Slippery Rock University

It has long been claimed that a better understanding of human or social dimensions of environmental issues will improve conservation. The social sciences are one important means through which researchers and practitioners can attain that better understanding. Yet, a lack of awareness of the scope and uncertainty about the purpose of the conservation social sciences impedes the conservation community's effective engagement with the human dimensions. This paper examines the scope and purpose of eighteen subfields of classic, interdisciplinary and applied conservation social sciences and articulates ten distinct contributions that the social sciences can make to understanding and improving conservation. In brief, the conservation social sciences can be valuable to conservation for descriptive, diagnostic, disruptive, reflexive, generative, innovative, or instrumental reasons. This review and supporting materials provides a succinct yet comprehensive reference for conservation scientists and practitioners. We contend that the social sciences can help facilitate conservation policies, actions and outcomes that are more legitimate, salient, robust and effective.

Students new to doing qualitative research in the ethnographic and oral traditions, often have difficulty creating successful interview protocols. This article offers practical suggestions for students new to qualitative research for both writing interview protocol that elicit useful data and for conducting the interview. This piece was originally developed as a classroom tool and can be used by professors teaching qualitative research in conjunction with academic readings about qualitative interviewing.

Importance: Effective long-term treatments are needed to address the obesity epidemic. Numerous wearable technologies specific to physical activity and diet are available, but it is unclear if these are effective at improving weight loss. Objective: To test the hypothesis that, compared with a standard behavioral weight loss intervention (standard intervention), a technology-enhanced weight loss intervention (enhanced intervention) would result in greater weight loss. Design, Setting, Participants: Randomized clinical trial conducted at the University of Pittsburgh and enrolling 471 adult participants between October 2010 and October 2012, with data collection completed by December 2014. Interventions: Participants were placed on a low-calorie diet, prescribed increases in physical activity, and had group counseling sessions. At 6 months, the interventions added telephone counseling sessions, text message prompts, and access to study materials on a website. At 6 months, participants randomized to the standard intervention group initiated self-monitoring of diet and physical activity using a website, and those randomized to the enhanced intervention group were provided with a wearable device and accompanying web interface to monitor diet and physical activity. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome of weight was measured over 24 months at 6-month intervals, and the primary hypothesis tested the change in weight between 2 groups at 24 months. Secondary outcomes included body composition, fitness, physical activity, and dietary intake. Results: Among the 471 participants randomized (body mass index [BMI], 25 to <40; age range, 18-35 years; 28.9% nonwhite, 77.2% women), 470 (233 in the standard intervention group, 237 in the enhanced intervention group) initiated the interventions as randomized, and 74.5% completed the study. For the enhanced intervention group, mean base line weight was 96.3 kg (95% CI, 94.2-98.5) and 24-month weight 92.8 kg (95% CI, 90.6- 95.0) [corrected]. For the standard intervention group, mean baseline weight was 95.2kg (95%CI,93.0-97.3)and24-month weight was 89.3 kg (95%CI, 87.1-91.5) [corrected]. Weight change at 24 months differed significantly by intervention group (estimated mean weight loss, 3.5 kg [95% CI, 2.6-4.5} in the enhanced intervention group and 5.9 kg [95% CI, 5.0-6.8] in the standard intervention group; difference, 2.4 kg [95% CI, 1.0-3.7]; P = .002). Both groups had significant improvements in body composition, fitness, physical activity, and diet, with no significant difference between groups. Conclusions and Relevance: Among young adults with a BMI between 25 and less than 40, the addition of a wearable technology device to a standard behavioral intervention resulted in less weight loss over 24 months. Devices that monitor and provide feedback on physical activity may not offer an advantage over standard behavioral weight loss approaches. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01131871.

