bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semi-exact solution for nonlinear dynamic analysis of nanobeams reinforced with functionally graded carbon nanotube located on a viscoelastic foundation
Authors: Fallah Ahmad , Dehkordi MB , Beni YT
Published: July 2019

In this investigation, a transient nonlinear dynamic analysis of nanobeams reinforced with carbon nanotubes, which is located on a nonlinear viscoelastic foundation under the impulse loading, is investigated. The boundary conditions of the nanobeam are considered as clamped-clamped, and the carbon nanotube is distributed in different distribution along the thickness of nanobeam. First, using the Hamiltonian method and taking advantage of the couple stress theory and considering the Von Karman relationship between strain and displacement, the differential equation governing for Euler–Bernoulli nanobeam is obtained. Then, by using the semi-exact method and the Galerkin's method, the displacement derivatives are separated from the time derivatives and the equation derived is solved using Runge–Kutta's numerical method. In order to confirm the equation and its solution, a comparative study is performed that shows an appropriate fitting between the results. Finally, the influence of parameters such as nonlinear coefficient of foundation, applied force, size effect, and type of nanotube distribution on the nonlinear frequency to linear frequency ratio and transient nanobeam dynamic response is investigated. A study is also conducted on the effect of foundation damping coefficient and the inclusion of nonlinear effects on the transient dynamic response when the nanobeam is under impulse load and resonance conditions. The results show that the nonlinear vibrational frequency of the nanobeam with the FG-X carbon nanotube distribution is the highest, and the FG-O carbon nanotubes distribution is the least.
Unsteady flow characteristics and cavitation prediction in the double-suction centrifugal pump using a novel approach
Authors: Pei Ji , Osman Majeed Koranteng , Wang Wenjie , Yuan Jianping , Yin Tingyun , Appiah Desmond
Published: July 2019

The recent advances in centrifugal pump design do not only require a better suction performance but also there have been attempts to reduce design time at a lower cost. The traditional trial-and-error optimization design method, however, depends on the designer's experience, which requires longer cycles. This is because the computational process of calculating the net positive suction head required (NPSHr) involves several calculation steps and this consumes a lot of computational time. An investigation was therefore carried out to test a novel NPSHr prediction method in a double-suction centrifugal pump using unsteady numerical simulations. In the new approach, a new boundary pair was introduced and an algorithm was used to estimate a good value for a static pressure value that correlates to a 3% drop in pump head to determine the critical cavitation point. Experiments were conducted to validate the hydraulic performance and the cavitation model. The NPSHr and the characteristic “sudden” head-drop were very well predicted by the novel approach in only three simulation steps. The internal flow analysis showed that for 0.6 Q d, the flow around the volute tongue was uneven at NPSH = 10.06 m, inducing flow separation and recirculation at the tongue region. Attached cavities were also observed around the suction ring in the spiral suction domain. The pressure fluctuations were analyzed also and the dominant frequency at the pump outlet and tongue region was the blade passing frequency. Consequently, the novel approach proved very robust and efficient in NPSHr prediction and would be a good alternative to shorten simulation time during cavitation optimization design process in centrifugal pumps.
The threat of the ‘returning foreign fighter’: The securitization of EU migration and border control policy
Authors: Baker-Beall Christopher
Published: July 2019

This article analyses the European Union’s response to the threat of the ‘returning foreign fighter’ (referred to with increasing frequency as the ‘foreign terrorist fighter’), arguing that it has been characterized by a move to (re)frame migration and border control as essential aspects of EU counter-terrorism policy. The article offers three important observations on the significance of this move. First, it critiques the way in which the EU’s response to this problem is based upon and reinforces a narrow understanding of returning foreign fighters. Second, it argues that the EU has invoked the threat from returning foreign fighters not with the sole intention of preventing terrorism but rather as part of the ongoing securitization of migration and the EU border. Third, it suggests that the threat from returning foreign fighters has been invoked as a way of further legitimizing the EU’s emerging role as a security actor and its embrace of preemptive security practice. The article argues throughout that the move to construct the returning foreign fighter issue in this way has important political and social implications for all categories of migrant, with migrant populations now deemed a potential source of terrorist threat.
A Bibliometric Analysis of Franchising Research (1988–2017)
Authors: Elango B.
Published: July 2019

This article conducts a bibliometric analysis of published research on the topic of franchising during the last three decades (1988–2017). This analysis is based on 570 articles related to franchising, from 108 journals published by 785 authors, taken from the Web of Science database. This article complements our understanding of the intellectual foundations of franchising research by highlighting the impact of authors, articles, journals and topics of interest. Given that franchising research cut across many functional areas and disciplines, the analysis provides insights for established and novice researchers, educational institutions and policymakers in understanding the evolution of this field.
Impact of Dividend Tax Change on the Payout Policy of Indian Companies
Authors: Dhamija Sanjay , Arora Ravinder Kumar
Published: July 2019

