bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Altering opinions about the insanity plea
Authors: Jeffrey Richard W. , Pasewark Richard A.
Published: February 2018

Before being presented with the actual statistics, college students and community residents grossly overestimate the extent to which the insanity plea is used and its success rate. They also overwhelmingly believe that the plea is overused and abused. Following presentation of the actual use and success data, a significant alteration in a more favorable direction is observed. However, despite this shift in opinion, a substantial proportion of respondents still opine that the plea is overused and abused.
Usefulness of the Rorschach: A Survey of Forensic Psychiatrists
Authors: Rogers Richard , Cavanaugh James L.
Published: February 2018

A survey study of forensic psychiatrists and other mental health professionals examined their perceptions of the Rorschach Inkblot Technique in criminal forensic work. The three major areas surveyed were (1) frequency of Rorschach use in forensic reports, (2) relative value of the Rorschach in comparison to other diagnostic techniques for forensic evaluations, and (3) a general measure of the respondents’ familiarity with the Rorschach. Forensic psychiatrists were found to be reasonably cautious and selective in their use of the Rorschach, which is appropriate in light of recent validation studies; they were unfamiliar with many of the basic characteristics of this technique, such as the existence of a variety of scoring and interpretation systems.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Insanity Defense: A Critical Analysis
Authors: Packer Ira K.
Published: February 2018

As the concept of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has become more widely publicized, it has been used as a defense for criminal charges in a number of court cases. The implications of PTSD for the insanity defense are examined with reference to case examples. It is concluded that in most cases the argument for a finding of insanity based on PTSD rests on invalid, deterministic reasoning. In rare cases, an individual with PTSD will experience a psychotic or dissociative episode and may then meet the criteria for legal insanity.
Incest Accusation: Assessing Credibility
Authors: Weiss Edward H.
Published: February 2018

This article explores methods of interviewing and techniques of assessing child incest victims’ credibility through detailed clinical case studies and data collected from direct observation and inquiry of the children themselves. The methodology is designed to elicit emotions connected to the alleged assault, which form an integral part of the credibility criteria used by the author. Comparison between the child's direct statements about being sexually abused and the level of cognitive and psychosocial development attained by the child forms another critical factor in differentiating fact from fantasy of children.
Thirty-five law student suicides
Authors: Hamilton M. J. , Pepitone-Arreola-Rockwell F. , Rockwell D. , Whitlow C.
Published: February 2018

The legal and medical professions, among others, are commonly considered high-stress professions and are associated with high risk of suicide. A recent study of medical students and recent medical graduates did not confirm a higher incidence of suicide in this group. The question then arose as to what was actually true among law students and recently graduated young lawyers. The following is a report of the findings of such a study. In effect, the study concludes that law students and young lawyers have a significantly lower rate of suicide than the average population in the same age group.
The Psychological Parent Concept in Contested Custody Cases
Authors: Radin Sherwin S.
Published: February 2018

The identification of the psychological parent in contested custody cases is often regarded as the primary factor in determining which parent is awarded custody of the children. It is the author's contention that the psychological parent entity is a complex one whose components are conceptualized into psychologically fit and psychologically unfit categories. Although both fit and unfit psychological parents are caretakers who have a profound impact upon their children, the consequences of a child being placed with a fit parent are quite different than the ramifications of the child's placement with a psychologically unfit parent. The latter relationship is maladaptive, while the former relationship is essentially an adaptive one from the child's perspective. In contested custody cases, other guidelines should be considered along with the psychological parent entity.
Women in Oregon's Insanity Defense System
Authors: Rogers Jeffrey L. , Sack William H. , Bloom Joseph D. , Manson Spero M.
Published: February 2018

This article examines and compares women and men who successfully used the insanity defense in Oregon over a four and a half–year period. There was no significant difference between men and women in diagnoses or types of trial proceedings. A significantly greater percentage of women committed homicides, but since women also committed a greater percentage of misdemeanors, the average seriousness of crimes did not differ significantly between men and women. Nonetheless, women were released from hospitalization more frequently and after shorter stays than men. The authors discuss possible explanations for this apparent bias in favor of women.
Alcohol, Alcoholism, and the Law: A Psychoanalytically Oriented Analysis
Authors: Schoenfeld C. G.
Published: February 2018

