High Class Research Articles

Flow Management with Differentiated Classes of Service and Quality of Experience

Recently, mobile networks have been overloaded with a considerable amount of data traffic. This paper proposes a brokerage service for mobile environments, using policies and quality metrics and ensuring better usage of network resources with more fine-grained management based on flows, and expands previous work (Silva, et al.) with the novel addition of differentiated classes of service. A closed innovative control loop included in a flexible brokerage service in the network, as well as agents at the mobile terminals, detects and counteracts an abnormal data load in any access technology. This allows the terminals to make well-informed decisions about their connections to improve the number of connected flows per technology and the individual service level offered to each flow. Simulation results indicate that the current proposed management solution optimizes the usage of available 4G/5G network resources among a high number of flows in several usage scenarios where the technologies are extremely overloaded, while at the same time, protecting the higher classes of service.

The French pill scare and the reshaping of social inequalities in access to medical contraceptives.

While the consequences of various "pill scares" have been relatively well-documented in the public health literature revealing a drop in pill use and a rise in unplanned pregnancies and abortion rates, researchers rarely considered that these controversies would affect women contraceptive practices differently according to their social background. Indeed, social differentiations in reaction to "pill scares" could contribute to reinforce the social gradient in the use of contraceptive methods and choice of visiting the health professionals who prescribe them. These could contribute to an increase in health inequalities on access to contraceptive methods. Using data from three state nationally representative cross-sectional surveys conducted in France in 2010, 2013 and 2016, we studied the changes in women's contraceptive uses around the French "pill scare" that occurred in 2012–2013. We focused on the changes in the use of all contraceptives available under medical prescription (called medical contraceptives) on one hand, and on each specific method (pill, IUD, implant, patch or vaginal ring, and female sterilization) on the other hand according to the women's social background. We saw a social gradient in contraceptives changes. The decline in the use of contraceptive methods available under medical prescription was particularly marked for women from lower and higher classes in which we observe a decrease in pill use between 2010 and 2013, whereas it was observed only between 2013 and 2016 among middle class women. Moreover, while some women from upper class shifted from pill to IUD between 2010 and 2013, this was not the case for their less privileged counterparts. As a consequence, it seems that the French "pill scare" led to the reshaping of social inequalities in access to medical contraceptives.

International collaboration in pharmacy practice research: A bibliometric analysis.

Although international collaborative research has demonstrated a series of benefits in different scientific disciplines, there is no information regarding international collaborative practices in pharmacy practice research. To map international collaborations published in pharmacy practice research journals between 2009 and 2018. A set of pharmacy practice journals was objectively selected from a previously published mapping of pharmacy journals. The 25 journals that were more representative of the pharmacy practice category with higher class 5 chi-square in a descending hierarchical classification were selected. Non-reviewed journals, and those not published during the selected period, were excluded. Articles published between 2009 and 2018 were imported from Scopus. Only papers classified as "Articles" or "Reviews" were analyzed. The countries of the authors' affiliations were identified. International collaboration was defined as articles with two or more countries in the affiliations. The 19 journals analyzed published 22,738 papers, with 16,107 classified as Articles or Reviews. Differences in the international collaboration between journals existed. While a total of 13,214 papers were amenable to be authored in collaboration (2 or more authors, with affiliations recorded), only 1670 (12.6%) were published under international collaboration. A very slight positive trend in the international collaboration rate was found. No correlation existed between the Human Development Index, a composite index incorporating statistical measures of a country's average achievements in health, knowledge and a decent standard of living, and international collaboration. Low rates of international collaboration were found in pharmacy practice research articles, although a slightly positive trend was identified. There was an overall association between collaboration and citations received, but no correlation with country development was found.

Dietary Supplements for Male Infertility: A Critical Evaluation of Their Composition.

Dietary supplements (DS) represent a possible approach to improve sperm parameters and male fertility. A wide range of DS containing different nutrients is now available. Although many authors demonstrated benefits from some nutrients in the improvement of sperm parameters, their real effectiveness is still under debate. The aim of this study was to critically review the composition of DS using the Italian market as a sample. Active ingredients and their minimal effective daily dose (mED) on sperm parameters were identified through a literature search. Thereafter, we created a formula to classify the expected efficacy of each DS. Considering active ingredients, their concentration and the recommended daily dose, DS were scored into three classes of expected efficacy: higher, lower and none. Twenty-one DS were identified. Most of them had a large number of ingredients, frequently at doses below mED or with undemonstrated efficacy. Zinc was the most common ingredient of DS (70% of products), followed by selenium, arginine, coenzyme Q and folic acid. By applying our scoring system, 9.5% of DS fell in a higher class, 71.4% in a lower class and 19.1% in the class with no expected efficacy. DS marketed in Italy for male infertility frequently includes effective ingredients but also a large number of substances at insufficient doses or with no reported efficacy. Manufacturers and physicians should better consider the scientific evidence on effective ingredients and their doses before formulating and prescribing these products.

