Exercise Training in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Case Report

Purpose: To describe the benefits of a feasible, outpatient exercise training program on exercise tolerance and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Methods: Case report on two subjects recruited from a tertiary care pulmonary hypertension clinic. Subject 1 was a 50-year-old male with idiopathic PAH. Subject 2 was a 54-year-old female with a 20+ year history of scleroderma and 6-year history of PAH. Both subjects underwent exercise training 3 times per week for 6 weeks using a cycle ergometer at workloads progressing from 50% to 80% of peak workload. Outcomes were assessed using cardiopulmonary exercise testing, six-minute walk test (6MWT), and HRQL using the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ) and the Cambridge Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review (CAMPHOR). Results: Both subjects made substantial improvements in oxygen consumption and workload at anaerobic threshold (improvements of 3.8 and 4.2 mL·kg⁻¹·min,⁻¹ 26 and 18 W, respectively) and 6MWT distance (from 496 to 586m and 416 to 517m, respectively). Only Subject 1 made substantial improvements in peak oxygen consumption (from 16.0 to 18.3 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹and from 15.0 to 15.6 mL·kg⁻¹·min,⁻¹ respectively) and peak work rate (from 112 to 130W and 66 to 69W, respectively). Both subjects demonstrated improved HRQL. No adverse events were noted. CONCLUSIONS: A short and practical exercise training program can improve measures of workload, aerobic capacity, and HRQL in individuals with PAH with no adverse effects shown in these two case studies.Key Words: pulmonary arterial hypertension, exercise training     

Philosophy and the museum: An introduction to the special issue

This paper introduces the special issue by explaining the context of the conference at which the papers were originally presented, suggesting some ways of thinking about the intersection of philosophy and museums, and briefly introducing each paper in the collection. In the main body of the paper I look at a recent trend in museum interpretation and argue that it can be understood in terms of a definition of the museum as a space of representation and space of difference. I go on to suggest that this definition allows us to think of the museum as liberating us from certain ways of thinking. The paper as a whole suggests that philosophy can help us to think about museums, and that museums can contribute to philosophical thinking.     

A Meta‐Analysis of Empirical Research on Teaching Students with Mathematics Learning Difficulties

This article quantitatively summarizes experimental and quasi‐experimental studies on teaching students with mathematics difficulties (MD) published between 2000 and 2014, research that was available following earlier syntheses. It reports the analysis of effect sizes of 25 intervention studies on participant characteristics, intervention parameters, domains of mathematics interventions, and instructional approaches and components. Results indicate that several participant characteristics (e.g., grade level and level of mathematics difficulties) and intervention parameters (e.g., methodological soundness, intervention agent, and grouping) mediated the treatment effects. In addition, different types of instructional approaches and several instructional components contributed to the improvements in mathematics performance in students with MD.     

The Uses and Gratifications of Media Migration: Investigating the Activities,Motivations, and Predictors of Migration Behaviors Originating in Entertainment Television

Increasingly, media consumers follow entertainment across media; migrating from one medium to the next seeking to fulfill different needs. Using survey methods (N = 444), this exploratory research examines the underlying elements of media migration by studying the uses and gratifications of migration behavior. Specifically, findings of this survey identify migration activities, motivations, and predictors of migration. Results suggest that several of the top migration activities are strongly tied to Internet use. Findings indicate that media migration is motivated by different needs, including entertainment, escape, enlightenment, and more content-congruent exposure. Finally, amidst various predictors, the need for content-congruent exposure emerged as a strong predictor of migration.     

International Representations of Inclusive Education: How is Inclusive Practice Reflected in the Professional Teaching Standards of China and Australia?

Inclusive education focuses on addressing marginalisation, segregation and exclusion within policy and practice. The purpose of this article is to use critical discourse analysis to examine how inclusion is represented in the education policy and professional documents of two countries, Australia and China. In particular, teacher professional standards from each country are examined to determine how an expectation of inclusive educational practice is promoted to teachers. The strengthening of international partnerships to further support the implementation of inclusive practices within both countries is also justified.     

Leading the Library (When You're Not in Charge)

Fundamentals of leadership, management, and psychology take center stage in the business world but are often neglected in library training. By applying basic business principles to enhance our leadership skills, we can become more purposeful, organized, innovative, impactful, and successful as librarians, even if we’re not in charge. Drawing on the work of thought leaders in business and librarianship, this article explores the importance, practical implementation, and benefit of casting vision, planning strategically, managing projects, rejecting passivity, building teams, and implementing accountability.     

Entertainment We Watch and Entertainment We Appreciate: Patterns of Motion Picture Consumption and Acclaim Over Three Decades

An analysis of 582 film titles spanning the years from 1980 to 2010 was conducted to examine the attributes and characteristics that predicted both viewership (e.g., box-office revenues) and critical acclaim (e.g., awards, audience ratings). Overall, viewership was highest for action/adventure films and lowest for dramas. In contrast, acclaim was highest for more dramatic fare, and for films that featured dark, contemplative, and emotional themes. The results are discussed in terms of the entertainment gratifications reflecting both enjoyment and appreciation.