With the aid of psychoanalytic tools and insights, this article seeks to reveal that alcoholic beverages can have both good and bad consequences, and that law can be helpful in maximizing the “good” and minimizing the “bad.” Considered herein are the physical and psychological effects of drinking, the history of legal efforts to regulate drinking in the United States, and the causes and possible cures of alcoholism. Then, there is a discussion of the psychoanalytically oriented view that on an unconscious level, drinking is frequently an attempt by the emotionally troubled to cure themselves, albeit temporarily. The final section of the article discusses the relationship between drinking and the law, and offers a number of recommendations.
The adversary process and social science in the courts: Barefoot v. Estelle
Authors: Levine Murray
Published: February 2018

In Barefoot v. Estelle, the Supreme Court admitted psychiatric testimony of dangerousness in the death penalty phase of a trial for a capital offense, despite substantial empirical evidence such predictions were more often wrong than right, and despite opposition from the American Psychiatric Association stating that such predictions were scientifically unacceptable and possibly unethical. The Court's opinion relied on adversary process to protect against the unreliability of expert testimony. Evidence showing the sources of unreliability in clinical examination, and that adversarial process increases the unreliability of professional judgments is reviewed, and implications for the developing relationship between law and social science are explored.
The Evolution of a Public Guardianship Program
Authors: Schmidt Winsor C.
Published: February 2018

The available literature on guardianship suggests that this legal device has a poor benefit/burden ratio for individual wards, yet there are 11,147 persons allegedly in need of a guardian in Florida. Florida has begun to test a public guardianship response to this need. Florida's comparison of volunteer and professional models of public guardianship suggests that volunteers are no panacea to guardianship problems. Public guardianship programs risk the self-aggrandizing position of both petitioning for adjudication of incompetency and serving as guardian, the conflict-of-interest position of being part of a social service agency, inadequate staffing and funding, and vague guardianship criteria and lax procedures.
Behavioral Science and the Negligent Child
Authors: Swenson Elizabeth V.
Published: February 2018

Several standards of negligence liability exist for children. The most common is that a child must behave in a reasonable manner that is consistent with that of a hypothetical child of like age, intelligence, and experience. Research in causal understanding, impulsivity, rough-and-tumble play behavior, and fire setting is related to negligence and provides a basis for understanding and applying this standard.
Compliance and Responsibility: New Issues for the Insanity Defense
Authors: Sherlock Richard
Published: February 2018

A number of recent studies have been made of the insanity defense, especially in light of the verdict in Hinckley. All of these studies, however, overlook a crucial set of cases involving noncompliance with psychiatric treatment. Unlike standard cases of criminal insanity, these cases involve the responsibility of the patient for his psychotic state, i.e., he can decide to stop his treatment, after which he becomes psychotic and then may commit crimes of various sorts. This article is an analysis of these sorts of cases and the ways in which they are like or unlike other seemingly similar cases such as the treatment of offenders who are intoxicated at the time their offenses are committed.
Child Advocacy and the Scientific Model in Family Court: A Theory for Pretrial Self-Assessment
Authors: Wittmann Jeffrey J.
Published: February 2018

Behaving as a child advocate during expert testimony in family court can introduce sources of bias and distortion into a clinician's conclusions and reduce the extent to which the professional appears “scientific.” However, child advocacy within the justice system can be viewed as a professional responsibility for clinicians working with youths. This article operationally defines child advocacy. It outlines theoretical parameters of acceptable advocacy during testimony that can be used by clinicians during pretrial self-assessment of their anticipated statements to the court.
Insanity Plea: National Survey of Frequency and Success
Authors: Pasewark Richard A. , McGinley Hugh
Published: February 2018

The 50 states were surveyed to determine the operative insanity rule and frequency and success of the insanity plea. Reflecting the dearth of information regarding this important public policy concern, only a limited number of jurisdictions could provide statistics on the plea's frequency and success. Among these, incidence of the plea was generally low, while its success rate was quite variable.
Attitudes toward Mental Patients’ Rights: Program Models and the Ideology of Nurses
Authors: Ziegenfuss James T. , Lasky David I.
Published: February 2018

This article examines the respective linkages of the medical model and the therapeutic community model of treatment to patients’ rights attitudes, knowledge of patients’ rights, and willingness to participate in rights conflict resolution. Nurses from units representing each of the program models were given questionnaires. The results indicated that nurses on the medical model unit had more favorable attitudes toward patients’ rights and were more willing to participate in rights activities than the nurses on the therapeutic community unit. Examination of the respective program structures indicated possible reasons for the obtained differences. Other reasons for the contradictory findings are discussed, as are the implications of such findings for future research.
Hard Cases: The “Duty to Warn” as a Felt Necessity of our Time
Authors: Meyers C. J.
Published: February 2018

