bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality Improvement, Quality Assurance, and Benchmarking: Comparing two frameworks for managing quality processes in open and distance learning
Authors: Inglis Alistair
Published: September 2016

Managing quality processes become critically important for higher education institutions generally, but especially for institutions involved in open and distance learning. In Australia, managers of centers responsible for open and distance learning have identified two frameworks that potentially offer ways of conceiving of the application of quality processes: the Quality Framework published in Inglis, Ling, and Joosten (1999); and the Benchmarking Framework published in McKinnon, Walker, and Davis (2000). However, managers who have been considering applying one or other framework within their institutional contexts have had to face the issue of how they should choose between, or combine the use, of these frameworks. Part of their dilemma lies in distinguishing among the related functions of quality improvement, quality assurance, and benchmarking. This article compares the frameworks in terms of their scope, institutional application, structures, and method of application, and then considers what implications the similarities and differences between the frameworks have for their use.
Markets, Distance Education, and Australian Higher Education
Authors: Nunan Ted
Published: September 2016

The paper argues that the Australian university system is unstable. There will be significant change as government implements its reform agenda and even more radical change if it moves to new deregulation. The role of distance education in university education needs to be analyzed against this "market" agenda of government in terms of characteristics of markets and market behavior. After a scan of the current role, the paper looks at two scenarios (regulated and deregulated) for distance education in university teaching and learning in Australia. Keywords: educational markets, distance education, flexible delivery, competition
Structure, Content, Delivery, Service, and Outcomes: Quality e-Learning in higher education
Authors: MacDonald Colla J. , Thompson Terrie Lynn
Published: September 2016

This paper addresses the need for quality e-Learning experiences. We used the Demand-Driven Learning Model (MacDonald, Stodel, Farres, Breithaupt, and Gabriel, 2001) to evaluate an online Masters in Education course. Multiple data collection methods were used to understand the experiences of stakeholders in this case study: the learners, design team, and facilitators. We found that all five dimensions of the model (structure, content, delivery, service, and outcomes) must work in concert to implement a quality e-Learning course. Key themes include evolving learner needs, the search for connection, becoming an able e-participant, valued interactions, social construction of content, integration of delivery partners, and mindful weighing of benefits and trade-offs. By sharing insights into what is needed to design and deliver an e-Learning experience, our findings add to the growing knowledge of online learning. Using this model to evaluate perceptions of quality by key stakeholders has led to insights and recommendations on the Demand Driven Learning Model itself which may be useful for researchers in this area and strengthen the model. Quality has been defined in terms of the design of the e-Learning experience, the contextualized experience of learners, and evidence of learning outcomes (Carr and Carr, 2000; Jung 2000; Salmon, 2000). Quality and design of e-Learning courses, however, are sometimes compromised in an “ . . . effort to simply get something up and running” in response to pressing consumer demands (Dick, 1996, p. 59). Educators and researchers have voiced concern over the lack of rigorous evaluation studies of e-Learning programs (e.g., Arbaugh, 2000; Howell, Saba, Lindsay, and Williams, 2004; Lockyer, Patterson, and Harper, 1999; Robinson, 2001). McGorry (2003) adds, “although the number of courses being delivered via the Internet is increasing rapidly, our knowledge of what makes these courses effective learning experiences is limited” (p. 160). In an economic environment marked by intensive competition between educational institutions, producing and ensuring quality e-Learning programs will be a competitive advantage to attract learners to post secondary institutions (Daniel, 1996; Duderstadt, 1999). In this study we used a credible model, the Demand-Driven Learning Model (DDLM), (MacDonald, Stodel, Farres, Breithaupt, and Gabriel, 2001) and its companion evaluation tool (MacDonald, Breithaupt, Stodel, Farres, and Gabriel, 2002) to design and evaluate an online course. Several data collection methods were used to understand the experiences of key stakeholders in this case study: learners, design team, and facilitators. In addition to adding to the growing knowledge of online learning, our findings highlight additional elements that could be incorporated into the DDLM to further refine the model.
The Effects of Linguistic Qualifiers and Intensifiers on Group Interaction and Performance in Computer-Supported Collaborative Argumentation
Authors: Jeong Allan C.
Published: September 2016

This study tested the effects of linguistic qualifiers and intensifiers on the number and types of replies elicited per argument and per challenge posted in online debates. To facilitate collaborative argumentation, thirty-two students (22 females, 10 males) enrolled in a graduate-level online course classified and labeled their messages as arguments, challenges, supporting evidence, or explanations prior to posting each message. The findings showed that qualified arguments elicited 41 percent fewer replies (effect size = -.64), and the reduction in replies was greatest when qualified arguments were presented by females than males. Challenges without qualifiers, however, did not elicit more replies than challenges with qualifiers. These findings suggest that qualifiers were used to hedge arguments, and such behaviors should be discouraged during initial stages of identifying arguments (more so in all-female than in all-male groups) in order to elicit more diverse and more opposing viewpoints needed to thoroughly and critically analyze arguments.  Keywords: Computer-mediated communication, CMC, communication style, group interaction patterns, interaction analysis, computer-supported collaborative learning, CSCL, collaborative argumentation.
Distance Higher Education Experiences of Arab Gulf Students in the United States: A cultural perspective
Authors: Al-Harthi Aisha S.
Published: September 2016