This study focuses on the interpretations and experiences of change recipients, those who carry out organizational interventions initiated by others. Based on the ways nurses experienced a shared governance initiative implemented in their hospital, the authors investigated change recipients’ sensemaking about organizational change through their ascribed meanings, emotional responses, and perceptions of its impacts on them. Survey data demonstrated how nurses subjectively assessed their gains and losses from the change initiative. Participation in the initiative increased the experience of gains, as did membership in a unit where change was implemented more fully. Textual analysis of open-ended responses to the survey indicated that gains were linked with interpretations of the change initiative and pleasant feelings and that there was considerable emotional contagion within work units. Such effects are particularly likely in employee empowerment initiatives as experiences are linked to interpretation and mood among change recipients.

Hyperkinetic movements are unwanted or excess movements that are frequently seen in children with neurologic disorders. They are an important clinical finding with significant implications for diagnosis and treatment. However, the lack of agreement on standard terminology and definitions interferes with clinical treatment and research. We describe definitions of dystonia, chorea, athetosis, myoclonus, tremor, tics, and stereotypies that arose from a consensus meeting in June 2008 of specialists from different clinical and basic science fields. Dystonia is a movement disorder in which involuntary sustained or intermittent muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements, abnormal postures, or both. Chorea is an ongoing random-appearing sequence of one or more discrete involuntary movements or movement fragments. Athetosis is a slow, continuous, involuntary writhing movement that prevents maintenance of a stable posture. Myoclonus is a sequence of repeated, often nonrhythmic, brief shock-like jerks due to sudden involuntary contraction or relaxation of one or more muscles. Tremor is a rhythmic back-and-forth or oscillating involuntary movement about a joint axis. Tics are repeated, individually recognizable, intermittent movements or movement fragments that are almost always briefly suppressible and are usually associated with awareness of an urge to perform the movement. Stereotypies are repetitive, simple movements that can be voluntarily suppressed. We provide recommended techniques for clinical examination and suggestions for differentiating between the different types of hyperkinetic movements, noting that there may be overlap between conditions. These definitions and the diagnostic recommendations are intended to be reliable and useful for clinical practice, communication between clinicians and researchers, and for the design of quantitative tests that will guide and assess the outcome of future clinical trials.

Despite broad recognition of the value of social sciences and increasingly vocal calls for better engagement with the human element of conservation, the conservation social sciences remain misunderstood and underutilized in practice. The conservation social sciences can provide unique and important contributions to society's understanding of the relationships between humans and nature and to improving conservation practice and outcomes. There are 4 barriers-ideological, institutional, knowledge, and capacity-to meaningful integration of the social sciences into conservation. We provide practical guidance on overcoming these barriers to mainstream the social sciences in conservation science, practice, and policy. Broadly, we recommend fostering knowledge on the scope and contributions of the social sciences to conservation, including social scientists from the inception of interdisciplinary research projects, incorporating social science research and insights during all stages of conservation planning and implementation, building social science capacity at all scales in conservation organizations and agencies, and promoting engagement with the social sciences in and through global conservation policy-influencing organizations. Conservation social scientists, too, need to be willing to engage with natural science knowledge and to communicate insights and recommendations clearly. We urge the conservation community to move beyond superficial engagement with the conservation social sciences. A more inclusive and integrative conservation science-one that includes the natural and social sciences-will enable more ecologically effective and socially just conservation. Better collaboration among social scientists, natural scientists, practitioners, and policy makers will facilitate a renewed and more robust conservation. Mainstreaming the conservation social sciences will facilitate the uptake of the full range of insights and contributions from these fields into conservation policy and practice.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether salivary cortisol measured by a simple enzyme immunoassay (EIA) could be used as a surrogate for serum total cortisol in response to rapid changes and across a wide range of concentrations. DESIGN: Comparisons of matched salivary and serum samples in response to dynamic hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis testing. Subjects Healthy women (n=10; three taking oral oestrogens) and men (n=2), aged 23--65 years, were recruited from the community. Measurements Paired saliva and serum samples were obtained during three protocols: 10 min of exercise at 90% of maximal heart rate (n=8), intravenous administration of corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH; n=4), and dexamethasone suppression (n=7). Cortisol was measured in saliva using a commercial high-sensitivity EIA and total cortisol was measured in serum with a commercial radioimmunoassay (RIA). Results The time course of the salivary cortisol response to both the exercise and CRH tests paralleled that of total serum cortisol. Salivary cortisol demonstrated a significantly greater relative increase in response to the exercise and CRH stimuli (697+/- 826%vs. 209+/- 150%, P=0.04 saliva vs. serum). A disproportionately larger increase in free cortisol, compared with total, would be expected when the binding capacity of cortisol-binding globulin (CBG) is exceeded. In response to dexamethasone suppression, relative decreases in cortisol were not significantly different between the two media (-47+/- 56%vs.-84+/- 8%, P=0.13 saliva vs. serum). Although a significant linear correlation was found for all paired salivary and serum total cortisol samples (n=183 pairs, r=0.60, P<0.001), an exponential model provided a better fit (r=0.81, P<0.001). The linear correlations were strengthened when data from subjects on oral oestrogens (n=52 pairs, r=0.75, P < 0.001) were separated from those not taking oestrogens (n=131 pairs, r=0.67, P<0.001). Conclusions Salivary cortisol measured with a simple EIA can be used in place of serum total cortisol in physiological research protocols. Evidence that salivary measures represent the biologically active, free fraction of cortisol includes: (1) the greater relative increase in salivary cortisol in response to tests that raise the absolute cortisol concentration above the saturation point of CBG; (2) the strong exponential relationship between cortisol assessed in the two media; and (3) the improved linear correlations when subjects known to have increased CBG were analysed separately. Thus, an advantage of measuring salivary cortisol rather than total serum cortisol is that it eliminates the need to account for within-subject changes or between-subject differences in CBG.