Now in its second decade of existence, the psychotherapist's “duty to warn” is no longer a disreputable novelty. It is established law in an increasing number of jurisdictions, and equally important, it is believed to be law by most psychotherapists in most jurisdictions in the United States. This article asks why the duty to warn was created and why it thrives, relating the development of the phenomenon to social, psychological, and legal pressures felt by the judges who made the decisions.
An Analysis of Legal Trends in the Disposition of Sex Crimes: Implications for Theory, Research, and Policy
Authors: Veneziano Carol , Veneziano Louis
Published: February 2018

The number of sex offenses, particularly those involving children, has risen dramatically in the last few years, and the handling of sex offenders is thus the focus of new concern. A review of statutes and legal cases indicates that special processing of sex offenders, particularly child sexual abusers, has had a long history in the criminal justice/mental health system. Until the late 1970s, most emphasis was concentrated on the rights of defendants in the disposition of cases under sexual psychopath statutes. Since that time, the trend has been toward the repeal of these statutes and the expansion of legislation which attempts to improve the probability of successful prosecution of child sexual abuse cases and ease the difficulties of child victims in the courtroom. The lack of research in this area is discussed, and directions for future policy research are indicated.
Characteristics of those Evaluated for Insanity
Authors: Boehnert Caryl E.
Published: February 2018

Forty-five men accused of major crimes who were evaluated for insanity at the time of offense were compared with 30 men matched on crime who had been found NGRI; 30 men matched on crime for whom mental status had not been raised as an issue at trial; and 30 psychiatric controls. The evaluation group resembled other forensic subjects on variables of age, occupation, number of prior arrests, and education. They had significantly higher IQs than the other forensic subjects, and produced MMPIs classified as “Psychiatric” rather than “Psychopathic” using the Goldberg rules. Differences between evaluatees and NGRIs are discussed, as are differences between NGRI and psychiatric control subjects.
The Regulation of Professional Behavior: Electroconvulsive Therapy in Massachusetts
Authors: Benedict Alice R. , Saks Michael J.
Published: February 2018

This study concerned the regulation of professional behavior. Several sources of regulation were examined to see if and how they succeeded in directing psychiatrists' administration of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Archival data from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health were used to compare professional behavior with scientific evidence and professional consensus in four areas of ECT administration. Results show that approximately 90% of ECT patients received treatment inappropriately, suggesting that the regulation of ECT administration is ineffective. A survey of psychiatrists suggests that some forms of regulation have not been implemented while those regulations which do exist convey little information to inform the behavior of psychiatrists and are, consequently, ineffective. Psychiatrists' behavior was, however, related to their attention to the medical literature.
Typology of Men Unsuccessfully Raising the Insanity Defense
Authors: Boehnert Caryl E.
Published: February 2018

Little is known about the group of individuals who rely on the insanity defense throughout trial, but nonetheless are found guilty and sent to prison. This article discusses psychological test data and crime characteristics of 30 men who unsuccessfully attempted the insanity defense in Florida. Well over half of the attemptee crimes were found to be actions against strangers. Attemptees are divided into five subtypes and demographic and psychological characteristics are discussed.
Custodial Fathers, Custodial Mothers and Their Former Spouses in Protracted Custody Disputes: Clinical Opinions and Data
Authors: Saunders Elisabeth B. , Melville Catherine
Published: February 2018

National statistics in the United States and Canada indicate that following marital separation the majority of parents settle for sole custody with the mother as custodian. Also, in the approximately 15% of separations in which custody is disputed, a majority of mothers are also awarded sole custody. A review of different views of the reasons for protracted custody disputes shows few authors systematically using data to support their views. A systematic comparison of custodial and noncustodial parents of both sexes showed no differences in their psychiatric histories, marital status and alleged reasons for marital separation. However, clinical recommendations referred more often to unusual circumstances when recommending sole custody to fathers than to mothers.
A Legal and Behavioral Science Analysis of Statutory Guidelines for Children's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: The Florida Case
Authors: Schmidt Winsor C. , Otto Randy
Published: February 2018