This article reports on a phenomenological research study that was undertaken to provide cultural understanding about the nature of distance education experiences of Arab graduate students pursuing degree programs in the United States. As a theoretical framework, Hofstede’s international difference dimensions and Hall’s concept of low and high context cultures were used. Six participants were interviewed from the Arab Gulf States. Analysis of these interviews revealed cultural aspects related to student background. Description of participant experiences are explained in the following themes: mandatory nature of the experience, persistence of social shame feelings online, language difficulties, less participation, and avoidance of confrontation and aggravation of feelings. This study concludes with a few recommendations for future research.  Keywords: Arab students, culture, distance education, anxiety, online, gender
The Online Learning Environment: Creating a space for women learners?
Authors: Gokool-Ramdoo Shushita
Published: September 2016

This paper examines how online distance education acts to democratize access to, and suit the ontologies of, Mauritian women who seek to empower themselves for development. Data from semi-structured interviews of 30 middle class couples are presented in this paper. Interviews and analyses are premised on a feminist perspective and conducted within the social relations analysis framework. The objective of this research was to understand what types of supportive environments (social spaces) enable Mauritian women to engage in educational endeavours that promote their personal potentials and creativities which, in turn, advance democracy for all citizens of Mauritius. Husbands were also interviewed to provide ground for analysis and to decrease bias, which can be generated by women-only data. (1) Marriage/ family and (2) occupation, represent the ‘social spaces’ selected for this study. Discretion, degree of learner control, and the outreach capacity inherent in distance learning makes the online modality a natural choice to democratize women’s access to education. Based on interviewees’ experiences and perceptions, this study concludes that online learning can enhance and democratize women’s access to education for personal development – but only if the power relationships in the two ‘social spaces’ are well understood and well negotiated by these women. The findings in this paper shed light on the importance of understanding ‘learner spaces’ when establishing and setting-up open learning organisations.  
The Emergence of Open-Source Software in China
Authors: Pan Guohua , Bonk Curtis Jay
Published: September 2016

The open-source software movement is gaining increasing momentum in China. Of the limited numbers of open-source software in China, Red Flag Linux stands out most strikingly, commanding 30 percent share of Chinese software market. Unlike the spontaneity of open-source movement in North America, open-source software development in China, such as Red Flag Linux, is an orchestrated activity wherein different levels of government play a vital role in sponsoring, incubating, and using open-source software, most conspicuously, Red Flag Linux. While there are no reports on open-source course management system in China, there are reports on the study and use of Western open-source course management systems for instruction and learning in Chinese higher education institutions. This paper discusses the current status of open-source software in China, including open-source course management software and associated tools and resources. Importantly, it describes the development model of Red Flag Linux, the most successful open-source software initiative in China. In addition, it explores the possibility of Chinese higher education institutions joining efforts to develop China’s own open-source course management system using the open-source development model established in North America. A timeline of major open-source projects of significance underway in China is provided. The paper concludes with a discussion of the potential for applying the open-source software development model to open and distance education in China.
Replacing Face-to-Face Tutorials by Synchronous Online Technologies: Challenges and pedagogical implications
Authors: Ng Kwok Chi
Published: September 2016

This paper reports on a study which investigates the implementation of a synchronous e-learning system (Interwise) for online tutorials on an information technology related course offered by the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK). It examines a set of interview data related to students’ and tutors’ views on the use of the system. Issues concerning students’ participation in online tutorials, opportunities for interaction in using the system, and tutors’ roles in real-time conferences are discussed. The findings suggest that both the students and tutors are positive about the use of Interwise for online tutorials in general. Some students, however, indicate dissatisfaction with the one-way communication and teacher-control functionalities of the system. The results also indicate that the tutors are concerned about the workload involved in using Interwise in terms of managing the functionalities of the system and the different learning tasks. Implications are then drawn for supporting synchronous online learning both in the OUHK and a wider academic context.
The Practice of a Quality Assurance System in Open and Distance Learning: A case study at Universitas Terbuka Indonesia (The Indonesia Open University)
Authors: Belawati Tian , Zuhairi Amin
Published: September 2016