The article examines the impact of regulatory changes in the tax on dividends on the payout policy of Indian companies. The tax law was recently amended to levy tax on dividends received by large shareholders. As the promoters group is the largest shareholder, this is expected to have a negative impact on the payout policy of companies. Furthermore, companies with larger promoter holdings have a higher motivation to reduce their payout. The study covers 370 companies present in the BSE 500 Index and compares the dividend payout of the companies before and after the introduction of tax levy. The study finds that the newly introduced tax indeed caused a shift in the dividend policy of companies, particularly those companies which have high levels of inside ownership. The findings have significant implications for companies, investors and the government.
The Determinants of Bank Capital for East Asian Countries
Authors: Ahmad Rubi , Albaity Mohamed
Published: July 2019

This study identifies the determinants of bank capital ratios in eight East Asian countries using unbalanced panel data of 278 banks from 2004 to 2014. The results indicate that bank capital decisions are significantly driven by management quality, liquidity, leverage and bank size, as well as bank regulations, indicating that the determinants of bank capital are consistent with past findings for US and European banks. The capital adequacy ratios in East Asia are not linked with banks’ risk appetite. Given that our results show that bank managers generally react negatively to capital requirements, capital regulations should be followed with more rigorous supervisory oversight, to reduce the adverse effects of high capital requirements on bank safety.
Target Capture/Next-Generation Sequencing for Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip and Palate in the Japanese Population
Authors: Shibano Masayasu , Watanabe Akira , Takano Nobuo , Mishima Hiroyuki , Kinoshita Akira , Yoshiura Koh-ichiro , Shibahara Takahiko
Published: July 2019

Objective:

The pathogenesis of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL ± P) and nonsyndromic cleft palate only (NSCP) may be associated with genetic factors. Although some predisposing genes/loci have been reported, their attributable risk is too small to be clinically meaningful. To clarify the genetic causes and mechanisms of NSCL±P or NSCP, we conducted mutation analysis of target genes using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach.

Methods:

The target genes, IRF6, WNT5A, WNT9B, TP63, MSX1, TFAP2A, PAX9, DLX3, DLX4, and MN1, were selected based on previous reports of potential associations with the development of NSCL±P or NSCP from genome-wide association studies and candidate gene analyses. Mutation analysis was conducted using NGS on 74 Japanese trios (patient and parents) and 18 Japanese patients only families.

Results:

We detected single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) for 7 genes: IRF6, DLX4, WNT5A, TFAP2A, WNT9B, TP63, and PAX9. The SNVs found on IRF6 and DLX4 were missense mutations, whereas those identified on WNT5A, TFAP2A, WNT9B, TP63, and PAX9 were rare variants in the noncoding region; no de novo mutation was identified in the trio samples. The amino acid change on DLX4 was detected within the highly conserved homeodomain and was predicted to have a deleterious impact on the protein function by in silico analysis.

Conclusions:

The DLX4 missense mutation c.359C>T (Pro120Leu) was found in 1 Japanese patient with NSCL±P and was located in the homeodomain region. This mutation likely plays a role in the development of NSCL±P in the Japanese population.
“If I Was a ‘Real Man’”: The Role of Gender Stereotypes in the Recovery Process for Men Who Experience Sexual Victimization
Authors: Ralston Kevin M.
Published: July 2019

This research examines how men make sense of their experiences with sexual victimization. Through 19 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with men who experienced sexual victimization since turning 18 years old, this research provides insight into how men progress through the recovery process, including how they actively transformed from viewing themselves as a victim into viewing themselves as a survivor. For the participants, this process meant revising their masculinity so they could embody a new identity that did not stigmatize their experience. The conclusions suggest the development of an alternate narrative of men who experience sexual victimization that does not include gender stereotypes. Limitations of the study and implications for future research are also discussed.
Detecting Disparities in Medication Management Among Limited English Proficient and English Proficient Home Health Patients
Authors: Miner Sarah M. , Squires Allison P. , Ma Chenjuan , McDonald Margaret V. , Jones Simon A.
Published: July 2019

According to the U.S. census Bureau, close to 20% of the U.S. population speaks a language other than English at home. Home health care (HHC) patients who speak English less than very well or have limited English proficiency (LEP) are at an increased risk for medication mismanagement and serious health consequences. The purpose of this study was to examine if there were differences in medication management between English-speaking patients and patients with LEP receiving HHC services. Data for this cross-sectional observation study were collected from 2010 to 2014. Medication management was measured by two items in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services–mandated Outcomes Assessment Information Set (OASIS). All patients in the database who were taking medications and had a valid admission and discharge assessment from HHC were included in the analysis. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) with a marginal structural model was used to address potential imbalances in observed patient characteristics when estimating the effect of having LEP or being an English-speaking HHC patient on changes in medication management over the course of a HHC episode. Estimates from marginal structural model with inverse probability weighting indicate that being LEP was associated with less improvement in medication management and increased likelihood of getting worse over the course of a HHC episode. This study is one of the first to demonstrate that patients with LEP experience disparities in medication management when compared to English-speaking patients in HHC.
The Expanding Role of p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase in Programmed Host Cell Death
Authors: Gräb Jessica , Rybniker Jan
Published: July 2019