Certain issues relating to children's mental health services were recently addressed in Florida, including: the legal adversarial relationship between parent and child; guardian ad litem; child participation in legal admissions processes; child consent to outpatient counseling; appropriate placements; expert professional opinion; and costs. Available research suggests that (1) children 15 years of age and older should be as presumably capable of consenting to mental health treatment as adults; (2) due process requirements for psychiatric hospitalization of children do not necessarily harm the family system; and (3) inpatient treatment of children and adolescents is effective and preferred for a number of the more severe disorders, but outpatient treatment is indicated for the less severe and more circumscribed disorders. The statutory schemes of the Mental Health Law Project and the Virginia Task Force are both preferable to Florida's recommended reform.
Family Therapists as Expert Witnesses: Helping Family Court Understand a new Language
Authors: Wittmann Jeffrey P.
Published: February 2018

In this article the potential problems confronted by family evaluators and therapists as they interact with the family court system are reviewed. Problems related to communicating effectively during the course of expert testimony are discussed, with emphasis on the difficulty caused by the use of family oriented language in an arena accustomed to an individual emphasis. A series of recommendations are made to assist family oriented mental health professionals prepare for, and present expert testimony that is understandable by legal professionals and effective.
Battered Woman Syndrome as a Criminal Defense
Authors: Walus-Wigle Jacqueline , Meloy J. Reid
Published: February 2018

Battered woman syndrome, although not a diagnosable mental disorder, is being successfully used as a criminal defense at both the federal and the state level. The authors briefly critique the clinical concept of battered woman syndrome and review current federal and state case law relevant to its use as a criminal defense. Despite the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court has yet to hear a case involving testimony concerning battered woman syndrome, its scope as a criminal defense is expanding.
Schizophrenic Patients’ Self-perceptions: Legal and Clinical Implications
Authors: Walker Elaine F. , Rossiter Judith
Published: February 2018

The present research is concerned with schizophrenic patients’ perceptions of their own mental health and the relationship of these perceptions to clinical characteristics and cognitive performance. A structured interview was administered to 20 male and 16 female outpatients. When queried about their mental status, 30% of the males and 6% of the females reported that they did not perceive themselves as mentally ill. This sex difference was statistically significant, and there were trends toward greater willingness on the part of women to acknowledge symptoms. Patients who stated that they perceived themselves to be mentally ill had a shorter duration of most recent hospitalization, a smaller number of previous hospitalizations, and greater compliance with treatment. These patients also showed better performance on a measure of attentional abilities. The results are inconsistent with the idea that self-labeling in mental illness has negative consequences. The theoretical, clinical and legal implications of the findings are discussed.
Single Custodial Fathers in Contested Custody Suits
Authors: Greif Geoffrey L. , Demaris Alfred
Published: February 2018

A 1987–88 national survey of 1,132 single custodial fathers provided the basis for comparing the characteristics of fathers who gained custody following a court contest with those who gained custody without a contest. Differences were found in the amount of conflict at the time of the breakup, in the level of satisfaction the fathers reported in their relationships with their children, and in the sex of the children being raised. Implications for mental health and legal practitioners are drawn.
Staff and Patient Perceptions of the Least Restrictive Alternatives for the Short-term Control of Disturbed Behavior
Authors: Harris Grant T. , Rice Marnie E. , Preston Denise L.
Published: February 2018

Although there is agreement within professional and legal communities that the least restrictive alternative should be used when restraining upset psychiatric patients, there is disagreement as to what constitutes the least restrictive alternative. Forty patients and 38 staff who had either much or little direct experience with restraint techniques were asked their opinions about various aspects of the appropriateness and restrictiveness of nine different techniques or combinations of techniques for managing upset patients in each of four different hypothetical situations. The results revealed remarkable agreement about the relative intrusiveness of the techniques. The implications for the management of disturbed patients are discussed.
The Psychiatrist's Dilemma
Authors: Greenberg Linn Turner
Published: February 2018

Whether or not psychiatrists are able to assess accurately the dangerous propensities of their patients, they face liability for decisions based on these predictions. Balancing public safety and cost to liberty has been delegated to psychiatrists without adequate legal or professional standards. Some jurisdictions have some standards restricting commitment, but even where commitment is not statutorily permitted, other liability has been found. Until society is confronted with the costs of guaranteeing public safety, the status quo will continue. The author suggests that until adequate legal standards are established or immunity for discretionary judgments is granted, psychiatrists should use a very low threshold of dangerousness for a basis for protective action. By refusing to take risks, psychiatrists could effect legal reform.
Negligent Release Litigation: a Proposal for Procedural Reform
Authors: Poythress Norman G.
Published: February 2018