Impact of construction practices on the environment a case study of Kano State, Nigeria

The Physical environment is being disturbed by numerous problems, including those caused by the constructions activities, such problems impacts on the environment right from the initial stage, operational and to the end of the life span of the built structure. The aim of the study was to suggest the main environmental impacts of construction in Kano state. About twenty six construction impacts were reveals from the past researches. However, all the impact was classified into nine main classes. Data for the study were collected from questionnaires and interviews survey administered to stakeholders of construction industry in Kano State. Data collected were analyzed and ranked using Relative Importance Index (RII), suggesting that they significantly impact on the environment thereby causing environmental degradation. Based on the results resource consumption was ranked highest among the major environmental impacts of constructing in Kano. The highest class, consist raw materials, water, fuel and electricity consumption. The paper concludes with recommendation which includes enforcement of extant rules, regulation and ethical code by government legislative on construction stakeholders, government should formulate and ensuring adequate use of construction design that will suite the environment in Kano. Also, all forms of construction practices should be subjected to an environmental impact assessment to determine the potential impacts and also formulate the ways to overcome it before execution. The study suggest also that, the chair personnel in construction companies should formulate some rules, code of conducts that will ensure good and fair sustainable construction practices in Kano.
 Keywords: Construction Company, Construction Practices, Environmental Impact, Kano.

Associations Between Factors Across Life and One-Legged Balance Performance in Mid and Later Life: Evidence From a British Birth Cohort Study.

Introduction: Despite its associations with falls, disability, and mortality, balance is an under-recognized and frequently overlooked aspect of aging. Studies investigating associations between factors across life and balance are limited. Understanding the factors related to balance performance could help identify protective factors and appropriate interventions across the life course. This study aimed to: (i) identify socioeconomic, anthropometric, behavioral, health, and cognitive factors that are associated with one-legged balance performance; and (ii) explore how these associations change with age.Methods: Data came from 3,111 members of the MRC National Survey of Health and Development, a British birth cohort study. Multilevel models examined how one-legged standing balance times (assessed at ages 53, 60–64, and 69) were associated with 15 factors across life: sex, maternal education (4 years), paternal occupation (4 years), own education (26 years), own occupation (53 years), and contemporaneous measures (53, 60–64, 69 years) of height, BMI, physical activity, smoking, diabetes, respiratory symptoms, cardiovascular events, knee pain, depression and verbal memory. Age and sex interactions with each variable were assessed.Results: Men had 18.8% (95%CI: 13.6, 23.9) longer balance times than women at age 53, although this difference decreased with age (11.8% at age 60–64 and 7.6% at age 69). Disadvantaged socioeconomic position in childhood and adulthood, low educational attainment, less healthy behaviors, poor health status, lower cognition, higher body mass index (BMI), and shorter height were associated with poorer balance at all three ages. For example, at age 53, those from the lowest paternal occupational classes had 29.6% (22.2, 38.8) worse balance than those from the highest classes. Associations of balance with socioeconomic indicators, cognition and physical activity became smaller with age, while associations with knee pain and depression became larger. There were no sex differences in these associations. In a combined model, the majority of factors remained associated with balance.Discussion: This study identified numerous risk factors across life that are associated with one-legged balance performance and highlighted diverse patterns of association with age, suggesting that there are opportunities to intervene in early, mid and later life. A multifactorial approach to intervention, at both societal and individual levels, may have more benefit than focusing on a single risk factor.

