Economic impacts of climate change on cities: A survey of the existing literature

This paper attempts a survey of the existing literature on the direct market impacts of climate change on urban centers. In the first chapter, the argument for the importance of cities as case studies for research on the impacts of climate change is established using current population data and future projections. In the second chapter, a brief overview of how we can go from the global level to the regional level, when we consider the impacts of climate change, is given. In the third chapter, we examine the models and their estimates for the sea level rise impacts on cities. In the fourth chapter, we summarize the impacts of increasing temperature. In the last two chapters, we elaborate on the current limitations and we present some conclusions. --

Reproducibility of lower strength tests using a new portable dynamometer; measurement comparisons with a non-portable dynamometer

Objectives: Hand-held dynamometers have been used to assess lower limb muscle strength. However, they have been reported to have various reliability and be dependent on the strength of the participant and that of the examiner. A new way to assess lower limb muscle strength using a portable load cell is being introduced in assessing knee extensors, hip abductors, hip external rotators and combined hip abductors and external rotators (‘clam’ position). The study aimed to identify the test-retest reliability, intra-rater reliability and validity of the new assessment method. Method: Twenty healthy controls took part in this study which took place in a physiology lab and performed four isometric strength tests on the portable dynamometer at two times. The first time the tests were also performed in an isokinetic dynamometer to assess validity. Results: The new assessment method was found have high reliability (knee extension ICC=0.99; hip abduction ICC=0.94; hip external rotation=0.97; ‘clam’=0.95) and high validity (knee extension ICC=0.99; hip abduction ICC=0.98; hip external rotation=0.90; ‘clam’=0.98) when compared to a gold standard isokinetic dynamometer. Conclusion: The new method is reliable and valid. It is more time-consuming than a hand-held dynamometer however it provides precise results without being dependent on the examiner

Generalized Additive Models for Location Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) in R

GAMLSS is a general framework for fitting regression type models where the distribution of the response variable does not have to belong to the exponential family and includes highly skew and kurtotic continuous and discrete distribution. GAMLSS allows all the parameters of the distribution of the response variable to be modelled as linear/non-linear or smooth functions of the explanatory variables. This paper starts by defining the statistical framework of GAMLSS, then describes the current implementation of GAMLSS in R and finally gives four different data examples to demonstrate how GAMLSS can be used for statistical modelling.

Angular Dependent Magnetization Dynamics of Kagome Artificial Spin Ice Incorporating Topological Defects

We report angular-dependent spin-wave spectroscopy on kagome artificial spin ice made of large arrays of interconnected Ni80Fe20 nanobars. Spectra taken in saturated and disordered states exhibit a series of resonances with characteristic in-plane angular dependencies. Micromagnetic simulations allow us to interpret characteristic resonances of a two-step magnetization reversal of the nanomagnets. The dynamic properties are consistent with topological defects that are provoked via a magnetic field applied at specific angles. Simulations that we performed on previously investigated kagome artificial spin ice consisting of isolated nanobars show characteristic discrepancies in the spin wave modes which we explain by the absence of vertices.Comment: 14 pages and 5 figure

A systematic review of reviews on patellofemoral pain syndrome. Exploring the risk factors, diagnostic tests, outcome measurements and exercise treatment