Much of what has been written lately regarding tort reform has dealt with substantive as opposed to procedural concerns. This paper offers a preliminary proposal regarding procedural reform that would potentially correct for the hindsight bias in negligent release litigation and have application in other torts contexts involving transferred responsibility. The proposal for bifurcated trial proceedings is worthy of consideration by legal scholars and policy makers as a potential mechanism for ensuring fairness and improving the quality of justice. As a footnote, it might be added that social scientists might contribute to the assessment of the proposed bifurcation procedure by conducting jury simulation studies that investigate the impact of bifurcated vs. non-bifurcated procedures as a function of strong vs. weak evidence of clinician negligence in mock negligent release cases.
Alcoholism: Disease or Willful Misconduct? A Look at the Veterans Administration Position in Traynor v. Turnage
Authors: Goff J. Larry
Published: February 2018

An analysis of the Veterans Administration interpretation that certain types of alcoholism constitute “willful misconduct” and the opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court in Traynor upholding that position reveals weaknesses in both. The VA's position was based on data accumulated nearly 50 years ago and is inconsistent with the position of the majority of medical and psychiatric practitioners today. The Court consciously chose to ignore the vast amount of evidence before it that argues in favor of the “disease” concept of alcoholism. The struggle between these two opposing ideologies can be resolved only through an act of Congress defining with specificity the critical terms in dispute.
Psychological Evaluation of the Consent to Search
Authors: Wulach James S.
Published: February 2018

This article, the first that has been written on the psychological evaluation of a defendant's capacity to consent to a police search, reviews the forensic psychological context of the issue, legal standards, clinical assessment techniques, and all related appellate cases in which psychologists or psychiatrists have testified as expert witnesses. It concludes that psychologists have a significant role to play in assessing the “voluntariness” of a defendant's waiver of his or her constitutional right against unreasonable searches.
Education of Children with Disabilities: Attorneys & Attorney Fees
Authors: Nouryan Lola , Weisel Martha S.
Published: February 2018

The 1986 Handicapped Children's Protection Act (HCPA) permitted courts to award attorney fees under the Education of the Handicapped Act (EHA). This article examines the ways in which the federal courts have evaluated the attorney fees provision. To assess another perspective, a questionnaire was mailed to hearing officers in New York State in an effort to determine the effect of having parents represented by an attorney at the administrative level. The results indicated that the rights of children with disabilities are better served in many areas when their parents are represented by an attorney.
Factors Influencing Length of Hospitalization for NGRI Acquittees in a Maximum Security Facility
Authors: Baldwin Lee J. , Menditto Anthony A. , Beck Niels C. , Smith Sara M.
Published: February 2018

Analyzing personal-social characteristics of mental patients for the purpose of developing an equation to predict length of hospitalization has received considerable attention in the psychiatric and psychological literature. Severity of crime, gender, race, marital status, education and occupation have all been identified at one time or another as salient predictor variables. A lack of clearly defined procedures to operationally define variables, particularly crime severity, and a failure to cross-validate findings have resulted in widely disparate conclusions that appear ambiguous and idiosyncratic. The current investigation attempted to correct these two methodological limitations and discovered a three-variable prediction model accounting for 34% of the variance in length of hospital stay, nearly three times that which has been accounted for in any previous study. Despite this significant improvement, the use of a prediction model should be limited to providing information regarding hospitalization prognosis and should not be used as a discharge decision-making instrument.
The Origins of Law: a Psychoanalytic Interpretation
Authors: Schoenfeld C. G.
Published: February 2018

Psychoanalytic insights and discoveries are employed to help shed light upon the origin and nature of law. It is suggested that the origin of law is to be found in Oedipal prohibitions against incest and parricide: ancient prohibitions which, it is argued, reflect (as does the superego) an attempt to control the sexual and aggressive urges that presumably ruled mankind's ancestors during the era of the primal horde. Also considered in this article is the history of the first five books of the Old Testament known as the Jewish Torah, and particularly the history of the Jewish Sabbath. The conclusion is drawn that the law's very nature changes from time to time: sometimes requiring force, compliance, sovereignty, and legitimacy (or a combination of some of them), and sometimes not.
Public Acceptance/Rejection of Insanity–-mental Illness Legal Defenses for Defendants in Criminal Homicide Cases
Authors: Tygart Clarence E.
Published: February 2018

A representative sample of public opinion was investigated concerning the processes by which the public accepts/rejects homicide defendants’ mental illness legal defenses. Lesser acceptance of a mental illness defense was associated with: (1) political conservatism; (2) traditional or orthodox religious beliefs; and (3) a “free will” rather than a “determinism” philosophical stance.

