sandwich beam with variable mechanical properties and carbon nanotubes-reinforced composite face sheets in thermal environment
Authors: Shahedi Saeid , Mohammadimehr Mehdi
Published: December 2017

In this paper, the nonlinear dynamic stability analysis of sandwich beam including AL-foam flexible core and carbon nanotubes-reinforced composite face sheets subjected to axial periodic load are investigated by using generalized differential quadrature method. The flexible core of sandwich beam is made of Aluminum alloy foam with variable mechanical properties in the thickness direction. With considering the high-order geometrical nonlinearity in the core and face sheets, the high-order sandwich panel theory and modified couple stress theory are employed for AL-foam flexible core and face sheets, respectively. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations of dynamic stability are derived from the Hamilton’s principle and then discretized by using generalized differential quadrature method to convert them into a linear system of Mathieu–Hill equations. These formulations lead to nine partial differential equations which are coupled in axial and transverse deformations. The boundaries of the instability region are achieved by Bolotin’s method and are illustrated in the dimensionless nonlinear excitation frequency (Ω NL) and excitation frequency ratio (Ω NL/Ω L) to load amplitude plane. A parametric study is carried out to investigate the influence of some important parameters such as slenderness ratio, face sheet thickness, temperature rise, carbon nanotube volume fraction, static load factor, coefficients of Pasternak foundation, and end supports on the nonlinear dynamic instability characteristics of AL-foam core sandwich beam. The numerical results show that with temperature increasing, the nonlinear excitation frequency (Ω NL) and width of corresponding unstable zone decrease, but dynamic frequency ratio (Ω NL/Ω L) and associated unstable region increase. With an increase in the application of sandwich structures for compressible core in advanced industries such as spacecraft, high-speed aircraft, naval vessels, transportation, and automobiles, a further interest in the problem-involving dynamic instability of structures has resulted. Because of their applications, sandwich structures are frequently exposed to periodic axial compressive forces and so the dynamic instability has been a very important topic in structural dynamics and is of practical importance in different engineering industries.
Vibration of size-dependent functionally graded sandwich microbeams with different boundary conditions based on the modified couple stress theory
Authors: Wattanasakulpong Nuttawit , Chaikittiratana Arisara , Pornpeerakeat Sacharuck
Published: December 2017

This paper investigates flexural vibration of functionally graded sandwich microbeams supported by different axially immovable boundary conditions. The governing equations of free vibration problem are based on Timoshenko beam theory and the modified couple stress theory which are taking into account the important effects of shear deformation, rotary inertia and material length scale parameter. To solve the governing equations presented in the forms of coupled differential equations for vibration analysis of the beams with various boundary conditions, an effective tool, namely Chebyshev collocation method, is employed to find out accurate solutions with many important parametric studies. The effects of material volume fraction index, layer thickness ratio, slenderness ratio, boundary condition, temperature rise, etc. on natural frequencies of the beams are taken into account and discussed in details. The numerical results of the beams in ambient temperature and high thermal environment are presented in several tables and figures that can serve as benchmarks for further investigations in the field of FG sandwich microbeam analysis.
What Is Known About the Psychodermatology Clinic Model of Care? A Systematic Scoping Review
Authors: Zhou Stephanie , Mukovozov Ilya , Chan An-Wen
Published: December 2017

Background:

Psychodermatology focuses on the interaction between skin and mental health. Existing research discusses the recognition and treatment of these disorders. However, little is known about the operational structure of subspecialised psychodermatology clinics.

Objective:

To identify literature on the structure and logistics of delivering a psychodermatology service.

Methods:

A systematic search of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, and Google Scholar was performed. Articles were included if they discussed the concept and organisation of a psychodermatology practice.

Results:

We identified 693 studies; after screening titles and abstracts, 35 full-text articles were assessed, and 17 were included in the scoping review. Most articles discussed aspects of clinic organisation in general; others discussed management of a clinic in the context of specific diseases or made recommendations on incorporating psychotherapeutic techniques in a solo practitioner setting. A weekly multidisciplinary clinic or resident teaching clinic with joint dermatologist-psychiatrist consultation is the most commonly reported model. Specifically, a stepped level of care approach is often used, where patients in increasing level of distress are stratified to the appropriate team of trained professionals. A corresponding curriculum to supplement practitioners’ knowledge is recommended.