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is involved in a multitude of essential cellular processes. The kinase is activated in response to environmental stresses, including bacterial infections and inflammation, to regulate the immune response of the host. However, recent studies have demonstrated that pathogens can manipulate p38 MAPK signaling for their own benefit to either prevent or induce host cell apoptosis. In addition, there is evidence demonstrating that p38 MAPK is a potent trigger of pathogen-induced necrosis driven by mitochondrial membrane disruption. Given the large number of p38 MAPK inhibitors that have been tested in clinical trials, these findings provide an opportunity to repurpose these drugs for improved control of infectious diseases.
Parameter optimization and wear characteristics of nano CuO/Ni composite coating by brush plating technique
Authors: Vaishnu YP , Bindu Kumar K , Rani S
Published: July 2019

The development of deposition of different metal processes established on electrodeposition of nickel, different alloy and composite coatings on different surfaces has attested an upsurge in interest among researchers. In latter years, these coatings have exhibited promising corrosion and wear resistance properties. Also, huge number of modern developments became most critical from macro to nano level applications. It is well known that one may shape the microstructure and the phase present in the material to recover the mechanical properties of highly pure materials, specifically metals. Co-deposition of fine particles inside a metal matrix to generate composite coatings has treated as a practical strategy to acquire enhanced mechanical properties like wear resistance, corrosion resistance and lubrication. In this work, CuO/Ni composite coatings are processed on the small cylindrical pin by electro brush plating to evaluate the wear and corrosion resistance. To examine the effects about the different parameters of processes on wear loss of CuO/Ni composite coating, L16(44) orthogonal experiment is designed and conducted with four process parameters (voltage, concentration of nanoCuO particles in g/l, temperature and thickness) which are selected as factors. Design of experiment is employed to resolve the effects of process parameters on the wear loss of composite coatings. It is concluded that concentration of CuO nanoparticle and voltage are the most significant factors for the wear loss.
Natural background gamma radiation levels in dwellings constructed under the Double Bedroom Housing Scheme at Erravalli and Narasannapet model villages of Telangana state, India
Authors: Reddy K Vinay Kumar , Reddy B Sreenivasa , Reddy B Linga
Published: July 2019

Quantification of natural background gamma radiation levels in indoors has attracted mounting interest for the past few decades due to the detrimental effects of radiation. The indoor radiation levels depend on many parameters like geology, building materials, temperature, ventilation, etc. The natural background gamma radiation levels were estimated using a μR-Survey Meter in indoors and outdoors of dwellings constructed under the Double Bedroom Housing Scheme of Telangana state government at Erravalli and Narasannapet model villages. The average gamma radiation levels in the Erravalli village was found to be 2873 ± 413 μGyy−1, while in Narasannapet village it was 2621 ± 355 μGyy−1, which are relatively high as compared to the national average 775 ± 370 μGyy−1. The indoor to outdoor ratio of natural background radiation levels varied from 0.74 to 1.52 with an average of 1.08 which is in the global range. The variation of these levels with different types of dwellings has also been discussed.
Understanding the diesel-like spray characteristics applying a flamelet-based combustion model and detailed large eddy simulations
Authors: Pérez-Sánchez Eduardo J , Garcia-Oliver Jose M , Novella Ricardo , Pastor Jose M
Published: July 2019

This investigation analyses the structure of spray A from engine combustion network (ECN), which is representative of diesel-like sprays, by means of large eddy simulations and an unsteady flamelet progress variable combustion model. A very good agreement between modelled and experimental measurements is obtained for the inert spray that supports further analysis. A parametric variation in oxygen concentration is carried out in order to describe the structure of the flame and how it is modified when mixture reactivity is changed. The most relevant trends for the flame metrics, ignition delay and lift-off length are well-captured by the simulations corroborating the suitability of the model for this type of configuration. Results show that the morphology of the flame is strongly affected by the boundary conditions in terms of the reactive scalar spatial fields and Z–T maps. The filtered instantaneous fields provided by the simulations allow investigation of the structure of the flame at the lift-off length, whose positioning shows low fluctuations, and how it is affected by turbulence. It is evidenced that small ignition kernels appear upstream and detached from the flame that eventually merge with its base in agreement with experimental observations, leading to state that auto-ignition plays a key role as one of the flame stabilization mechanisms of the flame.
Object-disoriented geographies: the Ghost Tower of Bangkok and the topology of anxiety
Authors: Pohl Lucas
Published: July 2019