Quality assurance for distance higher education is one of the main concerns among institutions and stakeholders today. This paper examines the experiences of Universitas Terbuka (UT), which has initiated and implemented an innovative strategy of quality assurance (QA) for continuous improvement. The credo of the UT quality assurance system is "We write what we do. We do what we write. We check. We improve continuously!" Implementing a quality management system at the UT, a mega-university with a student body of more than a quarter of a million and which involved a network of participating institutions and regional centres, was a formidable task to accomplish. To achieve its lofty goal, UT adopted and contextualised the draft of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) QA Framework to launch its own quality assurance program. This has taken a great deal of commitment and participation of all staff involved. QA at the UT required systematic and step-by-step processes, including development of the QA framework and job manuals, raising awareness and commitment amongst all staff involved, internal assessment, and integration of QA programs into the university's annual action plans, external assessment and benchmarking. This paper concludes that quality assurance must be developed as institutional policy and strategy for continuous improvement.
The Current Status and Future Prospects of Corporate e-Learning in Korea
Authors: Lim Cheolil
Published: September 2016

Corporate e-Learning in Korea has rapidly grown for the last five years(2000-2005). This study argues that the main cause of such a drastic increase in distance education for adults in Korea was not the needs of companies to provide high-quality training programs through Internet but the initiative of government to make the whole state as an information society. The policies for quantitative growth with minimum levels of quality and uniformity have been dominant and resulted in the lack of diverse e-Learning types for authentic practices in workplaces. The paper suggests the corporate e-Learning should be directed by both the governmental support and the companies’ initiative in order to cope with the demand of the newly required competencies for more employees.
Setting the New Standard with Mobile Computing in Online Learning
Authors: Shih Yuhsun Edward
Published: September 2016

Mobile learning represents exciting new frontiers in education and pedagogy. With its "wearable" computing feature and multimedia content delivery, mobile learning offers new benefits to instructors and learners. How do mobile technologies impact our teaching and learning in traditional education? What are the possibilities for m-learning in the various disciplines such as history or English studies? To illustrate these possibilities, this paper presents an application that combines the innovative learning model for mobile learning with an established literature class. This ongoing study focuses on student learning outcomes relative to the benefits and challenges of using mobile learning in the traditional classroom and online learning settings.
The World-Wide Inaccessible Web, Part 1: Browsing
Authors: Baggaley Jon , Batpurev Batchuluun
Published: September 2016

Two studies are reported, comparing the browser loading times of webpages created using common Web development techniques. The loading speeds were estimated in 12 Asian countries by members of the PANdora network, funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to conduct collaborative research in the development of effective distance education (DE) practices. An online survey tool with stopwatch-type counter was used. Responses were obtained from Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. In most of the survey conditions, browser loading times were noted up to four times slower than commonly prescribed as acceptable. Failure of pages to load at all was frequent. The speediest loading times were observed when the online material was hosted locally, and was created either in the Docebo learning management system (LMS), or in the HTML option provided by the Moodle LMS. It is recommended that formative evaluation of this type should become standard practice in the selection and use of online programming techniques, in order to preserve the accessibility of the World-Wide-Web across large geographical distances, as for DE in the developing world.
Persistence in University Continuing Education Online Classes
Authors: Frydenberg Jia
Published: September 2016

This study presents persistence and attrition data from two years of data collection. Over the eight quarters studied, the persistence rate in online courses was 79 percent. The persistence rate for similar onground courses was 84 percent. The drops for both course modalities were disaggregated by the time of the request for withdrawal: before course start, during the initial week, and during instruction. There was a significant difference between online and onground requests for withdrawals during the initial week. There was no significant difference between online and onground drop rates after the start of instruction, leading to the conclusion that differences in instruction online and onground was unlikely to be a major influencing factor in the student’s decision to drop.
Technology-Enhanced Learning in Developing Nations: A review
Authors: Gulati Shalni
Published: September 2016

Learning ‘using’ technologies has become a global phenomenon. The Internet is often seen as a value-neutral tool that potentially allows individuals to overcome the constraints of traditional elitist spaces and gain unhindered access to learning. It is widely suggested that online technologies can help address issues of educational equity and social exclusion, and open up democratic and accessible educational opportunities. The national governments and non-governmental agencies who fund educational endeavours in developing countries have advocated the use of new technologies to reduce the cost of reaching and educating large numbers of children and adults who are currently missing out on education. This paper presents an overview of the educational developments in open, distance, and technology-facilitated learning that aim to reach the educationally deprived populations of the world. It reveals the challenges encountered by children and adults in developing countries as they attempt to access available educational opportunities. The discussion questions whether, in face of these challenges, developing nations should continue to invest money, time, and effort into e-learning developments. Can technology- enhanced learning help address the poverty, literacy, social, and political problems in developing countries?
Using ICT and distance education to increase access, equity and quality of rural teachers’ professional development
Authors: Robinson Bernadette
Published: September 2016

