City networks in cyberspace and time : using Google hyperlinks to measure global economic and environmental crises

Geographers and social scientists have long been interested in ranking and classifying the cities of the world. The cutting edge of this research is characterized by a recognition of the crucial importance of information and, specifically, ICTs to cities’ positions in the current Knowledge Economy. This chapter builds on recent “cyberspace” analyses of the global urban system by arguing for, and demonstrating empirically, the value of Web search engine data as a means of understanding cities as situated within, and constituted by, flows of digital information. To this end, we show how the Google search engine can be used to specify a dynamic, informational classification of North American cities based on both the production and the consumption of Web information about two prominent current issues global in scope: the global financial crisis, and global climate change

Searching for cyberspace : the position of major cities in the information age

In this paper, we introduce an approach to identifying and ranking cities in the current Information Age. Mindful of Manuel Castells' call for a onew spatial logic,o we argue that the informational oflowo characteristics of contemporary inter-city connections has to be taken into account when measuring the (relative) oimportanceo of cities. While recent information-based studies on urban networks are valuable additions to the global urban-systems literature, we would argue that there remains a lack of up-to-date and updatable studies of information flows that acknowledge that these flows are intangible and not simply embodied in people (in the case of airline network analysis) or places (in the case of studies that focus on the physical, enabling infrastructure of electronic communications). In order to understand more about cities and their relative positions in the Information World, we should study not only tangible informational infrastructures and their associated material flows between places, but also the cyberspaces of cities in relation to digital information. To illustrate our approach, we introduce and argue that Web search engine databases comprise appropriate datasets for examining the growing importance of knowledge as a raison d'etre for a city's economic ranking on national, regional, and global scales. Based on a quantitative and qualitative hyperlink analysis using the leading and de facto standard Web search engine Google, we derive informational rankings of the world's 100 largest cities in respect to two prominent current issues that are global in scope: the global financial crisis and global climate change. Results include: that traditional, developed Western cities are most prominent in terms of the environmental measures while, in terms of the financial criteria, onewo Asian financial centers are ranked more highly. The paper concludes by outlining an agenda for further work on Web-based informational city rankings

Exercise Training to Target Gait Unsteadiness in People with Diabetes

Balance impairment and an associated high fall rate in people with diabetes is common, and a huge burden to quality of life and healthcare systems. Causes of impaired balance are commonly attributed to both sensory and motor deficits, which includes impaired muscle strength and function. This study investigated the effects of resistance exercise training on balance control during walking over level ground and on stairs. Ten DM people (age: 62 years, BMI: 29kg/m2, VPT: 9V) and 6 DM people with DPN (age: 59 years, BMI: 27kg/m2, VPT: 31V) performed a 16-week intervention of weekly resistance exercise training to increase ankle and knee extensor muscle strength. Six DM controls did not take part in the intervention (age: 50 years, BMI: 26kg/m2, VPT: 12V). Balance during gait was quantified before and after the intervention, by separation between the body centre-of-mass and centre-of-pressure under the feet during both level and stair walking. Knee and ankle extensor muscle strength was assessed using a dynamometer. The exercise intervention increased strength of ankle plantar flexors (22%) and knee extensors (30%). Despite the increases in lower limb muscle strength produced by the intervention, no improvements in balance were seen post training. However, gait speed did increase by 8%, which previous research has shown to be associated with quality of life. Controls showed no training effects in any variables. Although this exercise intervention had a positive effect on gait by increasing walking speed, there was no effect on the control of balance. Previous research has identified that medio-lateral (side-to-side) balance is impaired in people with DPN. The muscles exercised in the present study mainly control the major sagittal plane (forwards-backwards) movements that occur during gait. Interventions targeting the lateral stabilising muscles of the hip and trunk, may show greater potential efficacy in redressing the balance impairment of this population

Acute Effects of Vibrating Insoles on Dynamic Balance and Gait Quality in Individuals With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Randomized Crossover Study

OBJECTIVE This study investigated the effects of vibrating insoles on dynamic balance and gait quality during level and stair walking and explored the influence of vibration type and frequency in individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Twenty-two men with DPN were assessed for gait quality and postural and dynamic balance during walking and stair negotiation using a motion capture system and force plates across seven vibratory insole conditions (Vcs) versus a control (Ctrl) condition (insole without vibration). Vibration was applied during standing and walking tasks, and 15-min rest-stop periods without vibration were interposed between conditions. Repeated measures test conditions were randomized. The primary outcomes were gait speed and dynamic balance. RESULTS Gait speed during walking significantly improved in all Vcs compared with Ctrl (P < 0.005), with Vc2, Vc4, and Vc6 identified as the most effective. Gait speed increased (reflecting faster walking) during stair ascent and descent in Vc2 (Ctrl vs. Vc2 for ascent 0.447 ± 0.180 vs. 0.517 ± 0.127 m/s; P = 0.037 and descent 0.394 ± 0.170 vs. 0.487 ± 0.125 m/s; P = 0.016), Vc4 (Ctrl vs. Vc4 for ascent 0.447 ± 0.180 vs. 0.482 ± 0.197 m/s; P = 0.047 and descent 0.394 ± 0.170 vs. 0.438 ± 0.181 m/s; P = 0.017), and Vc6 (Ctrl vs. Vc6 for ascent 0.447 ± 0.180 vs. 0.506 ± 0.179 m/s; P = 0.043 and descent 0.394 ± 0.170 vs. 0.463 ± 0.159 m/s; P = 0.026). Postural balance improved during quiet standing with eyes closed in Vc2, Vc4, Vc6, and Vc7 (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS Vibrating insoles are an effective acute strategy for improving postural balance and gait quality during level walking and stair descent in individuals with DPN. These benefits are particularly evident when the entire plantar foot surface is stimulated