There is a broad consensus that psychoanalytic theory cannot offer an account to further engage with the ontological turn toward the object that human sciences face today. In particular, the structuralist side of psychoanalysis, most prominently promoted by Jacques Lacan, is supposed to be unable to grasp an object independently from the subject. Against this background, it is no surprise that ‘object-oriented’ geographers ignore psychoanalytic theory. My aim is to investigate the interstices between the object-oriented turn and Lacanian psychoanalysis. I argue that the critiques miss a crucial aspect of Lacan’s ontology: he does not question that there are objects located ‘out there’, but rather adds that psychoanalysis engages with another object whose location remains uncertain. I follow Lacan’s most important invention, the object a, to argue that this object is crucial to understanding the ontology of Lacan as an ‘object-disoriented’ ontology. While object-oriented approaches in cultural geography give ontological priority to the material conditions of existence, Lacanian ontology allows us to understand how material objects become spectralized through an immaterial surplus. To substantiate this claim, I explore the role of anxiety with regard to the Sathorn Unique Tower, an abandoned skyscraper sitting in the middle of Bangkok. Widely known as the ‘Ghost Tower’, this ruin is internationally considered to be haunted. By focusing on a movie and an interview about the Ghost Tower as well as my own ethnographic observation of it, I not only explore the topological dimension of the ghost but also demonstrate that it is precisely the impossibility of localization that enables an object to disorientate the subject.
A Rare Case of 7 Simultaneous Arterial Dissections and Review of The Literature
Authors: Amitai Komem Daphna , Sukenik Halevy Rivka , Griton Yigal , Shnaker Ali , Levy Yair , Weissmann Jonathan , Fajer Simone
Published: July 2019

Objective:

Spontaneous multiple artery dissection is a relatively rare phenomenon. Early clinical signs are often nonspecific, making it difficult to diagnose.

Case Report:

This is a case of a 51-year-old female who presented with spontaneous dissection of 4 visceral arteries, both iliac arteries, and of the right internal carotid artery. The patient underwent urgent successful endovascular repair. Later complications included acute respiratory distress syndrome and pneumonia after massive blood transfusion. She recovered gradually and was discharged after 21 days. Due to this rare presentation, genetic investigation was performed in search of a connective tissue disorder. Results revealed a new COL3A1 subtype mutation. The pathogenicity of this variant remains unclear.

Conclusion:

We recommend a high index of suspicion for visceral artery dissection in the differential diagnosis for abdominal pain with concurrent uncontrolled hypertension. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial to reducing the mortality rate.
Learning to live together: Religious education and religious symbols in Flanders and Québec
Authors: Franken Leni
Published: July 2019

Like most Western nations and regions, Flanders and Québec are characterized by increasing religious diversity and secularization. Accordingly, ‘learning to live together’ is a main objective in their public education programmes. In spite of this similarity, both regions seem to interpret the concept of ‘living together’ in a different way and especially when it comes to wearing religious symbols and organizing religious education in governmental schools, there is a huge difference between the Flemish and Québec policy. In this article, we will have a closer look at both policies and try to find out which one is to be preferred in their present educational contexts.
A Convenient and Robust Test to Quantify Interocular Suppression for Children With Amblyopia
Authors: Chen Hui , He Zhifen , Xu Jinling , Mao Yu , Liang Yunjie , Lin Danli , Xu Meiping , Dai Zhiyue , Chen Xiaoxin , Zhou Jiawei , Yu Xinping
Published: July 2019

Interocular suppression was quantified by the interocular luminance difference that was needed when the two eyes were balanced in discriminating a black–white stripe formed butterfly stimulus, which was dichoptically presented through polarized glasses. Stronger interocular suppression was found in amblyopes than that in controls at both the near (33 cm, 0.95 ± 1.00 vs. 0.14 ± 0.18, p < .001) and far (5 m, 2.18 ± 0.97 vs. 0.24 ± 0.16, p < .001) viewing distances. The interocular suppression in amblyopes was significantly correlated with the interocular visual acuity difference, the visual acuity of amblyopic eye, the Worth-4-Dot test, and the stereo acuity at both the near and far distances (for all cases, p < .001). Our new test enables convenient and robust measurements of interocular suppression in children with amblyopia. The measured interocular suppression is in agreement with other clinical measures.
The incretin pathway as a therapeutic target in diabetic kidney disease: a clinical focus on GLP-1 receptor agonists
Authors: van Baar Michaël J. B. , van der Aart Annemarie B. , Hoogenberg Klaas , Joles Jaap A. , Heerspink Hiddo J. L. , van Raalte Daniël H.
Published: July 2019

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remains the main cause for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) worldwide. Both CKD and ESKD lead to major increases in risk of cardiovascular disease and death in people with diabetes. Despite optimal management of lifestyle, glucose levels and hypertension, residual risk remains high, indicating that additional therapies to mitigate the burden of the disease are desired. In past decades, new treatment options for the management of diabetes have emerged, of which some have showed promising renoprotective potential. This review discusses current understanding of the renal effects of glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists and their potential use in prevention and treatment of DKD.
Treatment of Depression in Integrated Care: Implementation of the Nurse Care Manager
Authors: Adams Elizabeth G.
Published: July 2019

The collaborative care model is an effective model for improving depression symptoms in patients in a primary care (PC) setting. An essential role in this model is the care manager (CM), and nurses have been effective in this role. However, there remains a question of how to best design, train, and implement this nurse CM role in PC. The purpose of this review is to provide readers with a critical description of what processes for training and implementation of a collaborative nurse CM role have been be successful in the literature, specifically as it pertains to supporting patients with depression and chronic medical illnesses in an integrated PC setting. A literature review of PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Scopus, and the Cochrane Collaborative was conducted in October 2018. Successful nurse CM interventions have included regular patient follow-up, symptom check-in, treatment monitoring, goal setting, and education. Psychological support techniques such as Problem-Solving Therapy, behavioral activation, and motivational interviewing have been useful in supporting patient care-plan engagement and goal achievement. Nurse CM training should support the successful implementation of the designed role. Nurse CMs have an opportunity to significantly impact depressive outcomes of patients with depression and long-term health conditions. Further research is needed to explore the potential that this nursing role has as well as how to best operationalize this role.
A Case of Exploding Markets: Latin American and South Asian Literary “Booms”
Authors: Kantor Roanne L.
Published: July 2019