African American Adolescent Girls’ Beliefs About Skin Tone and Colorism

Colorism is a pervasive system of inequality shown to negatively affect psychosocial and economic outcomes among African American adults. Among African American women and girls in particular, the social and psychological implications of colorist practices can be severe. The present study aimed to better understand African American girls’ understanding of this phenomenon during adolescence. Using a phenomenological approach, interviews and focus groups were conducted with African American girls ( N = 30) in order to determine which colorist messages are perceived and potentially internalized as communal beliefs. Iterative coding and subsequent thematic analysis revealed three primary themes and four subthemes: (a) Skin tone and attractiveness (Subthemes: Light skin as beautiful; Dark skin as unattractive), (b) Skin tone and social standing and education level (Subthemes: Dark skin as lower class; Light skin as higher class), and (c) Skin tone and personality/behavioral traits. Findings revealed that African American girls reported contemporary colorism biases similar to those found among African American women, suggesting temporal and generational continuity.

Properties of Concrete Containing Bamboo Waste as Cement Replacement

The application of copious and low-cost waste items, mainly from neat resources, has developed extra demanding than always. This paper debates the utilization of bamboo waste as original and new things in the building industry. The study comprises rudimentary characteristics, containing the morphology of the ingredients in terms of variations in the composition procedure. The bamboo ash was recycled as cement respect to with 10%, 20% and 30% replacement. The materials characteristic of bamboo ash, strength activity index, fresh state properties and strength properties of concrete were examined too. The concrete was cast in 100×100×100 mm cube size and compared with conventional concrete. The result how that bamboo ash show pozzolanic properties and 20% cement replacement by bamboo ash give comparable strength with control specimens at 28 days, which achieved the target design strength. The total outcomes have exposed that the addition of bamboo ash can produce concrete with more power, higher class and sustainability.

"The social advantage of miscalibrated individuals: The relationship between social class and overconfidence and its implications for class-based inequality": Correction to Belmi et al. (2019).

Reports an error in "The social advantage of miscalibrated individuals: The relationship between social class and overconfidence and its implications for class-based inequality" by Peter Belmi, Margaret A. Neale, David Reiff and Rosemary Ulfe (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Advanced Online Publication, May 20, 2019, np). In the article, the first sentence in the Social class, perceived competence, and status attainment section is incorrect due to a printer error and should read instead as follows: Hypothesis 4 predicted that relative to individuals with lower social class, individuals with relatively high social class would be more overconfident, which in turn, would be associated with higher competence ratings, and ultimately, higher hiring ratings. All versions of this article have been corrected. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2019-25778-001.) Understanding how socioeconomic inequalities perpetuate is a central concern among social and organizational psychologists. Drawing on a collection of findings suggesting that different social class contexts have powerful effects on people's sense of self, we propose that social class shapes the beliefs that people hold about their abilities, and that this, in turn, has important implications for how status hierarchies perpetuate. We first hypothesize that compared with individuals with relatively low social class, individuals with relatively high social class are more overconfident. Then, drawing on research suggesting that overconfidence can confer social advantages, we further hypothesize that the overconfidence of higher class individuals can help perpetuate the existing class hierarchy: It can provide them a path to social advantage by making them appear more competent in the eyes of others. We test these ideas in four large studies with a combined sample of 152,661 individuals. Study 1, a large field study featuring small-business owners from Mexico, found evidence that individuals with relatively high social class are more overconfident compared with their lower-class counterparts. Study 2, a multiwave study in the United States, replicated this result and further shed light on the underlying mechanism: Individuals with relatively high (vs. low) social class tend to be more overconfident because they have a stronger desire to achieve high social rank. Study 3 replicated these findings in a high-powered, preregistered study and found that individuals with relatively high social class were more overconfident, even in a task in which they had no performance advantages. Study 4, a multiphase study that featured a mock job interview in the laboratory, found that compared with their lower-class counterparts, higher-class individuals were more overconfident; overconfidence, in turn, made them appear more competent and more likely to attain social rank. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Life prognosis of persons with dementia: Observation of persons registered for long-term care insurance in a community in Japan