The goal of ‘teacher quality for all’ is proving difficult to achieve in many countries, especially in rural and remote areas, yet teacher quality is a key determinant of students’ participation rates and levels of achievement. Though teachers’ professional development may be recognised as essential for improving teacher quality, policy choices, resources and approaches sometimes restrict its availability and limit its value to teachers. This paper describes the use of distance education and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to increase rural teachers’ learning opportunities in rural China and as a means for policy-makers and planners to support teachers’ professional development in ways than empower teachers.
Book Review – De la educación a distancia a la educación virtual
Authors: Cookson Peter
Published: September 2016

Authors: Lorenzo García Aretio, Marta Ruiz Ruiz and Daniel Domínguez Figaredo. (2007). De la educación a distancia a la educación virtual. Barcelona: Editorial Ariel, S.A. ISBN: 978-84-344-2666-5. Reviewed by: Peter S. Cookson, Director Académico, El Consorcio Clavijero, Mexico Editor’s Note: This book is published in Spanish only. This book comprises the reflections of knowledgeable and seasoned distance education practitioners on the paradigm shift from (fourth generation) distance education to (fifth generation) virtual education. The authors are seasoned and prominent academics at the Distance Education University (UNED) of Spain. Lorenzo García Aretio is the Unesco Distance Education Chair and Dean, Marta Ruiz Ruiz is a professor and Vice-Dean, and Daniel Domínguez Figaredo is a faculty member and researcher in the Department of Educational Theory and Social Education.
Does the Community of Inquiry Framework Predict Outcomes in Online MBA Courses?
Authors: Arbaugh J. B.
Published: September 2016

While Garrison and colleagues’ (2000) Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework has generated substantial interest among online learning researchers, it has yet to be subjected to extensive quantitative verification or tested for external validity. Using a sample of students from 55 online MBA courses, the findings of this study suggest strong empirical support for the framework and its ability to predict both perceived learning and delivery medium satisfaction in online management education. The paper concludes with a discussion of potential implications for online management education researchers and those interested in further study of the CoI framework.
Online Self-Regulatory Learning Behaviors as a Mediator in the Relationship between Online Course Perceptions with Achievement
Authors: Barnard Lucy , Paton Valerie , Lan William
Published: September 2016

Positive perceptions of online course communication and collaboration have been associated with better academic outcomes, while self-regulatory learning behaviors have also been linked to academic achievement and other positive learning outcomes. In the current study, we examined whether self-regulatory learning behaviors may be considered as mediating the relationship between student perceptions of online course communication and collaboration with academic achievement as measured by grade point average (GPA). Results indicate that online self-regulatory learning behaviors, though not strongly associated with academic achievement in and of themselves, do mediate the positive relationship between student perceptions of online course communication and collaboration with academic achievement.
Ingesta dietética y adherencia a la dieta mediterránea en un grupo de estudiantes universitarios en función de la práctica deportiva
Authors: Redondo del Río María Paz
Published: September 2016

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Factores nutricionales y no nutricionales pueden afectar la fertilidad masculina mediante mecanismos epigenéticos
Authors: Oliver Bonet Maria
Published: September 2016

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The Effects of Acupuncture on Chronic Knee Pain Due to Osteoarthritis
Authors: Lin Xianfeng , Huang Kangmao , Zhu Guiqi , Huang Zhaobo , Qin An , Fan Shunwu
Published: September 2016

Background:

Acupuncture reportedly relieves chronic knee pain and improves physical function in patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis, but the duration of these effects is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the temporal effects of acupuncture on chronic knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis by means of a meta-analysis.

Methods:

The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched for studies published through March 2015. Ten randomized controlled trials of acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture, usual care, or no intervention for chronic knee pain in patients with clinically diagnosed or radiographically confirmed knee osteoarthritis were included. All of the studies were available in English. Weighted mean differences (WMDs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), publication bias, and heterogeneity were calculated.

Results:

The acupuncture groups showed superior pain improvement (p < 0.001; WMD = −1.24 [95% CI, −1.92 to −0.56]; I2 > 50%) and physical function (p < 0.001; WMD = 4.61 [95% CI, 2.24 to 6.97]; I2 > 50%) in the short term (up to 13 weeks). The acupuncture groups showed superior physical function (p = 0.016; WMD = 2.73 [95% CI, 0.51 to 4.94]; I2 > 50%) but not superior pain improvement (p = 0.199; WMD = −0.55 [95% CI, −1.39 to 0.29]; I2 > 50%) in the long term (up to 26 weeks). Subgroup analysis revealed that the acupuncture groups tended to have better outcomes compared with the controls. Significant publication bias was not detected (p > 0.05), but the heterogeneity of the studies was substantial.

