A comparative study of orthotropic and isotropic bone adaptation in the femur.

Functional adaptation of the femur has been studied extensively by embedding remodelling algorithms in finite element models, with bone commonly assumed to have isotropic material properties for computational efficiency. However, isotropy is insufficient in predicting the directionality of bone's observed microstructure. A novel iterative orthotropic 3D adaptation algorithm is proposed and applied to a finite element model of the whole femur. Bone was modelled as an optimised strain-driven adaptive continuum with local orthotropic symmetry. Each element's material orientations were aligned with the local principal stress directions and their corresponding directional Young's moduli updated proportionally to the associated strain stimuli. The converged predicted density distributions for a coronal section of the whole femur were qualitatively and quantitatively compared with the results obtained by the commonly used isotropic approach to bone adaptation and with ex vivo imaging data. The orthotropic assumption was shown to improve the prediction of bone density distribution when compared with the more commonly used isotropic approach, whilst producing lower comparative mass, structurally optimised models. It was also shown that the orthotropic approach can provide additional directional information on the material properties distributions for the whole femur, an advantage over isotropic bone adaptation. Orthotropic bone models can help in improving research areas in biomechanics where local structure and mechanical properties are of key importance, such as fracture prediction and implant assessment. © 2014 The Authors. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

A landscape analysis and cultural resource inventory of Troublesome Creek Ironworks: a geographical and archaeological approach

This thesis created a working cultural resource inventory and landscape analysis of Troublesome Creek Ironworks (TCI). TCI is located in Rockingham County and is owned by the Rockingham County Historical Society. The property is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Three archaeological sites at TCI were examined for this research: a 19th century farmhouse site, a 19th century cabin site, and the possible location of Revolutionary War entrenchments. Little is known regarding the histories of these sites and data obtained through archaeological survey investigations at TCI during 2005 and 2010 provided the basis for a geographical and archaeological assessment of these sites across this landscape. Spatial analysis of archaeological material recovered from these sites provided insight into cultural patterns across the landscape. Dates for all three sites were derived from ceramic, flat window glass, and nail artifact analysis. Artifact patterns and dates were compared to the written site histories, where available, to improve overall site interpretation. Analysis of data obtained from investigations of the farmhouse site correlated to many historical events at TCI and also revealed possible evidence of an earlier house location at TCI. Examination of the cabin site established relative dates for the structure, confirming an oral history of the site. The entrenchment site survey did not produce evidence to support its association with events surrounding the Revolutionary war; however, this is most likely due to looting that has occurred at the site over the past several decades. Data obtained through these survey investigations at TCI were compared to similar sites in the North Carolina Piedmont to examine patterns between sites sharing similar temporal and functional contexts. Many similarities in artifact assemblages were found for these sites in the Piedmont. Due to the size of the property and the numerous cultural resources, more extensive investigations are needed to begin tying all the sites and written histories together at TCI. Extensions to the existing survey grids as well as several test excavations across the sites at TCI will generate a more comprehensive analysis of the cultural resources across the landscape. While more research is needed to fully understand TCI's history, this research improved the site interpretation throughout the property

Sumptuary legislation and other regulations pertaining to personal appearance in the seventeenth century

This is a study of "sumptuary regulation", its growth, change, and decline from 1300 to 1700. Specifically, the study will be limited to consideration of the sumptuary legislation and other regulations pertaining to personal appearance, in the English Colonies in North America, and Western Europe to include Italy, Germany, Switzerland, France, and England. In considering the growth, change, and decline of sumptuary regulation, the term growth has been interpreted to mean the frequency of occurrence and the northwestward spread of such laws through Europe to America; change was regarded as indicative of a change in character as well as a change from simple to complex; decline was related to the strictness of enforcement and the frequency of occurrence of sumptuary regulations

The legal aspects of the dismissal of a teacher/coach from only his coaching responsibilities

This study is an investigation of the legality of the dismissal of a teacher/coach from only the interscholastic coaching responsibilities. As long as American society is considered "sports minded," coaches will be examined by those individuals who feel qualified to determine the staffing and conduct of interscholastic sports programs. The typical process of community, parental, and administrative involvement with interscholastic sports has allowed the peripherally involved to approach, criticize and eventually ask for the dismissal of coaches not meeting certain expectations

Progressive harmonic series exercises in high range expansion for beginning horn players

Upper range expansion is one of the most challenging parts of beginning study on the horn. The means in which higher pitches are introduced through horn methods or wind band studies are accompanied by a multitude of additional technical skills for students to practice. Although these introductions of notes occur in step-wise motion, upward extension is rushed, with new notes instituted frequently with few written exercises to rehearse new pitches. As a result, young students struggle with performing in the upper range required by music studied in methods or wind band classes. The goal of this project was to develop a progressive series of exercises to allow more accessible performance in the high range of the horn through implementation of etudes in all harmonic series. Concepts are introduced sequentially, allowing the student to perform exercises that ascend in range and enabling practice in high range expansion by transposition of exercises to higher harmonic series. Constructed with a duet part, a teacher or peer can perform alongside the student on each etude to provide engagement for the student with counterpoint. Each exercise includes commentary regarding the goals and challenges of the musical content