Conclusions:

Various clinic models have been described to provide specialised psychodermatology care in specific settings. Research is needed to assess the impact of these multidisciplinary models of care on patient outcomes and health care costs.
Gendering security: The substantive representation of women in the Israeli parliament
Authors: Itzkovitch-Malka Reut , Friedberg Chen
Published: December 2017

The study focuses on the links between gender and national security in the legislative arena in Israel, considering whether men and women legislators prioritize security differently, alongside other thematic policy areas. The centrality of national security issues in Israeli politics makes it a good case study for these questions, as it enhances existing gendered stereotypes. The article examines two competing hypotheses. The first suggests that Israeli female legislators will mostly refrain from addressing national security policy issues, focusing instead on softer policy issues, such as gender equality, education, health, and welfare. The second suggests the opposite, claiming that women legislators in Israel will align themselves with their male counterparts’ set of priorities, focusing heavily on issues related to national security. The study finds support mostly for the former: Israeli female legislators are especially active in policy areas relating to women’s issues and children/family and are less active in regard to national security, a policy area heavily dominated by male legislators.
Genuine effects of vote advice applications on party choice: Filtering out factors that affect both the advice obtained and the vote
Authors: Kleinnijenhuis Jan , van de Pol Jasper , van Hoof Anita MJ , Krouwel André PM
Published: December 2017

Previous research shows effects of the advice from voting advice applications (VAAs) on party choice. These effects could be spurious because common antecedent factors like prior voting, a voter's prior issue positions and election campaign news may explain both party choice and the opinions someone reports to the VAA, and hence the voting advice obtained from the VAA. Often VAAs will advise users to opt for parties that they were already likely to vote for, based on antecedent factors. Here, three-wave panel surveys and media content data for the Dutch national election campaigns of 2010 and 2012 are employed. In spite of spurious correlations resulting from common antecedent factors, genuine VAA effects show up, especially for doubting voters. Party change based on positive VAA-advice for a party is least likely (a) for voters who already have an abundance of antecedent factors in favour of that party anyway, and (b) for those without a single antecedent factor in favour of that party. Genuine VAA effects imply that VAAs make it less easy for political parties to neglect each other's owned issues, because VAAs weigh issues equally for each party.
Individual rationality and differences in Taiwanese spa hotel choice
Authors: Shiu Jerry Yuwen
Published: December 2017

This study explored a systematic framework to understand the dynamic relationships of individual rationality in spa hotel choice. Taking a relational perspective, we examined the process of net value perception linking the antecedents (i.e. quality, price and risk) and consequence (i.e. willingness to buy (WTB)), along with the moderating effects of demographic variables on the links. A survey was conducted at spa hotels in four major spa regions of Taiwan. The findings indicated that the immediate situational factors of quality and price contribute to the net value perception, which in turn leads to the WTB. Oppositely, the long-term factor of risk does not have either direct or indirect effect when making such an infrequent decision. The contrarily moderating effects of demographic variables (e.g. gender, living region and consumptive frequency) on the decision paths present managers with directions to offer proper packages to reach their target customers.
Data measurement and the change in persistence of tourist arrivals to the United States in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks
Authors: Payne James E , Gil-Alana Luis A
Published: December 2017

This research note examines the change in data measurement for international tourist arrivals to the United States due to the requirement that all tourists must complete the INS I-94 entry form and its impact on tourist arrivals in the aftermath of the September 2001 terrorist attacks. Using fractional integration techniques, we find that the majority of tourist arrivals from various regions around the world are mean reverting, but the degree of persistence increased in the post-September 2001 period.
‘A more inclusive mind towards the world’: English language teaching and study abroad in China from intercultural citizenship and English as a lingua franca perspectives
Authors: Fang Fan (Gabriel) , Baker Will
Published: December 2017

With the status of English as a global lingua franca (ELF), English is no longer the sole property of its Anglophone native English speakers (NES) problematizing the current dominance of Anglophone cultures and NES in the field of English language teaching (ELT). The notion of intercultural citizenship education offers a critical alternative model in language education. To investigate how ELF, intercultural approaches and the concept of intercultural citizenship might be integrated within the field of ELT, a study was conducted in a university located in southeast China. Due to the large number of ELT learners and high degree of student mobility in China these are issues of much relevance in this setting. The research collected qualitative data through face-to-face interviews, email interviews and focus groups with students on study abroad programmes who have both ELT and first-hand intercultural experiences. Many students spoke positively about aspects of intercultural citizenship, but classroom instruction offered only limited channels for students to experience and understand intercultural communication and citizenship. In contrast, most of their understanding and experiences were gained outside the classroom during study abroad. Furthermore, many students spoke about the importance of English in their development of intercultural connections and citizenship. We conclude that more in-depth and critical approaches to teaching language, culture and intercultural communication in ELT are needed which foster and cultivate students’ sense of intercultural citizenship.
Criminology, gender and security in the Australian context: Making women’s lives matter
Authors: Walklate Sandra , McCulloch Jude , Fitz-Gibbon Kate , Maher JaneMaree
Published: December 2017