Conclusions:

This meta-analysis demonstrates that acupuncture can improve short and long-term physical function, but it appears to provide only short-term pain relief in patients with chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Distribution of High-Volume Shoulder Arthroplasty Surgeons in the United States
Authors: Somerson Jeremy S. , Stein Brandon A. , Wirth Michael A.
Published: September 2016

Background:

Access to total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) may become a concern in the United States because of an aging and active population resulting in increased demand. As high-volume TSA surgeons have demonstrated superior outcomes, access to these surgeons is a matter of patient and public health policy interest. The release of the 2012 Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data Public Use File (MPUPD-PUF) in 2014 provided volume and reimbursement data for procedures performed by individual physicians participating in Medicare. This study analyzed surgeon prevalence, surgeon distribution, and factors associated with higher or lower surgeon prevalence in metropolitan areas.

Methods:

The MPUPD-PUF was reviewed for the 2012 calendar year, and data were extracted for all physicians who performed a minimum of 11 TSA procedures for Medicare beneficiaries. Physicians in each major metropolitan area (population of >1 million) were grouped together. Average reimbursement, number of high-volume TSA surgeons, and number of total procedures were calculated per major metropolitan area. The presence of an American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) fellowship program and mean geographic reimbursement were analyzed for association with the number of high-volume TSA surgeons.

Results:

The MPUPD-PUF included 774 surgeons across the United States who performed an annual minimum of 11 TSA procedures covered by Medicare, with a combined total of 19,505 TSA procedures. Of these surgeons, 45% practiced within major metropolitan areas with a population of >1 million. Surgeons who had completed an ASES fellowship had a higher volume of procedural claims (median, 26; range, 11 to 120) compared with other surgeons (median, 17; range, 11 to 163; p < 0.001). The distribution among major metropolitan areas was highly unequal, and more surgeons were present in cities with an ASES fellowship program.

Conclusions:

Access to high-volume shoulder arthroplasty surgeons by the Medicare population is lacking in multiple major metropolitan areas in the United States because of the uneven distribution of these surgeons. The method of analysis in this study allows for opportunities to target training programs as well as placement of physicians to ensure access to high-volume shoulder arthroplasty surgeons.
The Science of Health-Care Delivery
Authors: Sharan Alok D. , Weinstein James
Published: September 2016

As the health-care system evolves toward delivering greater value for the patient, orthopaedic surgeons are continually being challenged to manage the health of a population. The traditional focus of scientific inquiry within orthopaedics has been at the individual patient level. The science of health-care delivery is an evolving field that is aimed at bringing rigorous inquiry into determining the proper organizational design that can deliver high-quality and low-cost care for a population. This article provides an overview of basic concepts involved in systems and organizational theory relevant to orthopaedic surgery.
Development and Validation of a Preoperative Surgical Site Infection Risk Score for Primary or Revision Knee and Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Everhart Joshua S. , Andridge Rebecca R. , Scharschmidt Thomas J. , Mayerson Joel L. , Glassman Andrew H. , Lemeshow Stanley
Published: September 2016

Background:

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a major complication following total joint arthroplasty. Host susceptibility to infection has emerged as an important predictor of SSI. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a preoperative SSI risk-assessment tool for primary or revision knee and hip arthroplasty.

Methods:

Data for 6,789 patients who underwent total joint arthroplasty (from the years 2000 to 2011) were obtained from a single hospital system. SSI was defined as a superficial infection within 30 days or deep infection within 1 year. Logistic regression modeling was utilized to create a risk scoring system for a derivation sample (n = 5,789; 199 SSIs), with validation performed on a hold-out sample (a subset of observations chosen randomly from the initial sample to form a testing set; n = 1,000; 41 SSIs).

Results:

On the basis of logistic regression modeling, we created a scoring system to assess SSI risk (range, 0 to 35 points) that is the point sum of the following: primary hip arthroplasty (0 points); primary knee (1); revision hip (3); revision knee (3); non-insulin-dependent diabetes (1); insulin-dependent diabetes (1.5); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (1); inflammatory arthropathy (1.5); tobacco use (1.5); lower-extremity osteomyelitis or pyogenic arthritis (2); pelvis, thigh, or leg traumatic fracture (2); lower-extremity pathologic fracture (2.5); morbid obesity (2.5); primary bone cancer (4); reaction to prosthesis in the last 3 years (4); and history of staphylococcal septicemia (4.5). The risk score had good discriminatory capability (area under the ROC [receiver operating characteristic] curve = 0.77) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow chi-square test, p = 0.34) and was validated using the independent sample (area under the ROC curve = 0.72). A small subset of patients (5.9%) had a >10% estimated infection risk.

Conclusions:

The patient comorbidities composing the risk score heavily influenced SSI risk for primary or revision knee and hip arthroplasty. We believe that infection risk can be objectively determined in a preoperative setting with the proposed SSI risk score.
Postoperative Limb-Offset Discrepancy Notably Affects Soft-Tissue Tension in Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Takao Masaki , Nishii Takashi , Sakai Takashi , Sugano Nobuhiko
Published: September 2016

Background:

Inadequate soft-tissue tension in total hip arthroplasty is regarded as one cause of dislocation or abductor muscle weakness. The purpose of the present study was to assess how the postoperative discrepancy in limb offset (consisting of both femoral offset and acetabular offset) affects soft-tissue tension compared with other factors among patients with unilateral hip disease undergoing total hip arthroplasty.