Objectives This study aimed to observe the life prognosis of persons with dementia during the first five years after registering for long-term care insurance, and to determine the factors affecting their prognosis.Methods A total of 556 persons, aged 65 years or older newly registered for long-term care insurance in a city in Japan, were observed. The life prognosis of the registered persons was determined using standardized mortality ratio (SMR) with the general population as a standard, and relevant factors were observed in terms of dependence indices of dementia and disability.Results The mean age of persons newly registered for long-term care insurance was 81.6 years and 63% of them were females. Mortality during the first 4.5 years after registration was 16.7% p.a., with males and those of older age having higher rates. The SMR was 1.80 for all individuals, with males and those of younger age having a higher SMR. The SMR increased with the severity of the disability (higher classes on the disability dependence index) at the time of the registration, while no significant trend was seen in SMR with the dementia dependence index. Multivariate analysis revealed that mortality was dependent on sex (male>female), age (older>younger), disability dependence indices (higher classes>lower classes), and current place of residence (home>facility), while there were no significant trends found in mortality with degree of severity on the dementia dependence indices. The adjusted odds ratios of dying from respective factors were as follow: from sex (male/female, with male as a standard) 0.35 (95% confidence interval 0.24-0.51), from age group (65-74 years/75-84/85+, stepwise with 65-74 years as a standard) 1.84 (1.39-2.47), from disability dependence index (normal/I/Ⅱa/Ⅱb..., stepwise with "normal" as standard) 1.38 (1.21-1.58), and from place of residence (home/facility, with home as a standard) 0.64 (0.42-0.99). When limited to only the elderly with dementia dependence indices of Ⅱa-Ⅳ, the analysis showed similar results.Conclusion Elderly persons registered for long-term care insurance had higher mortality rates than the general population that was dependent on the disability dependence index, but not on the dementia dependent index. Further studies are therefore necessary to elucidate the factors relevant to the study's finding.

Aptitude, awareness, and knowledge of cardiac rehabilitation in patients of acute coronary syndrome after treatment

Background: Acute Coronary Syndromes result from an imbalance in oxygen supply and demand in the coronary circulation. Unfortunately, after treatment by a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) or Thrombolysis, most patients are not educated about guidelines they should follow to resume routine activities. Thus, a study was undertaken with the aim of assessing the awareness of cardiac rehabilitation in such patients. Methods: Seventy patients having acute coronary syndrome, admitted to a rural tertiary care centre, were interviewed using a validated questionnaire. They were assessed on awareness regarding drugs that had been prescribed, knowledge of rehabilitation guidelines, and sincerity of adherence to treatment plan. Scores were compared with three parameters, namely age, level of education, and socioeconomic classes. p values were calculated for each category, and results obtained. Results: Younger patients were more aware of rehabilitation guidelines compared to patients in the geriatric age group. Well-educated patients knew more about the mechanism of actions of drugs being prescribed as compared to lesser-educated peers. Also, patients from the Lower socioeconomic class knew lesser about guidelines of cardiac rehabilitation compared to peers from higher classes. Conclusion: Patients from lesser-educated communities and lower socioeconomic classes need to be focused on for further integration into the process of cardiac rehabilitation. Setting up of dedicated units for the same can prove beneficial for such patients.

Factors Associated with Relapse of Schizophrenia in Bangladesh

Context: In the face of increasing number of relapse cases of schizophrenia, sufficient work is not available in Bangladesh. Aims: To find out the common factors of relapse of schizophrenia in Bangladesh and to find out the relationship of relapse of schizophrenia with sociodemographic characteristics. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study; Department of Psychiatry, Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Dhaka and Psychiatry department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka. Materials and Methods: Data from 50 relapse patients receiving treatment of schizophrenia were collected, from April 2018 to September 2018. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were processed and analyzed with the help of computer program SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) win version 16. Results: The mean age was 31.16 (±10.59) years ranging from 14 to 55 years. Majority of the respondents 70% (n=35) were under 35 years. 62% (n=31) of the respondents were male and 38% (n=19) were female. 96% (n=48) of the respondents were Muslims. 52% (n=26) of the respondents were married and 46% (n=23) were unmarried. 46% (n=23) were from rural background and 54% (n=27) of the respondents were from urban background. 40% (n=20) of the respondents were from lower class, 52% (n=26) were from middle class, and only 8% (n=4) were from higher class. 56% (n=28) of the respondents had perceived stressful life events and 44% (n=22) of the respondents had no such history. 52% (n=26) of the patients had experienced high expressed emotion and 48% (n=24) had low expressed emotion. Among the 50 relapsed schizophrenia patients, only 26% (n=13) had full compliance, 30% (n=15) had full noncompliance and rest had partial compliance. There was no significant relationship between educational status and medication compliance in the current study. The study revealed significant association with lower social class and presumptive stressful life events. Conclusions: This study highlighted the perceptions of schizophrenic patients and their caregivers about factors that influence relapse. It indicated that stressful life events, high expressed emotion, and non-compliance to medication had a role in relapse. This study provides information about socio-demographic and other related factors which can offer important guideline for future study. Adherence to antipsychotic medication, reducing high expressed emotion and stressful life events protect patients from relapse.