This article examines how it might be possible to make women’s lives matter in contemporary criminological understandings of security. In doing so it considers the conceptual complexity of security, and reflects on the criminological engagement with that complexity and the feminist contribution to it paying particular attention to current concerns with everyday security. The article deploys the contemporary Australian policy agenda on family violence to illustrate the paradoxes to be found within these current pre-occupations. Drawing on feminist informed work that situates violence against women within the conceptual framework of everyday terrorism, it concludes by offering further consideration to the meaning of everyday security and the implications that this has for contemporary criminological concerns with security.
Utilizing the Critical Inclusive Praxis: The voyage of five selected school principals in building inclusive school cultures
Authors: Osiname Ayodeji Tolulope
Published: December 2017

This article integrates relevant literature with the lived experiences of five school principals regarding how they utilized different leadership styles to build an inclusive school culture. The conceptual framework – a Critical Inclusive Praxis, including culture, change, leadership, inclusion and challenge – provided a base for the literature and field research. The framework reinforces principals’ responsibility to continuously transform the school through reflective, critical and dialogical action in order to nourish and sustain a strong culture. The study shows that it is essential that principals understand the five elements of a Critical Inclusive Praxis and how they intersect to build socially just and democratic schools.
The processing of the object marker a by heritage Spanish speakers
Authors: Jegerski Jill
Published: December 2017

Objectives:

Previous research has found that object marking with the Spanish particle a is variable among heritage Spanish speakers, based on data from offline experimental measures. The online self-paced reading method used for the present study has the advantage of being less metalinguistic, which may be important with heritage speakers. This incremental measure of sentence processing can also examine whether the single letter form a is simply skipped over during reading.

Methodology:

Thirty-two heritage Spanish speakers and 16 later Spanish-English bilinguals participated. Critical stimuli were 20 items testing a marking with direct objects and 20 items testing a marking of indirect objects in ditransitive constructions.

Data and analysis:

The data set included reading times from self-paced reading, accuracy for post-stimulus comprehension questions, and secondary data from an offline acceptability judgment, all of which were analyzed via ANOVAs by subject and by item.

Findings:

Both groups exhibited robust sensitivity to a marking of indirect objects, sensitivity to a marking with inanimate direct objects, and no sensitivity to a marking with animate direct objects.

Originality:

This is the first study to examine the real-time processing of object marking among heritage Spanish speakers. It is the second study to include a comparison group of late Spanish-English bilinguals in the US, as opposed to monolinguals residing abroad.

Significance:

Incremental data from online processing indicate that the visual nonsalience of the marker a is not the sole or primary cause of variability in the marking of animate direct objects, because it was noticed in other written sentential contexts. In addition, the similarity between the two participant groups shows that variability with differential object marking is not limited to heritage speakers, but can also occur among US Spanish users educated abroad, where incomplete acquisition is not a question.
Expressing displacement in heritage Cantonese: Cross-linguistic influence and structural vulnerability
Authors: Mai Ziyin , Kwan Chung-yin , Yip Virginia
Published: December 2017

Aims and objectives:

Heritage languages spoken by speakers in overseas communities can diverge significantly from the language spoken in the home country. Recent investigations have suggested that some grammatical structures or features are more vulnerable than others. This paper investigates the role of cross-linguistic influence, incomplete acquisition and attrition in heritage Cantonese in contact with English, focusing on the grammar of the pretransitive zoeng-construction in displacement contexts.

Methodology:

An elicited oral production task modelled on the fruit cart experiment was used to elicit displacement instructions in Cantonese. Fourteen heritage speakers and thirteen émigré speakers participated. All had acquired Cantonese as their first language but experienced a shift of language dominance to English due to immigration and education. Seventeen native speakers of Cantonese in Hong Kong served as the baseline.