Parental views on sport specialization for adolescent volleyball players

Many athletes specialize in one sport before or during adolescence. Although specialization has benefits for skill development, many athletes face negative psychological and physiological consequences like burnout and overuse injuries, especially when they specialize early. In many cases, athletes and their families are seemingly driven by factors like college scholarships or elite performance and agree to specialization without understanding the possible harmful side effects. The purpose of this project was to investigate parents’ views on specialization and to use the findings to develop more impactful and relevant approaches to educate families as they determine whether to pursue specialization. Parents, stepparents, grandparents, and guardians of adolescent club volleyball players completed surveys (n = 184) and/or participated in focus groups (n = 25) to share their understanding of sport specialization, why they might encourage or discourage it, and possible pressures and sources of information on sport specialization. The most common reasons for encouraging specialization were skill development/achieving expert status, passion for/love of the sport, and learning team sport values. The most common reasons for discouraging specialization were excluding other activities, valuing well-roundedness/other sports, and burnout/overuse injuries. Surprisingly, 90% of influential adults in this survey reported that they did not feel outside pressure for their child to specialize. Most (83%) influential adults had not received any information about specialization, and only 31% had ever discussed specialization with their child, reinforcing the need for targeted information to help educate them on the topic and provide suggestions for navigating the decision to specialize as a family

Rural Community College Nontraditional Women: Overcoming Educational Barriers

Community colleges may provide access and opportunity to acquire higher levels of academic education; however, the students' decision to persist from semester to semester is contingent upon the individuals' life circumstances. Community colleges are experiencing increased enrollment of nontraditional women, especially in vocational technical programs of study. Research in the changing characteristics of nontraditional female students will assist community colleges in realizing their mission, by providing direction with planning, implementing, and evaluating services designed to meet the needs of this segment of the student population. The purpose of this qualitative study was to learn more about how nontraditional women overcome educational barriers in a community college vocational technical program of study. The researcher also sought to bring insights about the experiences of being an adult female returning to education at a rural community college. Research participants included 15 nontraditional women at Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville, Virginia. Through semi-structured interviews, personal experiences of women overcoming educational barriers were explored. The findings revealed that participants entered the educational experience with apprehension, but with a sense of determination to achieve their educational goal for their own self esteem and significant others in their life (especially their children). Participants reported barriers as: financial, conflict in role obligations, limited time, and self-doubt in academic preparation, which were overcome by determination and seeking assistance through the Student Support Services program. Finally, participants suggested implementing a specialized, nontraditional female focused orientation course, on-site daycare services, and extended Student Support Services to meet the needs of this segment of the student population

Sound level measurements in music practice rooms.

Average sound levels and percentage of daily dose of noise exposure were measured in the practice rooms of a university school of music, with the primary objective of determining whether sound levels in student practice rooms were high enough to warrant concern for hearing conservation. A secondary objective was to determine whether any instrument group was at higher risk for music-induced hearing loss due to exposure levels. Students representing 4 instrument groups were tested: brass, wind, string and voice. Measurements were taken using a dosimeter or DoseBadge clipped to the shoulder during 40 students’ individual practice sessions. These readings provided average exposure levels as well as the percentage of total allowed exposure (dose) obtained during the practice session. The mean measurement time for this study was 47 minutes (SD = 22). Mean sound levels measured averaged 87-95 dB(A) (SD = 3.5-5.9). Mean average levels for the brass players were significantly higher than other instrument groups. Using the mean duration of daily practice reported by the participants to estimate dose, 48% would exceed the allowable sound exposure. Implications for professional musicians are discussed, including the need for 12-hour breaks and the use of musicians’ earplugs. The implementation of a Hearing Protection Policy in the School of Music will also be discussed

The accuracy of self-appraised health knowledge of selected college students in eight specific areas of first aid at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro

This study examined the relationships between the students' first aid background, self-appraised first aid knowledge, and tested first aid knowledge. The theme of this study was to determine if self-appraised knowledge of selected college students in eight specific areas of first aid could serve as an accurate measure of the students' first aid knowledge. The four research questions under investigation were: (1) How accurate was self-appraised first aid knowledge prior to completing a course in first aid? (2) How accurate was self-appraised first aid knowledge after completing a course in first aid? The specific first aid areas investigated for both questions 1 and 2 were as follows: (1) breathing difficulties, (b) poisoning, (c) drug problems, (d) wounds, (e)shock, (f)burns, (g)cardiovascular problems, and (h)methods of transfer. (3) Was there a significant relationship between the post-class mean self-appraisal ratings and the total first aid knowledge test scores when students were and were not exposed to a pre-class first aid knowledge test? (4) Did considerable prior emergency care training or experience influence the accuracy of self-appraisal? The target population for this study was university students enrolled in the Health Education classes for first aid at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Fall semester, 1976. Six first aid classes were investigated, with a total N of 150 (34 males and 116 females)

The effect of silence on tinnitus perception.

OBJECTIVE: The effect of sustained silence was studied on the emergence of tinnitus perception in 120 normal hearing young adult Caucasians and African Americans. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: After sitting in a sound booth for a period of 20 minutes, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire documenting whether they perceived sounds in the silent setting and descriptions of the sounds they heard. RESULTS: Tinnitus-like sounds were perceived in 64% of listeners overall. No significant differences in tinnitus perception were observed between males and females. However, there was a significant difference in tinnitus perception between Caucasian and African American subjects, with tinnitus sounds emerging in sustained silence less frequently in African American listeners. Tinnitus emerged quickly in a majority of subjects (less than 4 minutes) and African American subjects who perceived tinnitus heard a greater number of individual tinnitus-like sounds than did Caucasian subjects. Ring (57%), buzz (21 %), pulse (22%), heartbeat (21 %), and hum (14%) were the most common sounds heard, with ring being the most common overall tinnitus per-ception. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Few investigators have documented at the emergence of tinnitus in normal hearing subjects. Results of the current study found significant differences in tinnitus perception between Caucasian and African American subjects, but found no significant differences when comparing males and female subjects. EBM rating: C. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2005;132:20-4.