Abstract: Background: Literature has shown a growing number of published studies on Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome every year. The increasing evidence base has revealed a significant number of reviews which makes it confusing for clinicians and researchers to choose from the best evidence. This study aimed to gather the reviews on Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome and provide information about the most common clinical tests, risk factors, exercise treatment and outcome measures. In addition, secondary questions aimed to report the study settings and patient characteristics of the primary included studies. Methods: Studies eligible for this Review of Reviews were those published from 1993 to July 2013. Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Pedro and the Cochrane Library. Four key areas were searched using the words: PFPS, Anterior Knee Pain (AKP) or Chondromalacia patella (CP), plus a keyword. The keywords for the four research topics were a) risk factors; b) exercise treatment; c) diagnostic clinical tests and d) psychometric outcome measurements. Only reviews with clear methodological strategy were included. A two-stage evaluation was performed ineach review assessment. At first, the level of evidence was graded and then the methodological quality of each review was assessed. Results: Full text screening revealed that only 18 reviews were eligible for use. The selected reviews included 213 primary studies. After excluding duplicates, 144 primary studies were screened to answer the secondary questions. A gold standard clinical test for PFPS assessment cannot be reached and the use of functional tasks should be considered. The quadriceps strength deficits are still the only evidence based risk factors along with the dynamic malalignment of the lower limb. More research is still required on strength and flexibility deficits of other lower limb muscles. The quadriceps-based exercises are still the only ones to have strong evidence together with hamstrings, quadriceps, gastrocnemius and anterior hip muscles stretching. Finally, the usage of Activities of Daily Living Scale is recommended as the best outcome measure. Conclusion: There is no evidence on whether the above treatment and assessment methods should be used in sedentarypeople or differently across population groups or gender. More RCTs with large populations, powered correctly, inclinical environments are called for in further research

Perceptions of physiotherapists of their role in reducing pain and increasing, function, strength and flexibility in patients with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Study objectives: The purpose of this focus group study was to establish the physiotherapy treatment of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome in North-West Wales. In addition the study aimed to report the barriers that stopped physiotherapists from increasing strength and flexibility and the contradictions of physiotherapists’ beliefs regarding their practice. Methods: The investigation was based on specific and priori designed questions. Two focus groups were conducted, where physiotherapists discussed the results of a feasibility study conducted in their department. 11 hypotheses discussed whilst 13 evidence statements reported by the merger of the answers to the hypotheses. A level of consensus was described using the moderator’s notes. Results: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome physiotherapy works; not through strength and flexibility but through pain and function improvement. However, this practice often only has a short-term effect. Conclusions: Group classes and better education on the importance of specific exercises and self-managing should be researched whilst the long-term effect of these treatment components should also be assessed

REFLECTION ON TEACHING A POSTGRADUATE, PROJECT-BASED LEARNING COURSE WITH DIVERSE DISCIPLINES

This paper is a teaching reflection on the delivery of the postgraduate, project-based learning (PBL) engineering course (subject) that is common to five Masters of Engineering program at School of Engineering, RMIT. The data was sourced from end-of-semester surveys of the perceptions of students who completed the course between 2017, when we taught the course for the first time, and 2019. The analysis showed substantial improvements in overall satisfaction, percentage of agreement on the project-based learning helping students to work well with peers, and percentage of agreement that students became more able to apply the theories to practice. The mastery in teaching such a course, especially when the students from various disciplines are involved, demands an adaptive teaching approach wherein the instructors or teachers experiment to continuously improve on the shortcomings in subsequent offerings to enhance the students’ learning experience. A PBL course that is well-designed, well-supported, well-implemented, and well-taught can engage students by improving their comprehension, helping them to work well with peers, improving their communication, and assisting them to apply theories to real application or practice

An experimental examination of the role of re-engineering in the management of software quality

This paper reports on the design and the results of a randomised, controlled experiment estimating the effect of predetermined changes in module complexity on the maintainability of different program versions seeded with equivalent logic errors. The experiment measures maintainability which is a defining sub-attribute of quality. The hypothesis "low module complexity results in high maintainability" is tested experimentally by monitoring and recording the time taken to identify and correct the seeded errors. Prior to the experiment programs are statically analysed to produce measurements of internal sub-attributes of the fundamental attribute of complexity. A first program version is modularised according to established rules giving a new version with a larger number of modules and with smaller individual module complexity. The results of this work can be used to design tools capable of providing an indicator, or factor, for re-engineering whereby a given program can be restructured in such a way that quality improvement can be quantified or at least estimated. As maintainability is a defining attribute of quality the insights gained can be further applied in understanding the underlying processes involved and ultimately lead to quality improvements