Data and analysis:

The utterances were manually transcribed and coded. Production and error rates were calculated. Statistical results revealed quantitative differences among the three groups of Cantonese speakers. The baseline speakers preferred the zoeng-construction in displacement contexts, whereas the heritage and émigré speakers made greater use of canonical and topicalization structures. Nevertheless, the zoeng-sentences produced by the heritage and émigré speakers were all grammatical and felicitous.

Findings:

The basic structure of the zoeng-construction is kept intact in less than half of the heritage and émigré speakers’ Cantonese grammar. The zoeng-construction is thus vulnerable to intergenerational language change induced by language contact and individual differences, which is partially attributable to cross-linguistic influence from English.

Originality:

This is the first experimental study to investigate the grammar of heritage Cantonese.

Significance:

The study provides new empirical evidence of structural vulnerability and variability of heritage grammar and sheds light on the role of incomplete acquisition, cross-linguistic influence and attrition in such vulnerability.
Construction of discursive fandom and structural fandom through anime comics and game fan conventions in Malaysia
Authors: Yamato Eriko
Published: December 2017

This article discusses the concept of fandom structures centring on Japanese popular culture fan conventions by highlighting potential factors underlying young Malaysians’ involvement in such conventions. Data were collected from participatory observations at four conventions and interviews with nine Malaysians involved in conventions for at least 5 years. These participants felt marginalized in their school lives because of their fondness for anime, yet they expressed a sense of togetherness while at conventions. For those continuously involved, the conventions were not limited to only a temporal ritual space, as may be explained with the term ‘communitas’. While experiencing a feeling of ‘communitas’ with other convention attendees as of members of their discursive fandom, they acquired a hierarchical system within other activity-based fandom. In this way, young Malaysians have not merely been subsumed into an existing system as the respective structural fandom communities enable the inclusion of democratic aspects by being open to the public through local conventions.
Terms of reference
Authors: Mikołajewska-Zając Karolina
Published: December 2017

Reputation is often seen as central to the coordination of transactions in sharing economy platforms. Participants perform a double role regarding reputation management: while engaging in exchanges with other peers, they build their individual ‘reputation capital’ and simultaneously execute community oversight. In Couchsurfing (CS), a network often cited as paradigmatic of the sharing economy, there is, however, a clear bias for positive references. In the digital economy literature, participants’ friendly behaviour is understood as motivated by self-interest and an incentive to maintain a positive reputation. Social research on reputation in CS attributes the bias to fear of retaliation, but also hints at norms of reciprocity leading travellers to require positive feedback for hospitality. This article analyses the lived experience of reputation management in CS and argues that participants seek to reconcile direct and general reciprocity. It proposes breaking these practices down into boundary-work and creative avoidance and argues these result in insufficient protection of inexperienced participants against problematic members.
Subjective health complaints and exposure to peer victimization among disabled and non-disabled adolescents: A population-based study in Sweden
Authors: Fridh Maria , Köhler Marie , Modén Birgit , lindström Martin , Rosvall Maria
Published: December 2017

Aims: To investigate subjective health complaints (SHCs) (psychological and somatic, respectively) among disabled and non-disabled adolescents, focusing on the impact of traditional bullying and cyber harassment, and furthermore to report psychological and somatic SHCs across different types of disability. Methods: Data from the public health survey of children and adolescents in Scania, Sweden, 2012 was used. A questionnaire was answered anonymously in school by 9791 students in the 9th grade (response rate 83%), and 7533 of these with valid answers on key questions were included in this study. Associations with daily SHCs were investigated by multi-adjusted logistic regression analyses. Results: Any disability was reported by 24.1% of boys and 22.0% of girls. Disabled students were more exposed to cyber harassment (boys: 20.0%; girls: 28.2%) than non-disabled peers (boys: 11.8%; girls: 18.1%). Exposure to traditional bullying showed the same pattern but with a lower prevalence. Disabled students had around doubled odds of both daily psychological SHCs and daily somatic SHCs in the fully adjusted models. In general, the odds increased with exposure to cyber harassment or traditional bullying and the highest odds were seen among disabled students exposed to both cyber harassment and traditional bullying. Students with ADHD/ADD had the highest odds of daily psychological SHCs as well as exposure to traditional bullying across six disability types. Conclusions: Disabled adolescents report poorer health and are more exposed to both traditional bullying and cyber harassment. This public health issue needs more attention in schools and in society in general.
Attitudes to and implementation of video interpretation in a Danish hospital: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Mottelson Ida Nygaard , Sodemann Morten , Nielsen Dorthe Susanne
Published: December 2017