Methods:

A total of 89 consecutive patients underwent mini-incision total hip arthroplasty involving an anterolateral or posterior approach and with use of a computer navigation system. Soft-tissue tension was measured by applying traction amounting to 40% of body weight with the joint positioned at 0°, 15°, 30°, and 45° of flexion. The separation between the cup and the prosthetic head was measured using the navigation system.

Results:

The cup-head separation differed significantly for varying angles of flexion (p < 0.001), with the greatest distance noted at 15° of flexion (mean and standard deviation, 11 ± 5 mm). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that postoperative limb-offset discrepancy, an anterolateral approach, and preoperative abduction range of motion were correlated with the cup-head separation at 15° of flexion. Postoperative limb-offset discrepancy was negatively correlated with the cup-head separation at 0°, 15°, and 30° of flexion.

Conclusions:

Postoperative limb-offset discrepancy significantly affected the soft-tissue tension in total hip arthroplasty at varying degrees of flexion. This indicated that it is important to restore normal limb offset without overlengthening to obtain adequate soft-tissue tension in total hip arthroplasty.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Are We Prescribing Our Patients Too Much Pain Medication?
Authors: Grant Daniel R. , Schoenleber Scott J. , McCarthy Alicia M. , Neiss Geraldine I. , Yorgova Petya K. , Rogers Kenneth J. , Gabos Peter G. , Shah Suken A.
Published: September 2016

Background:

Physicians play a role in the current prescription drug-abuse epidemic. Surgeons often prescribe more postoperative narcotic pain medication than patients routinely need. Although narcotics are effective for severe, acute, postoperative pain, few evidence-based guidelines exist regarding the routinely required amount and duration of use post-hospital discharge.

Methods:

Patients in a prospective cohort undergoing posterior spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis were asked preoperatively to rate their pain level, the level of pain expected each week postoperatively, and their pain tolerance. Post-discharge pain scores and narcotic use were reported at weekly intervals for 4 weeks postoperatively. Demographic data, preoperative Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22 scores, operative details, perioperative data, and self-reported pain levels were analyzed with respect to their association with total medication use and refills received. Disposal plans were also assessed.

Results:

Seventy-two patients were enrolled, and 85% completed the surveys. The mean patient age was 14.9 years; 69% of the patients were female. The cohort was divided into 3 groups on the basis of total medication usage. The mean number of pills used in the middle (average-use) group was 49 pills. In postoperative week 4, narcotic usage was minimal (a mean of 2.9 pills by the highest-use group). Also by this time point, pain scores had, on average, returned to preoperative levels. Older age, male sex, a higher body mass index, and a higher preoperative pain score were associated with increased narcotic use. Sixty-seven percent of the patients planned to dispose of their unused medication, although only 59% of those patients planned on doing so in a manner recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Conclusions:

Postoperative narcotic dosing may be improved by considering patient age, weight, sex, and preoperative pain score. The precise estimation of individual narcotic needs is complex. Patient and family education on the importance and proper method of narcotic disposal is an essential component of minimizing the availability of unused postoperative medication.

Level of Evidence:

Prognostic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Big Data Analytics Workflow to Safeguard ESP Operations in Real-Time
Authors: Gupta Supriya , Saputelli Luigi , Nikolaou Michael
Published: September 2016

The electrical submersible pump (ESP) is one of the most common forms of artificial lift pumping techniques used in the industry. ESP lift method helps maximize the production of recoverable oil by achieving higher drawdowns and larger fluid volume handling (Ratcliff, Gomez et al. 2013). Unpredictable and repeated ESP shutdowns often occur due to changes in well conditions, improper system design, and dynamic and changing operating environments (Takács 2009). Excessive shutdowns and trips greatly reduce the run-life of the ESP (El Gindy, Abdelmotaal et al. 2015). The associated equipment replacement or repair costs and related downtime and production losses are huge. E&P companies nowadays are deploying web-based monitoring platforms for real-time surveillance of essential ESP and well data. Acquiring and innovatively processing ESP operational data in real time using hybrid methods employing engineering principles and statistical methods can reveal patterns in data to distinguish between safe and unsafe operations, diagnostic measures to identify the issue and remedial actions to address the issue and take corrective action. In this manner, analytics based health monitoring platform can improve the way operators avoid ESP shutdowns which are commonly observed in remote well operations and help advance from supervised approach towards failure mitigation to a more practical approach by leveraging real time data.