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UNLABELLED: The inflammation of aging hypothesis purports that aging is the accumulation of damage, which results, in part, from chronic activation of inflammation process. We tested this hypothesis in relationship to fractures in 2985 men and women enrolled in the Health ABC study. Results showed that subjects with the greatest number of inflammatory markers have the highest risk of fracture. INTRODUCTION: Cytokines play major roles in regulating bone remodeling in the bone microenvironment, but their relationship to fractures is uncertain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population includes 2985 well-functioning white and black women and men (42%, black; 51%, women) 70-79 yr of age enrolled in the Health Aging and Body Composition Study. Inflammatory markers were measured in frozen serum using standardized assays. We measured interleukin (IL-6), TNFalpha, C-reactive protein (CRP), and soluble receptors (IL-2 sR, IL-6 sR, TNF sR1and TNF sR2).Cytokine-soluble receptors were measured in a subset (n = 1430). Total hip BMD was measured by DXA. During 5.8 +/- 1.6 yr of 95% complete follow-up, incident fractures were confirmed in 268 subjects. The risk of fracture was compared among subjects with the highest inflammatory markers (quartile 4) versus lower levels (quartiles 1, 2, and 3) using proportional hazard models. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Subjects who fractured were more likely to be white and female. Baseline markers of inflammation were higher among subjects who subsequently experienced an incident fracture. In multivariate models, the relative risk of fracture (95% CIs) for subjects with the highest inflammatory markers (quartile 4) compared with those with lower inflammatory markers (quartiles 1, 2, and 3) was 1.34 (0.99, 1.82) for CRP; 1.28 (0.95-1.74) for IL-6; 1.28 (0.97-1.70) for TNFalpha; 1.52 (1.04-2.21) for IL-2 sR; 1.33 (0.90-1.96) for IL-6 sR; 1.73 (1.18-2.55) for TNF sR1 and 1.48 (1.01-2.20) for TNF sR2. In subjects with three or more (out of seven) high inflammatory markers, the relative risk of fracture was 2.65 (1.44-4.89) in comparison with subjects with no elevated markers. (p trend = 0.001). We conclude that elevated inflammatory markers are prognostic for fractures, extending the inflammation hypothesis of aging to osteoporotic fractures.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce the elementary concepts and fundamental principles of grey systems and the main components of grey systems theory. Also to discuss the astonishing progress that grey systems theory has made in the world of learning and its wide‐ranging applications in the entire spectrum of science. Design/methodology/approach The characteristics of unascertained systems including incomplete information and inaccuracies in data are analysed and four uncertain theories: probability statistics, fuzzy mathematics, grey system and rough set theory are compared. The scientific principle of simplicity and how precise models suffer from inaccuracies are also shown. Findings The four uncertain theories, probability statistics, fuzzy mathematics, grey system and rough set theory are examined with different research objects, different basic sets, different methods and procedures, different data requirements, different emphasis, different objectives and different characteristics. Practical implications The scientific principle of simplicity and how precise models suffer from inaccuracies are shown. So, precise models are not necessarily an effective means to deal with complex matters, especially in the case that the available information is incomplete and the collected data inaccurate. Originality/value The elementary concepts and fundamental principles of grey systems and the main components of grey systems theory are introduced briefly. The reader is given a general picture of grey systems theory as a new method for studying problems where partial information is known, partial information is unknown; especially for uncertain systems with few data points and poor information.