Aims: Immigrants, refugees, and their descendants comprise 12% of Denmark’s population. Some of these people do not speak or understand Danish well enough to communicate with the staff in a healthcare setting and therefore need interpreter services. Interpretation through video conferencing equipment (video interpretation) is frequently used and creates a forum where the interpreter is not physically present in the medical consultation. The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes to and experiences with video interpretation among charge nurses in a Danish university hospital. Methods: An electronic questionnaire was sent to 99 charge nurses. The questionnaire comprised both closed and open-ended questions. The answers were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic text condensation. Results: Of the 99 charge nurses, 78 (79%) completed the questionnaire. Most charge nurses, 21 (91%) of the daily/monthly users, and 21 (72%) of the monthly/yearly users, said that video interpretation increased the quality of their conversations with patients. A total of 19 (24%) departments had not used video interpretation within the last 12 months. Conclusions: The more the charge nurses used video interpretation, the more satisfied they were. Most of the charge nurses using video interpretation expressed satisfaction with the technology and found it easy to use. Some charge nurses are still content to allow family or friends to interpret. To reach its full potential, video interpretation technology has to be reliable and easily accessible for any consultation, including at the bedside.
Mental health promotion competencies in the health sector in Finland: a qualitative study of the views of professionals
Authors: Tamminen Nina , Solin Pia , Stengård Eija , Kannas Lasse , Kettunen Tarja
Published: December 2017

Aims: In this study, we aimed to investigate what competencies are needed for mental health promotion in health sector practice in Finland. Methods: A qualitative study was carried out to seek the views of mental health professionals regarding mental health promotion-related competencies. The data were collected via two focus groups and a questionnaire survey of professionals working in the health sector in Finland. The focus groups consisted of a total of 13 professionals. Further, 20 questionnaires were received from the questionnaire survey. The data were analysed using the qualitative data analysis software ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH, Berlin. A content analysis was carried out. Results: In total, 23 competencies were identified and clustered under the categories of theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and personal attitudes and values. In order to promote mental health, it is necessary to have a knowledge of the principles and concepts of mental health promotion, including methods and tools for effective practices. Furthermore, a variety of skills-based competencies such as communication and collaboration skills were described. Personal attitudes and values included a holistic approach and respect for human rights, among others. Conclusions: The study provides new information on what competencies are needed to plan, implement and evaluate mental health promotion in health sector practice, with the aim of contributing to a more effective workforce. The competencies provide aid in planning training programmes and qualifications, as well as job descriptions and roles in health sector workplaces related to mental health promotion.
The gender gap in accrued pension rights – an indicator of women’s accumulated disadvantage over the course of working life. The Hordaland Health Study (HUSK)
Authors: Skogen Jens Christoffer , Hensing Gunnel , Øverland Simon , Knudsen Ann Kristin , Sivertsen Børge , Vahtera Jussi , Tell Grethe S. , Haukenes Inger
Published: December 2017

Aims: Economic gender equality is one of the goals of the Nordic Welfare states. Despite this, there is a considerable gender gap in pensionable income in the European Union, and an unmet need for measures that absorb more of the complexity associated with accumulated (dis)advantages across gender and population groups. The aims of the present study were to examine the gender difference in association between average earned pension points and 1) education and 2) current occupational prestige, and to discuss pension points as a possible indicator of accumulated disadvantages. Methods: We linked a community-based survey, the Hordaland Health study (HUSK), to the national register of insurance benefits (FD-trygd). This made it possible to trace gendered patterns of economic (dis)advantages associated with educational level, career development and gainful work over the life course for 17,275 individuals. Results: We found profound differences in earned accrued pension rights between men and women across socioeconomic strata, and a significant interaction between pension rights and gender in the association with education and occupational prestige. Our findings indicate that men, as a group, may have lower educational attainment and occupational prestige than women, and still earn more pension points throughout their career. These differences place women at risk for future economic strain and deprivation over and above their similarly educated and positioned male counterparts. Conclusions: We suggest that accrued pension rights may be a relevant measure of accumulated (dis)advantages over the course of working life, and a useful indicator when gender equality is measured and discussed.
Flawed communications: Health professionals’ experience of collaboration in the care of frail elderly patients
Authors: Hansson Anders , Svensson Ann , Ahlström Britt Hedman , Larsson Lena G. , Forsman Berit , Alsén Pia
Published: December 2017