This article seeks to explain the recent popularity of South Asian Anglophone literature (beginning in 1981 and peaking between 1998 and 2008) in light of the boom in Latin American literature of the 1960s. It argues that the phenomenon of regional literary “booms” shares features across both eras, and that a unified theory of booms is increasingly important to understanding the way contemporary literature circulates around the globe. Scholarship about both eras has tended to coalesce around three types of boom-driving agents: “creators,” “contexts,” and “curators.” Within that broader agreement, however, scholarship about the South Asian boom has tended to overemphasize the political symbolism of recent South Asian Anglophone literature and its global popularity, while under-emphasizing the political realities that create the conditions under which that literature became popular. This line of criticism has come at the expense of attention to literature’s other dimensions as a cultural object, as well as contextual explanations of popularity involving the role of governments, demographics, and market flows. The more diverse scholarship on the Latin American boom offers a corrective with insights for both the future of South Asian Anglophone literature and the field of World Literature.
Mutant City: On Partial Transformations in Three Johannesburg Narratives
Authors: Wright Timothy
Published: July 2019

Since the fall of the apartheid regime, critical discourse on and popular imaginations of South Africa have focused with renewed intensity on the city of Johannesburg: its schizophrenic social organization, its fragmented geography, its “citadelization,” its “architecture of fear,” and its development within networks of global capital, all indexes of the ultimate failure of the nation to move beyond its segregated past. In this essay, I will focus on representations of Johannesburg's mutancy, a concept that foregrounds its temporal movements rather than its spatial calcification. In particular, I examine the uses to which the tropes of mutation and the figure of the mutant are put in a number of recent Johannesburg narratives. Mutation here is a logic of discontinuous transformation, distinct from “hybridity,” concerned less with mimicry and in-betweenness than with emergent forms of life in spaces where ideological forces have ceded to material ones. The speculative mutations in these texts give body to various forms of emergent, unconceptualized, or fantastic subjectivities, homologous with but not reducible to the “real” mutations taking place in South African urban space. I am ultimately interested in how these subjectivities inform various imaginations of futurity—catastrophic, deconstructive, and regenerative—within a country in which, as Imraan Coovadia has written, “the conditions for transcending the present are hardly to be conceived” (51).
The Shield-Shaped Jade Pendant
Authors: Erickson Susan N.
Published: July 2019

Objects carved of jade often were placed in Han-dynasty burials of people of high rank. This article focuses on a small, shield-shaped (or “heart-shaped”) pendant frequently found near the deceased. The development of the type is examined through its appearance in tombs dating to the early Western Han through the end of the Eastern Han and extending into the immediate post-Han period. The typology of the pendant and its surface decoration are analyzed. This type of jade pendant resurfaced in the Song dynasty, but its most significant resurgence is during the Ming and early Qing dynasties, although by then its decorative features, as recorded in illustrations in books, appear to be more important than its use in burials. The article also explores the foundational years of collecting Chinese art in the West by individuals such as the sinologist Berthold Laufer, as well as other scholars of Chinese art, as they began to understand the shield-shaped pendant's origin as a Han-dynasty artifact and to explore its significance.
Beyond the Spectacular
Authors: Pereira Charmaine
Published: July 2019

The aim of this essay is to interrogate gender relations in the wake of the Boko Haram insurgency in a way that recognizes continuities as well as discontinuities across multiple dimensions of social relations. The essay begins by outlining the changing trajectory of the Boko Haram insurgency and scholarly efforts to understand it as a social phenomenon. The second section discusses how research and media recognition of Boko Haram’s violence in relation to women led to a focus on spectacular events, such as mass abductions and suicide bombings. It is critical to recognize the politics of visibility and nonvisibility regarding women in the gendered dynamics set in motion by Boko Haram’s spectacles of violence. Finally, the essay points to ways in which feminist analyses of conflict and militarism throw light on the more suppressed yet critical dimensions of gender relations that surface in the wake of the Boko Haram insurgency.
Training Load and Energy Expenditure during Military Basic Training Period
Authors: JURVELIN HEIDI , TANSKANEN-TERVO MINNA , KINNUNEN HANNU , SANTTILA MATTI , KYRÖLÄINEN HEIKKI
Published: July 2019

Purpose

To compare training load and energy expenditure during an 8-wk military basic training (BT) period among individuals having different fitness level using objective measurements in an authentic environment.

Methods

Thirty-four voluntary male conscripts (age, 19.1 ± 0.3 yr) were divided into three training groups (inactive, moderate, active) by their reported physical activity (PA) level evaluated by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) before military service. Maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) and HR were determined by maximal treadmill test in the beginning and after 4 and 7 wk of BT. During BT, HR monitors and accelerometers were used to measure PA and energy expenditure. The HR data were used to calculate the training load (TRIMP, training impulse) for each day, week, and the whole BT period.