A study of advancement in application opportunities of aluminum metal matrix composites

Materials are continuously developed with the time being due to the necessity of human civilization and therefore advancement of each material in its highest classes is the best research necessity. The search for new and advanced materials is always an important subject for contemporary technological requirements and to make a product at optimum cost which is a basic consumer demand. New materials are continually developed and materials properties improved in line with existing technological developments in order to meet safety and operational standards. Composites have developed continuously from its early to the advanced stages. The need and consumption of metal matrix composites (MMCs) continuously increasing worldwide with the time because of its high applications. A continuous need observed in industries which make the path to develop stronger lightweight material which having high efficiency and performance across a wide variety of industries. The product manufacturers are generally in need of lightweight, medium strength and less cost, for them aluminum metal matrix composites (AlMMCs) is an asset. AlMMCs for many engineering applications are seen as new generation potential materials. AlMMCs offer great promise for producing composites with the required properties for certain applications with a wide variety of reinforcing materials. The AlMMCs are evolved to obtain good mechanical and tribological characteristics with lightweight, based on specification and application requirements. In this article, various aspects and analysis of applications fields of AlMMCs discussed in brief.

Al-Saadi Gaddafi, the son of a dictator who wanted to be a football star

The purpose of this article is to present the person of Al-Saadi Gaddafi, the third son of a dictator who ruled Libya during the years 1969–2011 – Mu’ammar Al-Gaddafi.In the first part of the article, the author writes about the first stage of the life of the dictator’s son, when Al-Saadi Gaddafi, thanks to his father’s acquaintances, enters the world of football, among others through demonstration training sessions at the Italian club Lazio Roma, where it was hoped that over time he would acquire skills to be able to play football in this club. In this part of the article, the author explains why this plan failed.In the next part of the article, the author presents the backstage of Al-Saadi Kaddafi’s tempestuous career first in Libyan football and then in the highest class of the Italian Serie A connected with such clubs as AC Perugia, Udinese Calcio and UC Sampdoria as a footballer and with Juventus Turin as one of the club’s officials and shareholders.In the final part of the article, the author focuses on the fate of Al-Saadi Gaddafi after completion of his football career and presents what happened to him after the outbreak of the so-called Arab Spring as a result of which the Gaddafi family lost their power in Libya.

Motivational EFL Classroom Strategies and Effective Teaching

Nowadays, eminent linguists and teachers training specialists are visiting different corners of the world and prescribing different methods on how to teach English as a Foreign Language effectively. Although their endeavours bring success, sometimes it doesn’t work everywhere well since the urge of learning English depends on the socio-economic and cultural background of a particular country or a specific class society. Consequently, the techniques and the methodologies that work well in a in an advanced country may not suit in a developing country. The same thing may happen in among the economically higher class students and the lower class students even in a developing country. As for example, the lower class students are pre-occupied with the idea that without a good knowledge in English they won’t get a good job and thus, they are motivated enough by their guardians, by their teachers, and by the socio-economic realities from the very beginning of their life and pick up English very quickly. On the other hand, the higher class students don’t think English is a must to get a secured job. Rather, they foster the idea in their mind that even without a good knowledge in English they are able to manage it and lead their life comfortably. Keeping all these facts in mind, we have tried to focus on how to motivate these higher class students and turn their mind to learn English through different classroom activities as a means of effective teaching. Based on the demands of the students, what they really expect from an English teacher and the experience of a teacher in the class, this article attempts to find out a teacher’s own strategies along with some established ones which they can apply in the class to make it interactive and effective.