Early warnings and missed alarms for abrupt monsoon transitions

Journal ArticlePalaeo-records from China demonstrate that the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) is dominated by abrupt and large magnitude monsoon shifts on millennial timescales, switching between periods of high and weak monsoon rains. It has been hypothesized that over these timescales, the EASM exhibits two stable states with bifurcation-Type tipping points between them. Here we test this hypothesis by looking for early warning signals of past bifurcations in speleothem δ18O records from Sanbao Cave and Hulu Cave, China, spanning the penultimate glacial cycle. We find that although there are increases in both autocorrelation and variance preceding some of the monsoon transitions during this period, it is only immediately prior to the abrupt monsoon shift at the penultimate deglaciation (Termination II) that statistically significant increases are detected. To supplement our data analysis, we produce and analyse multiple model simulations that we derive from these data. We find hysteresis behaviour in our model simulations with transitions directly forced by solar insolation. However, signals of critical slowing down, which occur on the approach to a bifurcation, are only detectable in the model simulations when the change in system stability is sufficiently slow to be detected by the sampling resolution of the data set. This raises the possibility that the early warning "alarms" were missed in the speleothem data over the period 224-150 kyr and it was only at the monsoon termination that the change in the system stability was sufficiently slow to detect early warning signals

The role of foot pressure measurement in the prediction and prevention of diabetic foot ulceration – a comprehensive review

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a costly public health concern. The predominant risk factor, peripheral neuropathy, results in loss of protective sensation and is associated with abnormally high plantar pressures. DFU prevention strategies, including orthotics and footwear, strive to reduce these high plantar pressures. Nevertheless, several constraints should be acknowledged regarding the research supporting the link between plantar pressure and DFUs. The majority of studies assess vertical, rather than shear, barefoot plantar pressure in laboratory-based environments, rather than during daily activity. Few studies investigated previous DFU location-specific pressure. Previous studies focus predominantly on walking, although studies monitoring activity suggest that more time is spent on other weight-bearing activities, where a lower ‘peak’ pressure might be applied on the foot over a longer duration. Although further research is needed, this may indicate that an expression of cumulative pressure applied over time, such as pressure-time integral, could be a more relevant parameter than peak pressure. A few studies have indicated that providing pressure feedback to the patient might reduce plantar pressures, with an emerging potential use of smart technology. However, further research is required to determine the efficacy of this approach. Constraints of previous plantar pressure research may explain its low prediction ability for DFU as part of prospective studies. Further vertical and shear pressure analyses, across all weight-bearing activities and referring to location-specific pressures are required to improve our understanding of pressures resulting in DFUs and to help improve effectiveness of interventions, such as therapeutic footwear and pressure-feedback

Hydrodebridement of wounds: effectiveness in reducing wound bacterial contamination and potential for air bacterial contamination

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to assess the level of air contamination with bacteria after surgical hydrodebridement and to determine the effectiveness of hydro surgery on bacterial reduction of a simulated infected wound.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Four porcine samples were scored then infected with a broth culture containing a variety of organisms and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. The infected samples were then debrided with the hydro surgery tool (Versajet, Smith and Nephew, Largo, Florida, USA). Samples were taken for microbiology, histology and scanning electron microscopy pre-infection, post infection and post debridement. Air bacterial contamination was evaluated before, during and after debridement by using active and passive methods; for active sampling the SAS-Super 90 air sampler was used, for passive sampling settle plates were located at set distances around the clinic room.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was no statistically significant reduction in bacterial contamination of the porcine samples post hydrodebridement. Analysis of the passive sampling showed a significant (<it>p </it>< 0.001) increase in microbial counts post hydrodebridement. Levels ranging from 950 colony forming units per meter cubed (CFUs/m³) to 16780 CFUs/m³were observed with active sampling of the air whilst using hydro surgery equipment compared with a basal count of 582 CFUs/m³. During removal of the wound dressing, a significant increase was observed relative to basal counts (<it>p </it>< 0.05). Microbial load of the air samples was still significantly raised 1 hour post-therapy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results suggest a significant increase in bacterial air contamination both by active sampling and passive sampling. We believe that action might be taken to mitigate fallout in the settings in which this technique is used.</p

Fiddling while the ice melts? How organizational scholars can take a more active role in the climate change debate

The debate over anthropogenic climate change or the idea that human activities are altering the physical climate of the planet continues to rage amid seemingly irreconcilable differences, both within the developed world and between developed and less developed countries. With high uncertainty, rival worldviews, and wide diversity of meaning attached to the expression, climate change has become a key narrative within which local and transnational issues – economic, social, and political – are framed and contested. The field is fraught with controversies regarding causes and consequences, as well as different attitudes toward risks, technologies, and economic and social well-being for different groups. Parties also dispute how to share responsibility for reducing emissions – whether the issue primarily needs market, regulatory, technological, or behavioral solutions. Climate change is many things to many people. Competing interests negotiate over its interpretation and utilize various strategies to promote practices that advance their own understandings regarding climate change and its governance