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the intrasession and intersession reliability of the Vertec, Just Jump System, and Myotest for measuring countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) height. Forty male and 39 female university students completed 3 maximal-effort CMJs during 2 testing sessions, which were separated by 24-48 hours. The height of the CMJ was measured from all 3 devices simultaneously. Systematic error, relative reliability, absolute reliability, and heteroscedasticity were assessed for each device. Systematic error across the 3 CMJ trials was observed within both sessions for males and females, and this was most frequently observed when the CMJ height was measured by the Vertec. No systematic error was discovered across the 2 testing sessions when the maximum CMJ heights from the 2 sessions were compared. In males, the Myotest demonstrated the best intrasession reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.95; SEM = 1.5 cm; coefficient of variation [CV] = 3.3%) and intersession reliability (ICC = 0.88; SEM = 2.4 cm; CV = 5.3%; limits of agreement = -0.08 ± 4.06 cm). Similarly, in females, the Myotest demonstrated the best intrasession reliability (ICC = 0.91; SEM = 1.4 cm; CV = 4.5%) and intersession reliability (ICC = 0.92; SEM = 1.3 cm; CV = 4.1%; limits of agreement = 0.33 ± 3.53 cm). Additional analysis revealed that heteroscedasticity was present in the CMJ when measured from all 3 devices, indicating that better jumpers demonstrate greater fluctuations in CMJ scores across testing sessions. To attain reliable CMJ height measurements, practitioners are encouraged to familiarize athletes with the CMJ technique and then allow the athletes to complete numerous repetitions until performance plateaus, particularly if the Vertec is being used.

In this paper, we take a look at the state‐of‐the‐art of the theory and applications of the so‐called grey systems theory founded in the 1980s. After a brief historical review of the development history of this theory, we look at the main blocks of the theory followed by several successful applications. It is our hope that a reader who does not know anything about this branch of scientific exploration will gain a firm understanding of the basics so that the rest of this special issue becomes possible to comprehend.