Results

Training load of BT was comparable to training of competitive athletes at the highest level. The training groups differed (P < 0.001–0.05) in terms of V˙O2max to each other (inactive, 36 ± 6; moderate, 42 ± 6; active, 48 ± 6 mL·kg−1·min−1). The conscripts in the inactive group were the most loaded during the study period (TRIMPinactive 12,393 ± 2989 vs TRIMPmoderate 10,252 ± 1337, P < 0.05 and TRIMPactive 8444 ± 2051, P < 0.01). The PA intensity of different military tasks during the BT period were low or moderate (<6 METs).

Conclusions

The remarkable training load during BT period is comparable to the training loads of professional athletes participating 3 wk of cycling competition. The training load in BT period was, however, primarily due to duration of low-intensity activities including only some high-intensity military activities. In the future, measuring the training load during the military service is recommended to customize the physical training for conscripts regarding his/her fitness level as much as possible.
Muscle Glycogen Content during Endurance Training under Low Energy Availability
Authors: KOJIMA CHIHIRO , ISHIBASHI AYA , TANABE YOKO , IWAYAMA KAITO , KAMEI AKIKO , TAKAHASHI HIDEYUKI , GOTO KAZUSHIGE
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The present study investigated the effects of three consecutive days of endurance training under conditions of low energy availability (LEA) on the muscle glycogen content, muscle damage markers, endocrine regulation, and endurance capacity in male runners.

Methods

Seven male long-distance runners (19.9 ± 1.1 yr, 175.6 ± 4.7 cm, 61.4 ± 5.3 kg, maximal oxygen uptake [V˙O2max]: 67.5 ± 4.3 mL·kg−1·min−1) completed two trials consisting of three consecutive days of endurance training under LEA (18.9 ± 1.9 kcal·kg FFM−1·d−1) or normal energy availability (NEA) (52.9 ± 5.0 kcal·kg FFM−1·d−1). The order of the two trials was randomized, with a 2-wk interval between trials. The endurance training consisted of 75 min of treadmill running at 70% of V˙O2max. Muscle glycogen content, respiratory gas variables, and blood and urine variables were measured in the morning for three consecutive days of training (days 1–3) and on the following morning after training (day 4). As an indication of endurance capacity, time to exhaustion at 19.0 ± 0.8 km·h−1 to elicit 90% of V˙O2max was evaluated on day 4.

Results

During the training period, body weight, fat-free mass, and skeletal muscle volume were significantly reduced in LEA (P = 0.02 for body weight and skeletal muscle volume, P = 0.01 for fat-free mass). Additionally, muscle glycogen content was significantly reduced in LEA (~30%, P < 0.001), with significantly lower values than those in NEA (P < 0.001). Time to exhaustion was not significantly different between the two trials (~20 min, P = 0.39).

Conclusions

Three consecutive days of endurance training under LEA decreased muscle glycogen content with lowered body weight. However, endurance capacity was not significantly impaired.
High-Altitude Acclimatization Improves Recovery from Muscle Fatigue
Authors: RUGGIERO LUCA , HOILAND RYAN L. , HANSEN ALEXANDER B. , AINSLIE PHILIP N. , MCNEIL CHRIS J.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

We investigated the effect of high-altitude acclimatization on peripheral fatigue compared with sea level and acute hypoxia.

Methods

At sea level (350 m), acute hypoxia (environmental chamber), and chronic hypoxia (5050 m, 5–9 d) (partial pressure of inspired oxygen = 140, 74 and 76 mm Hg, respectively), 12 participants (11 in chronic hypoxia) had the quadriceps of their dominant leg fatigued by three bouts of 75 intermittent electrically evoked contractions (12 pulses at 15 Hz, 1.6 s between train onsets, and 15 s between bouts). The initial peak force was ~30% of maximal voluntary force. Recovery was assessed by single trains at 1, 2, and 3 min postprotocol. Tissue oxygenation of rectus femoris was recorded by near-infrared spectroscopy.

Results

At the end of the fatigue protocol, the impairments of peak force and peak rates of force development and relaxation were greater (all P < 0.05) in acute hypoxia (~51%, 53%, and 64%, respectively) than sea level (~43%, 43%, and 52%) and chronic hypoxia (~38%, 35%, and 48%). Peak force and rate of force development recovered faster (P < 0.05) in chronic hypoxia (pooled data for 1–3 min: ~84% and 74% baseline, respectively) compared with sea level (~73% and 63% baseline) and acute hypoxia (~70% and 55% baseline). Tissue oxygenation did not differ among conditions for fatigue or recovery (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Muscle adaptations occurring with chronic hypoxia, independent of other adaptations, positively influence muscle contractility during and after repeated contractions at high altitude.
Athlete–Opponent Interdependency Alters Pacing and Information-Seeking Behavior
Authors: KONINGS MARCO J. , FOULSHAM TOM , MICKLEWRIGHT DOMINIC , HETTINGA FLORENTINA J.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The influence of interdependency between competitors on pacing decision-making and information-seeking behavior has been explored. This has been done by only altering instructions, and thereby action possibilities, while controlling environment (i.e., competitor behavior) and exercise task.

