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Case: A 53-year-old man presented with a 13-mm leg length discrepancy following left hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA), resulting in pain and imbalance. Advanced osteoarthritis of the contralateral hip was also noted. The patient strongly preferred HRA over total hip arthroplasty. Adequate remaining bone stock and the ability to resurface the contralateral hip allowed for resolution with 2 HRAs. Conclusion: This is the first known revision of a HRA with a subsequent HRA. Assuming sufficient bone stock and precise implant positioning, resurfacing presents a feasible methodology to overcome complex anatomical deformities and improve mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An existing school program in which therapy dogs are integrated into the reading curriculum was analyzed to determine the effect on student reading. Previous literature suggests an improvement in both reading skills and attitudes towards reading when students read in the presence of a therapy dog. Using a mixed method model, the researchers analyzed standardized reading test scores of 169 students in kindergarten through fourth grade and conducted interviews with educators and dog owners. A series of "t" tests conducted by grade indicated a significant difference, but only in kindergarten where the children in the dog reading group achieved higher end-of-year reading scores than a control cohort. A follow-up analysis of covariance controlling for mid-year reading scores confirmed that these differences were not related to preexisting reading levels. Interview results agreed with earlier studies noting improvements in reading and writing skills as well as attitude and enthusiasm for reading across all grade levels but with greatest gains for Special Education, ESL, and children who struggle with reading. Archival data from subsequent years is being collected and will seek to replicate the findings in kindergarten and to examine the cumulative effect of the reading program.

Byline: Zachary Wong, Milam Aiken Group discussion and decision-making under time constraints is part of many people's lives and much remains unknown about this behaviour. In our study on the effects of time limits placed on computer-mediated group meetings, subjects participated in time-deprived, time-optimal and time-abundant conditions, respectively. This study indicated that in groups with different time conditions overall results varied in their perceptions on several areas of the meeting processes and, we found that the relationships between time and groups' perceptions of meeting processes and outcomes were not linear.

Byline: Milam Aiken, Zachary Wong The most effective or efficient group size for an electronic meeting has often been overlooked in the study of group support systems. However, the number of participants using group idea generation software is an important factor in the success of the meeting. An experiment with subjects meeting in seven different group sizes ranging from two to 14 shows that the full benefits of electronic meetings might not become evident until the number of participants has reached about six.

Small insurance firms with the limited number of policyholders have larger standard deviations of expected losses. The Risk-Based Capital (RBC) standards use the Value at Risk (VaR) methodology to determine the required capital and penalize small firms to allocate relatively large amounts. This study investigates the lowest insurance pool size and premium level that satisfy the RBC standards for a small hypothetical firm without raising additional capital. The insurance regulators have a chance to mitigate the adverse effects of RBC standards and enhance market efficiency if they: (a) determine how many of the small firms in the insurance market are distressed under the RBC standards, (b) create a residual reinsurance market that provides reinsurance coverage for small insurance firms, (c) provide easy access to financial markets for small insurance firms to raise additional capital, especially through common stock issuance, and (d) establish a two-tier RBC standards while expanding the coverage limits of the existing guarantee funds to protect policyholders from small insurance firm bankruptcies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been numerous studies on the effects of different factors in online meeting processes. However, none has been conducted to examine how meeting processes might be different by varying group composition and meeting duration. A study of the impacts of time on female-only and male-only groups showed that femaleonly groups were more satisfied with group processes and members were generally less impacted by their attention to time. However, female-only groups were observed to have less interaction among members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short aramid fibers have been successfully used to reinforce the interface adhesive property between carbon fiber/epoxy composites and aluminum foam, and to form aramid-fiber 'composite adhesive joints.' In this study, to further improve the reinforcing effect of the aramid-fiber-reinforced adhesive joints, aramid fibers were ultrasonic treated to conduct different surface conditions. Critical energy release rate of the carbon fiber/aluminum foam sandwich beams with as-received and treated interfacial aramid fibers were measured to study the influence of the surface treatment on aramid fibers. It was found that reinforcements in critical energy release rate were achieved for all samples with treated aramid fiber as measured under double cantilever beam condition. The interfacial characteristics of the short aramid fibers with different surface condition were investigated and discussed based on scanning electron microscopy observations. It is suggested that advanced bonding between aramid fibers and epoxy resin was conducted after surface treatment, and more energy was therefore absorbed through fiber bridging during crack opening and extension process. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:192-197, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand of bandwidth and software intelligence by consumers and businesses alike has opened new frontiers in the information systems arena. Organizations need to continuously modify or replace their information systems in order to cater to a dynamic business environment and changing end-user needs led by changing market expectations. As a result, many information systems experience shorter life spans that may cause returns on investments to diminish. This paper discusses the implications of information systems adaptability to emergent technologies and changing systems requirements due to changing market expectations. Thereby, proposing a revision to the renowned IS success model instituted by DeLone and McLean that evaluates information systems successes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]