Prevalence and factors influencing behavioral problems among adolescents in selected high schools of Bhubaneswar: A survey in Odisha

Background: Adolescent health and well-being are important for the health of future generation. Adolescence is a period of complex amalgamation of emotional, physical and social development leading to functional independence of the individual. It is also a period when behavioral problems could adversely impact the mental health. Timely identification and utilization of support system could lead better adjustment and less emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents. The objective of the present study was to identify the prevalence and the factors influencing behavioral problems among adolescents.
 Materials and methods: Behavioral problems such as depression, substance abuse, suicidal tendency and conduct disorder were surveyed in schools. A total of 300 adolescents (150 boys and 150 girls) responded to the survey questions. Beck’s depression inventory, adolescent alcohol and drug involvement scale, suicidal behavioral questionnaire revised were used to examine depression, substance abuse and suicidal tendency respectively. Self structured questionnaire were used to evaluate conduct disorder and the factors influencing behavioral problems. The self designed tools were validated by seven multi disciplinary experts from pediatric, nursing, psychology and psychiatrics.
 Results: Prevalence of various conditions is reported, depression was reported by 36%, drug abuse is 16%, conduct disorder was observed in 45% and 27% risk of suicide. Age, class and gender have a strong association with behavioral problems. In this study it has shown that females are more affected by behavioral problems than males and more problems are reported in higher class’s students. Attitude of mother has a strong impact on behavior of an adolescent. Overall, the current study highlights the prevalence and the factors that impact behavioral conditions in adolescents.
 Conclusion: It concludes that behavioral problems among adolescents are common. They are often under recognized. Identification and recognition through proper assessment is needed to give them right referral.

MATERIAL BASIS OF ETHICAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS DESIRE IN ANCIENT EASTERN RELIGIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEMS

Purpose of this article is to study the phenomenon of desire in Ancient Chinese and ancient Indian society, to reveal a material basis for the appearance and formation of the specific ethical attitude towards desire in the philosophical reflection of ancient thinkers. To fulfil this purpose, we should study and analyse methodology of desire studies in philosophical and psychological literature, analyse the ethical attitude towards desire in religious and philosophical texts of Chinese and Indian thinkers, understand social and economic basis of such an ethical attitude, that is to establish material basis of desire as the specific form of psychic activity and to recreate the logic of its development. Theoretical basis. Culturological and economic studies of orientalists and dialectical logic. Originality. The paper presents the analysis of the perspectives and drawbacks of different approaches in desire studies. Research of ethical attitude towards the desire in Ancient China and India allowed us to recreate the logic of social relations and the level of productive forces in that society. The ideological foundation of conservation and recreation of power and property relations was found in the religious doctrine of suppression of individual desires. The connection between desire formation and division of labour and its preservation in the religious, political and legal forms of social consciousness was shown. Methodological perspectives of dialectical logic were defined in the study of logical and historical coincidence in the further development of the phenomenon and the notion of desire. Conclusions. Analysis of modern philosophical and psychological literature has revealed methodological drawbacks in desire studies, as they are focused on studying desire’s notion, its representation or separate aspects of desire in individual psyche disregarding its inner logic and material basis of its becoming. Studies of the ethical attitude towards desire in Eastern culture have shown the consensus in desire suppression of individuals and similarities between Ancient Chinese and Indian cultures. There is shown significance and material basis of the transcendental law suppressing the desires even of the higher classes of the oriental society. The methodological approach stated in this article can be applied for further desire studies of Ancient Greece culture, Christian ethics and modern society.

79 A Life Course Approach to Standing Balance: Risk Factors Across Life

Abstract Introduction Poor balance ability in mid and later life is associated with increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Understanding what factors across life contribute to balance ability in the ageing population is important in order to prevent, delay or minimise balance decline. Our aim was to identify socioeconomic indicators, health behaviours, health status indicators and cognition that are associated with balance and identify how these associations varied by age and sex. Methods Data from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development, a British birth cohort study, were utilised (n=3111). Multilevel models examined associations between twelve different factors across life (maternal education, paternal occupational class, education, own occupational class, physical activity, smoking, diabetes, respiratory symptoms, cardiovascular events, knee pain, depression and verbal memory) and one-legged standing balance (assessed at ages 53, 60-64 and 69). Results Men had better balance than women at age 53 (b=18.8% (95%CI: 13.6, 23.9), although this difference decreased with age (11.8% at age 60-64 and 7.6% at age 69). Low socioeconomic position, poor health behaviours, poor health status and lower cognition were associated with poorer balance at all three ages. For example, those from the lowest paternal occupational class had 29.6% (95% CI: 22.2, 38.8%) worse balance than those from the highest class. There were no sex differences in patterns of associations. Associations of balance with socioeconomic indicators, cognition and physical activity got smaller with age, while the associations with knee pain and depression increased. Discussion Factors across life that contribute to balance are multifaceted and complex. A multifactorial intervention to minimise balance decline and falls could be more appropriate than a single factor approach. Due to different patterns of association with age (i.e. knee pain or depression), different factors should be targeted depending on age.