Aims: Frail elderly patients who have multiple illnesses do not fare well in modern health care systems, mainly due to a lack of care planning and flawed communication between health professionals in different care organisations. This is especially noticeable when patients are discharged from hospital. The aim of this study was to explore health care professionals’ experience of obstacles and opportunities for collaboration. Methods: Health professionals were invited to participate in three focus groups, each consisting of a hospital physician, a primary care physician, a hospital nurse, a primary care nurse, a municipal home care nurse or an assistant officer, a physical or occupational therapist and a patient or a family member representative. These individual people were then asked to discuss the obstacles and opportunities for communication between themselves and with the patients and their relatives when presented with the case report of a fictitious patient. Content analysis was used to identify categories. Results: Several obstacles were identified for effective communication and care planning: insufficient communication with patients and relatives; delayed collaboration between care-givers; the lack of an adequate responsible person for care planning; and resources not being distributed according to the actual needs of patients. The absence of an overarching responsibility for the patient, beyond organisational borders, was a recurring theme. These obstacles could also be seen as opportunities. Conclusions: Obstacles for collaboration were found on three levels: societal, organisational and individual. As health care professionals are well aware of the problems and also see solutions, management for health care should support employees’ own initiatives for changes that are of benefit in the care of frail elderly patients with multiple illnesses.
Women’s reasons for choosing abortion method: A systematic literature review
Authors: Kanstrup Charlotte , Mäkelä Marjukka , Hauskov Graungaard Anette
Published: December 2017

Aims: We aim to describe and classify reasons behind women’s choice between medical and surgical abortion. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted in PubMed and PsycINFO in October 2015. The subjects were women in early pregnancy opting for abortion at clinics or hospitals in high-income countries. We extracted women’s reasons for choice of abortion method and analysed these qualitatively, looking at main reasons for choosing either medical or surgical abortion. Results: Reasons for choice of method were classified to five main groups: technical nature of the intervention, fear of complications, fear of surgery or anaesthesia, timing and sedation. Reasons for selecting medical abortion were often based on the perception of the method being ‘more natural’ and the wish to have abortion in one’s home in addition to fear of complications. Women who opted for surgical abortion appreciated the quicker process, viewed it as the safer option, and wished to avoid pain and excess bleeding. Reasons were often based on emotional reactions, previous experiences and a lack of knowledge about the procedures. Some topics such as pain or excess bleeding received little attention. Overall the quality of the studies was low, most studies were published more than 10 years ago, and the generalisability of the findings was poor. Conclusion: Women did not base their choice of abortion method only on rational information from professionals but also on emotions and especially fears. Support techniques for a more informed choice are needed. Recent high-quality studies in this area are lacking.
Ethnic disparities in educational and occupational gradients of estimated cardiovascular disease risk: The Healthy Life in an Urban Setting study
Authors: Perini Wilco , Agyemang Charles , Snijder Marieke B. , Peters Ron J.G. , Kunst Anton E.
Published: December 2017

Background: European societies are becoming increasingly ethnically diverse. This may have important implications for socio-economic inequalities in health due to the often disadvantaged position of ethnic minority groups in both socio-economic status (SES) and disease, especially cardiovascular disease (CVD). Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether the socio-economic gradient of estimated CVD risk differs between ethnic groups. Methods: Using the Healthy Life in an Urban Setting study, we obtained data on SES and CVD risk factors among participants from six ethnic backgrounds residing in Amsterdam. SES was measured using educational level and occupational level. CVD risk was estimated based on the occurrence of CVD risk factors using the Dutch version of the systematic coronary risk evaluation algorithm. Ethnic disparities in socio-economic gradients for estimated CVD risk were determined using the relative index of inequality (RII). Results: Among Dutch-origin men, the RII for estimated CVD risk according to educational level was 6.15% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.35–7.96%), indicating that those at the bottom of the educational hierarchy had a 6.15% higher estimated CVD risk relative than those at the top. Among Dutch-origin women, the RII was 4.49% (CI 2.45–6.52%). The RII was lower among ethnic minority groups, ranging from 0.83% to 3.13% among men and −0.29% to 5.12% among women, indicating weaker associations among these groups. Results were similar based on occupational level. Conclusions: Ethnic background needs to be considered in associations between SES and disease. The predictive value of SES varies between ethnic groups and may be quite poor for some groups.
Comparison and statistical analysis of long-term overheating indices applied on energy renovated dwellings in temperate climates
Authors: Psomas Theofanis , Heiselberg Per , Duer Karsten , Andersen Mikkel Meyer
Published: December 2017