OBJECTIVE: Subjects with type 1 diabetes are at high risk for many long-term complications, including early mortality and coronary artery disease (CAD). Few data are available on which to base goal levels for two major risk factors, namely blood pressure and lipid/lipoproteins. The objective of this study was to determine at which levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure the relative risks of type 1 diabetic complications increase significantly. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Observational prospective study of 589 patients with childhood-onset type 1 diabetes (<17 years) aged > or =18 years at baseline; 10-year incidence of mortality, CAD, lower-extremity arterial disease, proliferative retinopathy, distal symmetric polyneuropathy, and overt nephropathy. Relative risks were determined using traditional groupings of blood pressure and lipid/lipoproteins, measured at baseline, using the lowest groupings (<100 mg/dl [2.6 mmol/l] LDL cholesterol, <45 mg/dl [1.1 mmol/l] HDL cholesterol, <100 mg/dl [1.1 mmol/l] triglycerides, <110 mmHg systolic blood pressure, and <80 mmHg diastolic blood pressure) as reference. Adjustments for age, sex, and glycemic control were examined. RESULTS: Driven mainly by strong relationships (RR range 1.8-12.1) with mortality, CAD, and overt nephropathy, suggested goal levels are as follows: LDL cholesterol <100 mg/dl (2.6 mmol/l), HDL cholesterol >45 mg/dl (1.1 mmol/l), triglycerides <150 mg/dl (1.7 mmol/l), systolic blood pressure <120 mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure <80 mmHG: Age, sex, and glycemic control had little influence on these goals. CONCLUSIONS: Although observational in nature, these data strongly support the case for vigorous control of lipid levels and blood pressure in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to summarize the progress in grey system research during 2000-2015, so as to present some important new concepts, models, methods and a new framework of grey system theory. Design/methodology/approach – The new thinking, new models and new methods of grey system theory and their applications are presented in this paper. It includes algorithm rules of grey numbers based on the “kernel” and the degree of greyness of grey numbers, the concept of general grey numbers, the synthesis axiom of degree of greyness of grey numbers and their operations; the general form of buffer operators of grey sequence operators; the four basic models of grey model GM(1,1), such as even GM, original difference GM, even difference GM, discrete GM and the suitable sequence type of each basic model, and suitable range of most used grey forecasting models; the similarity degree of grey incidences, the closeness degree of grey incidences and the three-dimensional absolute degree of grey incidence of grey incidence analysis models; the grey cluster model based on center-point and end-point mixed triangular whitenization functions; the multi-attribute intelligent grey target decision model, the two stages decision model with grey synthetic measure of grey decision models; grey game models, grey input-output models of grey combined models; and the problems of robust stability for grey stochastic time-delay systems of neutral type, distributed-delay type and neutral distributed-delay type of grey control, etc. And the new framework of grey system theory is given as well. Findings – The problems which remain for further studying are discussed at the end of each section. The reader could know the general picture of research and developing trend of grey system theory from this paper. Practical implications – A lot of successful practical applications of the new models to solve various problems have been found in many different areas of natural science, social science and engineering, including spaceflight, civil aviation, information, metallurgy, machinery, petroleum, chemical industry, electrical power, electronics, light industries, energy resources, transportation, medicine, health, agriculture, forestry, geography, hydrology, seismology, meteorology, environment protection, architecture, behavioral science, management science, law, education, military science, etc. These practical applications have brought forward definite and noticeable social and economic benefits. It demonstrates a wide range of applicability of grey system theory, especially in the situation where the available information is incomplete and the collected data are inaccurate. Originality/value – The reader is given a general picture of grey systems theory as a new model system and a new framework for studying problems where partial information is known; especially for uncertain systems with few data points and poor information. The problems remaining for further studying are identified at the end of each section.

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This paper considers an abstract third‐order equation in a Hilbert space that is motivated by, and ultimately directed to, the “concrete” Moore–Gibson–Thompson Equation arising in high‐intensity ultrasound. In its simplest form, with certain specific values of the parameters, this third‐order abstract equation (with unbounded free dynamical operator) is not well‐posed. In general, however, in the present physical model, a suitable change of variable permits one to show that it has a special structural decomposition, with a precise, hyperbolic‐dominated driving part. From this, various attractive dynamical properties follow: s.c. group generation; a refined spectral analysis to include a specifically identified point in the continuous spectrum of the generator (so that it does not have compact resolvent) as an accumulation point of eigenvalues; and a consequent theoretically precise exponential decay with the same decay rate in various function spaces. In particular, the latter is explicit and sharp up to a finite number of (stable) eigenvalues of finite multiplicity. A computer‐based analysis confirms the theoretical spectral analysis findings. Moreover, it shows that the dynamic behavior of these unaccounted for finite‐dimensional eigenvalues are the ones that ultimately may dictate the rate of exponential decay, and which can be estimated with arbitrarily preassigned accuracy. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) tends to decrease from adolescence to young adulthood, and factors that have been proposed to contribute to this decrease are life transitions. The focus of this study is to examine life transitions, such as marriage and parenthood, and the impact they may have on the physical activity levels of young adults. METHODS: This 2-year prospective analysis assessed physical activity (hrs/wk) and sociodemographics in young adults (n = 638, 48% male, 15% nonwhite, 24 ± 1.1 years old) via questionnaire. PA data were normalized through log transformations and examined using ANCOVAs, controlling for appropriate covariates. RESULTS: ANCOVA results showed that becoming married did not significantly change PA compared with individuals who stayed single [F(1,338) = 0.38, P = .54, d = 0.06]. Conversely, PA was significantly lower [F(1,517) = 6.7, P = .01, d = 0.41] after having a child, compared with individuals who stayed childless. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that marriage does not impact PA in young adults, but having a child significantly decreases PA in parents, and may offer an optimal period of intervention.

Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation Author: McGill, Stuart, PhD, Bibliographic Data: (ISBN: 0-7360-4241-5, Human Kinetics, Inc., 2002, $45.00) 295 pages, hard cover. Subjects: Physical Therapy, Sports Medicine, Chiropractic. DESCRIPTION: This book reviews the functional anatomy of the lumbar spine and applies the latest research findings in this area to the prevention and rehabilitation of low back dysfunction. PURPOSE: The author’s intent is to provide the reader with ‘the best available scientific evidence to optimize injury prevention and rehabilitation‘ for low back function. The author attempts to bridge the gap between research findings and clinical application in this area. This is an admirable objective and the author has done an excellent job in stating his case for using an evidence-based approach for preventing low back pathology and also providing guidelines for effective exercise prescriptions for this problem area. AUDIENCE: This book is applicable for a wide audience of professionals including, therapists, athletic trainers, ergonomists, strength and conditioning professionals, and others who work in the area of low back injury prevention and rehabilitation. The author is an award-winning scholar and academician who is well published in the area of lumbar spine mechanics and ergonomics. He also consults for a number of agencies and corporations in the area of risk reduction and injury management. The author’s unique background makes him well-suited for publishing in this area of study. FEATURES: Three major sections are included in the book. The first section is comprised of six chapters that cover the scientific aspects of understanding low back pain. The second section consists of four chapters and is dedicated to injury prevention and also discusses various biomechanical models and the NIOSH approach to risk assessment. There is also a discussion on the use of back belts. The final section covers rehabilitation and exercise considerations based on the evidence presented in the previous sections. This section is unique and very useful in mapping out a strategy to apply the didactic information presented in the previous sections. ASSESSMENT: This work is an original contribution to the field of rehabilitation of the lumbar spine. The author successfully blends science and clinical application and has presented this information in an easy-to-read format. Very few books have been able to present such a balance of practical information that compiles scientific facts and dispels dogma in the process. The book is hard to put down and provides enjoyable reading if one desires evidence-based information on the rehabilitation and prevention of injuries of the lumbar spine. I highly recommend the book for clinicians who routinely prescribe exercises for low back pain. SCORE: Weighted Numerical Score: 96 - ****

Childhood bullying has become recognized as a significant, pervasive form of school violence. Because of its deleterious effect on both victims' and bullies' current and future functioning, it is imperative that school personnel such as counselors engage in assessment techniques as the 1st step in a coordinated, systemic antibullying effort. The authors discuss multiple methods and instruments to use in assessing bullying in schools and provide guidelines for counselors in choosing the appropriate measurement for their needs.

A meta-analysis is performed on the last twenty years of SIGCSE Technical Symposium Proceedings, looking for the kind of CS Educational Research that has been done at the CS1/CS2 level. A six-point taxonomy of articles types is described. It is shown that about one in five of all CS1/CS2 presentations have used some kind of experimental model, albeit "experimental" is defined quite broadly. Over the last ten years both the number of experimental models, and the percentage of experimental models among CS1/CS2 has significantly increased. SIGCSE members are challenged to adopt a research model for their presentations to the Technical Symposium.