This paper presents a big data analytics workflow that would allow field personnel and production engineering teams to quickly interpret trends and patterns in ESP operations, diagnose problems and take remedial actions to monitor and safeguard ESP operations. Adoption and integration of this ESP health management workflow with the real-time monitoring system can maximize equipment availability and save millions of dollars in replacement, maintenance and deferred or lost production.
Enhance Production in Tight-Casing with ESP in Artificial Sump
Authors: Bridges Jeffrey , Sikes Matthew , Kirk Jordan , Savela Danette
Published: September 2016

Eagle Ford Shale (EFS) wells are comprised of a combination of challenges that can quickly limit production potential. This paper will review a case history of a well where conventional lift methods were crippled by these challenges, so an electrical submersible pump (ESP) was tested after previous installations were uneconomical.

Utilizing artificial sumps in gassy wells has proven valuable in larger casing sizes, but this well included an additional set of unique challenges. The challenges for the ESP system for this specific test included: (i) deviated wellbore; (ii) scale and corrosion issues; (iii) tight casing; (iv) high gas-to-liquid ratio; (v) gas slugging. To overcome these challenges, a slimline ESP system was installed inside an artificial sump to separate gas and operate smoothly during gas slug events. The system was equipped with a recirculation system to maintain cooling for the motor and a capillary line for continuous chemical treatment.

This paper presents comparisons between different forms of artificial lift producing separately in the same well, as well as different forms operating concurrently in offset wells. Uncommon design and operation methods are presented with production results. The test concluded that a comprehensive design for downhole ESP equipment, including a chemical treatment plan, can increase production in an EFS well. Results included an improved drawdown rate, improved production, and no evidence of scale buildup. Additional benefits would include significantly increased time between well work overs and reduced number of system failures due to corrosion, resulting in a substantial reduction in non-productive time.

The positive results of the test demonstrate how to achieve the beneficial economic impacts of a properly designed ESP system in the Eagle Ford Shale as compared to traditional artificial lift designs.
Improving Artificial Lift Design Through Dynamic Simulation
Authors: Nguyen H. T. , Mundo F. C.
Published: September 2016

In a low commodity price environment, the quickest and most cost efficient way to increase production is by optimizing the existing well stock. The objective of this paper is to describe the successful use of transient flow and dynamic simulation to optimize artificial lift systems in tight gas wells.

The most economical way to produce natural gas wells for the field in this study (Field A) is on a plunger lift system. However, optimal plunger lift relies heavily on certain wellbore conditions (e.g. liquid to gas ratio, differential pressure between the sand face and flow line, and annular and fracture volume). Dynamic simulation helped understand the optimal wellbore conditions for maximum plunger performance, optimized plunger lift cycles, and allowed engineers to develop a consistent plunger lift strategy across the field. Improved knowledge of the dynamics of the plunger lift system resulted in a few million dollars in cost savings by refining the selection criteria for candidate wells and reducing risks in well intervention execution.

Dynamic simulation was also utilized for rod pump optimization for a 40 well rod pump pilot program. Preliminary results of the pilot program suggested that the initial rod pump design performed below expectations. The pilot well produced at a low gas rate with a high annulus liquid level. Dynamic simulation was used to test and improve the existing rod pump design and best practices. Understanding the downhole dynamics of the system allowed the engineers to identify a choke in the system resulting in a false-high fluid level reading while simultaneously causing the pump to gas lock. An optimized rod pump design was created from the learnings and the design was executed in the field. As a result, the rod pump was able to fully pump off the annulus volume and the gas production was increased by 50%.

This paper discusses the methodology to match actual field data and investigate the downhole dynamics for plunger and rod pump operation using a commercial transient flow application. The learnings and observations from this study allowed engineers to answer key technical questions, to reduce project execution risks, and to increase gas production. In the end, dynamic simulation provided a quick way to improve existing designs, test new ideas, and refine operational procedures without the time and cost of field implementation.
Extração de hidrato de Gás Natural: Uma simulação de um reservatório
Authors: Zocoli Yago
Published: September 2016

A produção de gás natural a partir de reservatórios de hidratos de gás natural tende a ser um desafio para o mundo atual. Os reservatórios de hidrato necessitam de certas condições ambientais para sua formação, e essas condições são encontradas em apenas algumas regiões pelo mundo, sendo estas extremamente inóspitas. Portanto o desenvolvimento das reservas de hidratos no mundo está atrelado a um desenvolvimento tecnológico, visto os novos desafios proporcionados pelo mesmo Os métodos de prospecção e extração de gás natural a partir desses reservatórios se diferem dos convencionais, devido as características desse recurso. A associação desses métodos é essencial para a localização, identificação e posterior produção desse recurso. Neste trabalho, foi realizado um estudo da aplicação do método de extração de despressurização em um reservatório de hidrato de gás natural. Um simulador numérico foi utilizado para se avaliar os efeitos do processo de despressurização no reservatório. Nos quatro cenários de reservatório estudados, os dados obtidos foram comparados entre si com o uso das curvas de pressão, temperatura e vazão de gás obtidas. Esta análise confirmou que a produção de gás natural a partir desses reservatórios é possível.
Effect Analysis of Nitrogen Injection on the Variation of “Oxidation Zone” in Coal Mine Gob Based on Numerical Simulation
Authors: Shen Jing , Chang Mingran
Published: September 2016