Stakeholders, researchers and designers apply different overheating metrics because they follow different comfort theories or comply with different regulations and standards. As a result, there is no common ground for generalization, intercomparison and final concordance of their conclusions. Correlation of indices would simplify the analysis being conducted during the design (optimization process) or operational (comfort assessment) phase of buildings. This research compares and statistically correlates results of seven widely used long-term overheating indices on four ‘free-running’ representative dwellings and characteristic climatic conditions of central Europe (Denmark, United Kingdom, Austria and France). Different renovation steps and passive cooling strategies were applied on these case studies creating 66 variants for comfort assessment. The analyses were conducted with the use of a dynamic energy performance engine and widely accepted calculation methods and statistical tools. The statistical analyses show that dynamic indices originate from the same adaptive comfort theory directly related with each other. In addition, it is possible to create general and widely applied relationships between static overheating indices independently of the case study and climatic condition.
Study of indoor environmental quality and occupant overall comfort and productivity in LEED- and non-LEED–certified healthcare settings
Authors: Xuan Xiaodong
Published: December 2017

The study combined quantitative and qualitative approaches, in terms of both staff perception and facility manager perspective, to evaluate the effectiveness of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of LEED–certified facilities and relationship between IEQ and occupant comfort and productivity in healthcare settings in the USA climate zones 2 and 3. A multiple-methods approach combining a questionnaire survey and semi-structured interview was tested for effective post-occupancy evaluation. The study compared one non-LEED healthcare facility with five LEED certified healthcare buildings and examined which variable(s) had significant relationship with comfort and productivity by surveying 249 occupants and interviewing six facility managers in six healthcare settings. The results showed that five LEED–certified healthcare settings were superior to one non-LEED facility in most of building performance factors. Building design, temperature comfort, image presented to visitors, use of space, control over noise and ability to meet occupants’ needs were significant predictors for overall comfort. Lighting overall, temperature comfort and image presented to visitors had a significant positive relationship with perceived productivity. Only one non-LEED hospital was selected and some buildings had small response rate, the results should be interpreted with caution.
Development of design guidelines for thermo-active foundations
Authors: Kwag Byung C. , Krarti Moncef
Published: December 2017

Ground medium can be utilized as a direct energy source to heat and cool buildings. In particular, ground source heat pump systems take advantage of the year-round mild deep earth temperature without a significant reliance on any external energy sources. However, the high installation cost of ground source heat pumps associated with high drilling cost of vertical boreholes often make these systems less cost-effective compared to conventional heating and cooling systems. Thermo-active foundations can be a viable solution to reduce ground source heat pump high installation costs by embedding heat exchangers within building foundation structures. Compared to ground source heat pumps, only limited analyses and research studies have been reported for thermo-active foundations especially for the US climates. In particular, no specific design guidelines have been reported for thermo-active foundations especially for US climates. In this paper, a simplified design approach was developed and applied for specifying geothermal heat pump size and heat exchanger loop length to meet all or part of building heat and cooling thermal loads. The developed guidelines would thus provide a proper design guide for installation of thermo-active foundations for heating and cooling of both US residential and commercial buildings.
Investigating the relationship between housing satisfaction and quality of life in the decayed historic areas of Isfahan using path diagram
Authors: Zebardast Esfandiar , Nooraie Homayoon
Published: December 2017

The aim of this paper is to survey the decayed historic areas of Isfahan (DHI) in order to determine the relationship between housing satisfaction and quality of life. The related literature on quality of life was reviewed and WHOQOL-BREF model was selected for measuring the quality of life as a whole; also, 17 indicators depicting the housing domain of quality of life were chosen for the purposes of this study. A multi-stage sampling technique was applied to data collection. For data analysis, firstly, the data obtained on 17 indicators of housing domain of quality of life were analysed using factor analysis. The factors extracted are housing quality, housing space, security of tenure and housing affiliation. Secondly, a path diagram was applied to obtain the relation between housing satisfaction sub-domains and the domains of quality of life as a whole. The results indicate that the housing space was the most effective sub-domain of housing on the domains of quality of life as a whole. We also found that in order to improve the housing domain of quality of life in the DHI, due attention should be paid to housing quality factor and to improve quality of life as a whole in these areas, it is also necessary to pay attention to housing space factor.