Economic pause - some perspective and interpretation

Economic conditions

Inflation and taxes: disincentives for capital formation

Inflation (Finance) ; Taxation

Examining Cultural Proficiency Among Secondary Agricultural Education Youth Through Intercultural Effectiveness and Global Experiences

This work seeks to examine the relationship between intercultural effectiveness and the number of global experiences among secondary agricultural education youth in Kentucky. The study utilizes Mere Exposure Theory and considers the importance of global experiences in increasing their levels of global competence and their performance on the Intercultural Effectiveness Scale (IES). The results indicate that students with a higher number of global experiences and exposures are more open to other cultures and score higher on the IES. In addition, these students are more likely to be self-aware and interested in exploring new cultures and making connections with individuals who are culturally different from them

Graphical representation of range of motion in the assessment of total hip arthroplasty : innovation report

Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) is a successful technique restoring lost mobility to patients suffering from osteoarthritis. A successful THA normalises the biomechanics of the hip joint so that a patient can achieve the required range of motion to fulfil their daily activities. A recent development in THA implant technologies has been the introduction of femoral neck modularity. Assessment of femoral neck modularity has been limited by two factors. Firstly, range of motion requirement is not well understood and secondly previous clinical reports have lacked a comparison against an established successful THA implant. This study has successfully addressed these limiting factors by developing an innovative range of motion benchmark which considers the activities a person is required to undertake during their daily routine. The benchmark was developed using a systematic review of the literature focussing on hip joint biomechanics. This has been the first study to provide a clinically meaningful representation of hip joint range of motion which permits operative outcome to be directly compared against an established benchmark. Integration of the range of motion benchmark within the surgical environment was achieved by using a surgical navigation measurement device. Intra-operative measurement meant that post-operative range of motion could be simulated and compared against the requirement set by the range of motion benchmark. Distinct outcome measures have been able to be developed using this comparison which has allowed the surgical process to be assessed like a manufacturing system. Using these outcome measures, it was found that femoral neck modularity has greater potential to adjust implant orientation in comparison to non-modular femoral neck implants to achieve the ideal range of motion. However, this potential is being limited due to the current modular neck options available and because of difficulty experienced by the surgeon in assessing implant orientation. These findings have been used to develop a medical device which provides guidance to the surgeon about the THA implant orientation and thus allow them to able to make the correct modular neck choice to maximise range of motion and improve the operative outcome for the patient

Economic Values of Saginaw Bay Coastal Marshes

We estimate the economic values of Saginaw Bay coastal marshes with multiple methods. First we estimate the value of coastal marsh recreation with two variations of the travel cost method: the single-site recreation demand model and the recreation site selection or random utility model. Using the single site model the current level of day trip recreation in the Saginaw Bay coastal marsh area is valued at almost $16 million each year. The present value is$239 million. Using the site selection travel cost model, an increase in 1125 acres of coastal marsh is valued at about $94,000 annually. The present value is$1.83 million. Willingness to pay for recreation and other values of coastal marsh protection is estimated using the contingent valuation method. The annual value of protection of 1125 acres of coastal marsh is $113,000. The present value is$2.2 million.

Femoroacetabular impingement

There is evidence that Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) is a major aetiological factor in end stage Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip, particularly in the young adult. These patients are usually very active who suffer with persistent or intermittent groin pain. Recent studies have found that the majority of these investigated cases have evidence of mild bone abnormalities. These deformities can occur on either the pelvic or femoral side or a combination of both. They interact to reduce the amount of clearance between the femoral neck and acetabular rim. This results in repetitive early contact between these osseous prominences which if left untreated will eventually progress to OA. This study reviews the clinical presentation, diagnosis and research with regard to FAI. Significant findings include the confirmation that there are gender differences in FAI morphology as well as a strong correlation between the clinical diagnosis of FAI with motion simulations and the soft-tissue damage observed intra-operatively. However, it has been shown that FAI morphology is common within the normal population and presence of this morphology alone does not necessarily mean that subjects will experience motion restriction or joint degeneration. Consequently, the type and intensity of activity a person undertakes as well as presence of more than one radiological indication of FAI contribute to the progression towards OA. Further, the analysis of the activities that a person with FAI undertakes must consider the motion of the pelvis as well as the relative alignment of the femur and pelvis in the neutral posture. These factors along with the bone morphology dictate whether impingement will occur as well as its overall severity. This should be the basis of further development with regard to the motion analysis and simulation of FAI patients to obtain a more accurate diagnosis which the surgeon can respond to have a more effective surgical plan