One of the main reasons for coal mine fire is spontaneous combustion of residual coal in gob. As the difference of compaction degree of coal and rock, the underground gob can be considered as a porous medium and divided into “three zones” in accordance with the criteria. The “three zones” are “heat dissipation zone”, “oxidation zone” and “choking zone”, respectively. Temperature programming experiments are taken and numerical simulation with obtained experimental data is utilized to analyze the distribution of “three zones” in this paper. Different width and depth of “oxidation zone” are obtained when the inlet air velocity is changed. As the nitrogen injection has inhibition effect on spontaneous combustion of residual coal in gob, nitrogen is injected into the gob. The widths of “oxidation zone” are compared before and after nitrogen injection. And ultimately the optimum location and volume of nitrogen injection are found out.
Comprehensive Treatment of Patients with Constricted Hernias and Metabolic Syndrome Signs
Authors: Melnyk I. V.
Published: September 2016

57 patients with constricted abdominal hernia and diagnosed metabolic syndrome were examined. They were performed the urgent hernia defect plastics with polypropylene mesh Linteks-Esfil (St. Petersburg). Patients were divided into two clinical groups: clinical group I (20) included patients in the postoperative period treated with conventional comprehensive conservative treatment. Clinical group II (37) consisted of patients treated with 2.5% solution of 2 ml tiotriazolini in muscle and metformin in a dose of 500 mg / day for metabolic syndrome correction in addition to above mentioned conventional treatment. Lipid metabolism indices improved on the 7th day in 59.2% of patients in clinical group II and only in 15% of patients in clinical group I.Postoperative wound complications such as seromas and infiltrations developed in 6.3% of patients and were eliminated by conservative methods of treatment. Patients of group II tolerated postoperative period better. Average duration of hospital stay decreased by 2.03±0.2 bed days. Thus, the treatment of patients with constricted hernia of anterior abdominal wall and metabolic syndrome should be in complex with hernia defect plastics by propylene mesh and medicamentous correction of metabolism disorders.
Application of bacteria in concrete: a critical evaluation of the current status
Authors: De Belie Nele
Published: September 2016

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation has been tested over more than a decade as a technique to enhance concrete properties. Mainly bacteria following the pathways of urea decomposition, oxidation of organic acids, or nitrate reduction have been studied for this purpose. For bacteria mixed into fresh concrete, it is difficult to prove that they actively contribute to calcium carbonate precipitation and the effects on concrete strength are variable. Application of bacteria for surface consolidation has been shown to reduce water absorption and increase durability. Microbial self-healing of cracks in concrete shows promising results at the laboratory scale. Especially the use of self-protected mixed cultures opens perspectives for practical application. However, their self-healing efficiency needs to be further proven in larger concrete elements, and under non-ideal conditions. The use of denitrifying cultures for concurrent self-healing and production of corrosion inhibiting nitrites is a promising new strategy.
Вивчення ефективності препарату Вазонат у комплексному лікуванні хворих на цукровий діабет 2-го типу
Authors: Pankiv V.I.
Published: September 2016

Мета дослідження — вивчення ефективності Вазонату (мельдонію) у хворих на цукровий діабет 2-го типу у порівняльному 12-тижневому дослідженні. Матеріали та методи. Обстежено 55 хворих на цукровий діабет (ЦД) 2-го типу. Пацієнтам першої групи на додаток до базисної терапії ЦД призначали мельдоній (Вазонат, АТ «Олайнфарм», Латвія) в дозі 1000 мг/добу впродовж 12 тижнів. До другої групи увійшло 25 хворих на ЦД 2-го типу (8 чоловіків і 17 жінок, середній вік 60,4 ± 1,9 року), які отримували тільки базисну терапію ЦД. Результати. 12-тижнева терапія мельдонієм у складі комбінованої терапії ЦД 2-го типу статистично значимо покращує показники функціонального стану нирок, на що вказує значуще зниження рівня мікроальбумінурії, креатиніну та збільшення швидкості клубочкової фільтрації в першій групі пацієнтів. Включення в схему лікування Вазонату у хворих на ЦД 2-го типу покращує морфофункціональні параметри серця, має додаткову нефропротекторну дію, знижує середні значення рівня тригліцеридів і ліпопротеїнів низької щільності, а також рівень глікованого гемоглобіну порівняно з базисною терапією. Висновки. Вазонат, що поєднує кардіопротективні властивості та цукрознижуючий ефект, є особливо вдалим вибором для комплексної терапії пацієнтів із порушеннями метаболізму глюкози, діабетичною нефропатією і серцевою недостатністю.