Methods

Twelve participants performed a 4-km time trial on a Velotron cycle ergometer in a randomized, counterbalanced order alone with no virtual opponent (NO), against a virtual opponent with no restrictions (low athlete–opponent interdependency [OP-IND]), or against a virtual opponent who the participant was permitted to overtake only once during the trial (high athlete–opponent interdependency [OP-DEP]). Information-seeking behavior was evaluated using an SMI eye tracker. Differences in pacing, performance, and information-seeking behavior were examined using repeated-measures ANOVA (P < 0.05).

Results

Neither mean power output (NO, 298 ± 35 W; OP-IND, 297 ± 38 W; OP-DEP, 296 ± 37 W) nor finishing time (NO, 377.7 ± 17.4 s; OP-IND, 379.3 ± 19.5 s; OP-DEP, 378.5 ± 17.7 s) differed between experimental conditions. However, power output was lower in the first kilometer of OP-DEP compared with the other experimental conditions (NO, 332 ± 59 W; OP-IND, 325 ± 62 W; OP-DEP, 316 ± 58 W; both P < 0.05), and participants decided to wait longer before they overtook their opponent (OP-IND, 137 ± 130 s; OP-DEP, 255 ± 107 s; P = 0.040). Moreover, total fixation time spent on the avatar of the virtual opponent increased when participants were only allowed to overtake once (OP-IND, 23.3 ± 16.6 s; OP-DEP, 55.8 ± 32.7 s; P = 0.002).

Conclusion

A higher interdependency between athlete and opponent altered pacing behavior in terms of in-race adaptations based on opponent’s behavior, and it induced an increased attentional focus on the virtual opponent. Thus, in the context of exercise regulation, attentional cues are likely to be used in an adaptive way according to their availability and situational relevance, consistent with a decision-making framework based on the interdependence of perception and action.
Changes in Fatigue Are the Same for Trained Men and Women after Resistance Exercise
Authors: MARSHALL PAUL W. , METCALF EMILY , HAGSTROM AMANDA D. , CROSS REBECCA , SIEGLER JASON C. , ENOKA ROGER M.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

To measure changes in fatigue and knee-extensor torque in the 48 h after trained men and women completed a full-body resistance exercise session.

Methods

Eight trained women (mean ± SD: age, 25.6 ± 5.9 yr; height, 1.68 ± 0.06 m; mass, 71.0 ± 8.6 kg) and eight trained men (age, 25.5 ± 6.2 yr; height, 1.79 ± 0.05 m; mass, 86.4 ± 9.8 kg) performed a full-body resistance exercise session based on real-world athletic practice. Measurements were performed before and after the exercise session, as well as 1, 24, and 48 h after the session. Fatigue and pain were measured with standardized self-report measures. Maximal isometric contractions with the knee extensors and superimposed femoral nerve stimulation were performed to examine maximal torque, rate of torque development, voluntary activation, and muscle contractility. Two sets of 10 isokinetic contractions (60°·s−1) with the knee extensors were performed during the protocol with use of near-infrared spectroscopy to assess muscle oxygenation. EMG were recorded from two quadriceps muscles during all isometric and isokinetic contractions.

Results

Fatigue was increased from baseline for both sexes until 48 h after training (P < 0.001). Maximal torque and evoked twitch amplitudes were similarly reduced after exercise for men and women (P < 0.001). Voluntary activation and EMG amplitudes were unchanged after the training session. Muscle oxygenation was 13.3% ± 17.4% (P = 0.005) greater for women during the isokinetic repetitions, and the values were unchanged after the training session.

Conclusions

This is the first study to show similar changes in the fatigue reported by trained men and women in the 48 h after a training session involving full-body resistance exercises. Sex differences in muscle oxygenation during exercise do not influence the reductions in muscle force, activation, or contractility after the training session.
Post-mortem computed tomography in adult non-suspicious death investigation—evaluation of an NHS based service
Authors: Robinson Claire , Deshpande Aparna , Richards Cathy , Rutty Guy , Mason Catherine , Morgan Bruno
Published: July 2019

Objective:

Post-mortem CT (PMCT) can replace autopsy in many cases of non-suspicious death. A purely NHS-based service to replace autopsy with PMCT was launched, with the cost met by the family from 2015 to 2017, and subsequently “free at the point of delivery” after local authority funding was secured. The aim of the service was to improve the experience for the families. This report describes and evaluates the service against local standards of (1) less than four day turn around, (2) cause of death given in >90% and (3) less than 10% require autopsy.

Methods:

A retrospective review of reports, records and emails was undertaken to collate demographics, times of different stages of the process, the outcome and comments from service users.