Parents’ Expectation of Mathematics Education and Their Engagement in Education and Homework Habits of Children

Abstract Introduction: In this study, it was aimed to examine the expectations of elementary and secondary school parents from the mathematics education and their engagements in the education and the mathematics homework habits of their children. Methods: The research data was collected by “A Scale to Determine Parents’ Expectation from Mathematics Education”, “Mathematics Homework Behavior Scale” and the “Personal Information Form” prepared by the researcher. The data of this study executed and conducted by survey model was analyzed by SPSS 16. Results: In the study, it is revealed that the expectations of parents from Mathematics education and the mathematics homework habit of their children are high. There is no difference based on the levels of the children and parentage status of the parents, regardless of being mother or father, the mathematics homework habit of the children who favor mathematics lesson and at the same time thrive on is more favorable and positive than the ones who do not favor mathematics lesson and at the same time fail to thrive on, the homework habit of the children whom are supported sufficiently in the mathematics lesson is more favorable and positive. Last but not least, there is no correlation between the expectations of the parents from Mathematics education and the homework habits of their children. Discussion: High expectations of parents from mathematics classes may suggest that they trust their children and their teachers. It may also suggest that they are involved in the education process and that they find it sufficient. Based on the findings of this study, according to which the level of homework habits of the parents’ children is high, it can be assumed that the students do their homework willingly and they have no problems with doing their daily homework. Parents’ help their children’s with homework occasionally to make them feel that they are not alone in this process. Lower expectations from their children and lower engagement of parents at upper levels may be caused by the fact that they cannot support their children sufficiently due to the complexity of subjects. In elementary schools, since their children are smaller in terms of age, parents may think that their children need more help and they can be more active in education because the subjects in elementary school are not as complicated as in higher classes. The math homework habits do not differ according to the education level of students’ but, based on the scores, we can say that they are more favourable in the elementary school since the children are younger and besides, in Turkey, children are assigned homework more regularly and the homework habits start to emerge at the elementary school level. Just depending on the scores, it is interesting to note that the expectations of fathers from mathematics education and their engagement in the process are higher than those of mothers. This may suggest that the expectations of fathers from their children may be due to the higher goals they set for them and perhaps since they are more perfectionist, they are more involved in the children’s education than mothers. To like a lesson, can be considered a precondition for doing the assigned homework more willingly. Children do their homework more willingly in the courses at which they consider themselves successful. That is why the results of this study are not surprising. The homework habits of the children sufficiently supported in mathematics are expected to be more favourable. The expectations of parents from mathematics lesson were not related to their children’s homework habits. The absence of homework habits, in the parents’ expectation from mathematics lesson, may be due to not getting a clear answer from the parents with respect to the question whether homework should be assigned in education or not. Limitations: These research and data collection tools used are limited only by the thoughts of parents of primary and middle school students in Turkey. Conclusions: The child, being aware that he is not alone in the process, will be more confident if he knows that there is a family support behind him in overcoming mathematics.

Association between renal function and bone mineral density in healthy postmenopausal Chinese women

BackgroundThe relationship between renal function and bone mineral density (BMD) is controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of renal function with BMD and osteoporosis risk in healthy postmenopausal Chinese women.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 776 healthy postmenopausal Chinese women. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure BMDs. Clinical, demographic, and biochemical data were obtained at the time of image acquisition. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using a Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation.ResultsWomen with eGFR levels of at least 90 ml/min/1.73m2 had a lower prevalence of osteoporosis compared with women with decreased eGFR levels (60 ml/min/1.73 m2 ≤ eGFR < 90.0 ml/min/1.73 m2). BMDs at femoral neck and total hip were significantly lower in the lower eGFR class than the higher class (0.717 ± 0.106 vs 0.744 ± 0.125 g/cm2, P < 0.01; 0.796 ± 0.116 vs 0.823 ± 0.129 g/cm2, P < 0.01, respectively). eGFR was positively correlated with BMDs at femoral neck and total hip in unadjusted analysis (P < 0.05). After controlling for age, menopausal duration and body mass index (BMI), decreased eGFR was not associated with osteoporosis risk.ConclusionsAfter adjustments for age, menopausal duration and BMI, the decline in renal function was not independently associated with osteoporosis risk in healthy postmenopausal Chinese women.