Results:

Between July 2015 and July 2018, 279 patients had PMCT scans, 67 (24.0%) in the family-funded service and 212 (76%) in the current service. 97.1% (n = 271/279) of cases had the radiology report issued by day 3 (96.8% vs 98.6% for the family funded and local authority-funded services respectively). A cause of death was given in 97.2% of scans. 2.8% of patients required autopsy. Feedback from families, coroner’s officers and undertakers has been overwhelmingly positive.

Conclusion:

The services exceeded local standards and met the needs of the Coroner and the families based on the feedback received. This model could be employed for similar services, but the change to the logistics and financial structures required to initiate such services remains a significant hurdle.

Advances in knowledge:

This is the first report of a fully NHS-based PMCT service.
Collective Bargaining: A Catalyst for Dispute Resolution between Employers and Employees in the Retail Industry in Urban Mutare
Authors: Takupiwa Nyanga , Christian Shelfa Tapfumanei
Published: July 2019

The study assesses the effectiveness of collective bargaining in resolving conflicts between employers and employees in the retail industry. The study shows that collective bargaining is a valuable dispute resolution device in the retail industry. It gives an opportunity to employers and employees to discuss their concerns pertaining to issues of work thereby preventing and resolving disputes amicably. Collective bargaining creates a platform for effective communication, negotiations in good faith, impart knowledge of rights as outlined in the Labour Act Chapter 28:01 and make organisations follow through the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The study proposes that organisations should ensure that collective bargaining adheres and implements all the CBAs.
Editorial
Authors: Ghosh Bikramaditya
Published: July 2019

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Interlinking the Shariah Compliant Stocks in India: An Analysis Using Granger Causality
Authors: Matharu Taran
Published: July 2019

With the growth of the Shariah-compliant stocks in India, the opportunities are also increasing. The investors need to know how they can predict the future of the stocks by studying a smaller number of stocks. This paper deals with the link between different Shariah-compliant stocks available in India. A research was done on S&P BSE 500 Shariah, Nifty Shariah 25, Nifty 50 Shariah and NIFTY 500 Shariah. The study revealed the interdependence of the shares. It helped locate the function as well as the driver of the stock.
Sleep assessment and interventions for patients living with cancer from the patients' and nurses' perspective
Authors: Khater Wejdan , Masha'al Dina , al-Sayaheen Aseel
Published: July 2019

Background:

Difficulty sleeping is a common symptom for patients living with cancer that significantly affects their lives. However, although sleep disorders are common, it is an overlooked problem in cancer care.

Purpose:

This study assessed the prevalence of sleep disturbances among patients living with cancer, and assessed the adequacy of sleep assessment and intervention for patients from both nurses' and patients' perspectives.

Method:

Descriptive, cross-sectional and correlational design was used in this study. A convenience sample of 129 patients with cancer and 113 registered nurses working with cancer patients was recruited. A structured face-to-face interview was used to complete the patients' questionnaires and a self-administered questionnaire was given to nurses.

Findings:

The majority of patients with cancer reported having poor sleep quality (69.8%). About 86.7% (n=98) of nurses reported that they have never screened patients with cancer for any sleep problems, and 76.7% (n=99) of the patients reported that they have never been assessed for sleep problems by the nursing staff during hospitalisation. Only 8% of patients with cancer who reported having problems sleeping to a nurse received interventions to promote better sleep.

Conclusion:

Assessment of sleep disturbances in patients with cancer should be unified using a comprehensive reliable valid instrument, as well as providing evidence-based interventions according to patient's need. A written policy should be introduced to encourage sleep documentation and to make sleep care for patients part of routine nursing care.
Politics and palliative care: Seychelles
Authors: Smyth Dion
Published: July 2019

Dion Smyth's review of palliative nursing on the internet
Infusing local culture in Singaporean animation: Developing a framework of cultural specifics from a study of contemporary cinema in Singapore
Authors: Ang Qing Sheng
Published: July 2019

Notwithstanding a materializing Singapore cinema, research attention has not been paid to how animated cultural products can make an impact on the construction of a local identity. This can be considered detrimental to the cultural promotion of a local but heterogeneous mediascape. This practice-based research attempts to outline a practical framework of cultural specifics capable of producing an animated film that is identifiably ‘Singaporean’ to a global audience. Resistance against the Marcusian One-Dimensional Man theory, the premise of Kenneth Paul Tan’s Cinema and Television in Singapore in 2008, will be the basis of this research to understand the emergence of contemporary Singaporean films. Alfian bin Sa’at’s definition of the ‘heartlander’, a recurring and highly relatable element in Singaporean cinema largely due to the geographical statistic of the population percentage living in Singaporean public housing (referred to as HDB), provides the social semiotics needed by the research to understand Singapore culture. Films such as Ilo Ilo by Anthony Chen and Sandcastle by Boo Junfeng will be analysed according to five indicators – setting, characters, mise en scène, language and premise – as they manifest Singaporean traits in their attempts to integrate local culture. The same indicators are used to analyse films such as ‘Tatsumi’ by Eric Khoo so as to locate cultural deficiency within these local animated features. ‘Flats’ by Ervin Han and similar animated shorts are subsequently examined as examples of attempts at infusing local culture into an animated production. The practical result of the research is presented as a production journal of an animated short explicating the socio-political aspects of local identity.