Mental health professionals were accorded little influence in the public's determination of their positions on the mental illness defense. However, for those who did not have strong opinions on the mental illness defense, mental health professionals were defined generally as having significant influence on their decisions.
Voluntary Intoxication and the Insanity Defense
Authors: Meloy J. Reid
Published: February 2018

Voluntary intoxication can be used as a basis for the insanity defense in certain cases. I review the obscure concept of “settled insanity “ in California case law and note its 100–year evolution from a “permanent” state of mind, usually associated with chronic alcoholism, to a current test of temporary insanity wherein the mental disorder must be fixed, stable, of reasonable duration, and not solely dependent upon the ingestion or duration of the drug. I argue that this definition is tautological and arbitrary and propose a new definition of “settled insanity” based only upon a demonstrated predisposition to psychosis. This definition is consistent with current scientific research concerning psychosis-proneness in individuals who become paranoid and delusional through the use of psychostimulants, the class of drugs now most likely to contribute to a voluntary intoxication-insanity defense strategy.
Robust controller design for the excavator swing system under the active regulating common pressure rail
Authors: Shen Wei , Su Xiaoyu , Pang Yu , Zhao Ruihan
Published: February 2018

In this paper, a new kind of rule called Active Regulating Common Pressure Rail (ARCPR) for hydraulic system is presented. Especially, the main focus is to improve the control performance for the swing hydraulic system with the parametric uncertainties and time delay effect caused by employing ARCPR. Firstly, the traditional CPR is introduced and the energy saving potential is analyzed. Then, the mathematical model of the displacement regulating system and swing driving system is presented. Moreover, the displacement regulating system model is simplified by considering the parametric uncertainties and time delay condition. Furthermore, a robust controller is designed to meet the system requirements. Finally, a simulation based on standard working condition is conducted and the result shows the control performance can meet the practical requirement well.
Input-to-state stability of discrete time-delay systems with switching and impulsive signals
Authors: Cao Zhengbao , Gao Lijun , Zhang Meng
Published: February 2018

This paper investigates input-to-state stability (ISS) for a class of discrete time-delay systems with switching and impulsive signals. By the Lyapunov–Krasovskii technique, a dwell-time bound and delay bound are clearly presented to contribute to the ISS for discrete time-delay systems. A significant subsequence method of the switched and impulsive sequence will firstly be applied to study the ISS of discrete systems. Based on this method, some new conditions guaranteeing ISS are presented. Compared with the existing results on related problems, the obtained stability criteria are less conservative as it is only required for the specially designed Lyapunov function to be non-increasing along each of the defined subsequences of the switched and impulsive time. Examples of network control systems are presented to illustrate the main results at the end.
Design of a stabilizing controller for discrete-time switched delay systems with affine parametric uncertainties
Authors: Baleghi NA , Shafiei MH
Published: February 2018

This paper studies the stabilization problem of discrete-time switched systems in the presence of a time-varying delay and parametric uncertainties. The main goal is to provide a state feedback controller to guarantee the stability of the closed-loop system with an evaluated average dwell time. In this regard, an appropriate Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional is constructed and the sufficient conditions for stability of the closed-loop system are developed in terms of feasibility testing of proposed linear matrix inequalities. These conditions only depend on the upper bounds of the time delay and uncertain parameters. Additionally, a numerical example is provided to verify the theoretical results.
Mixed-kernel least square support vector machine predictive control based on improved free search algorithm for nonlinear systems
Authors: Zhongda Tian , Shujiang Li , Yanhong Wang , Xiangdong Wang
Published: February 2018

Many controlled objects in the actual industrial process are nonlinear systems, and the traditional control theory cannot achieve very good control effect. Based on swarm intelligence optimization algorithm, the nonlinear prediction and predictive control algorithm, this paper put forwards a nonlinear systems predictive control method based on the mixed-kernel least square support vector machine (LSSVM) model and improved free search (IFS) algorithm. The mixed-kernel LSSVM combines the advantages of radial basis function (RBF) and the Polynomial function, which can achieve a better prediction and modeling accuracy. The optimal parameters of the mixed-kernel LSSVM are obtained by IFS algorithm. The proposed predictive control method utilizes mixed-kernel LSSVM to estimate the nonlinear systems model and forecast the output of the system. The output error is reduced through output feedback and error correction. The rolling optimization of control variables are obtained by IFS algorithm. This predictive control method can be used to design effective controllers for nonlinear systems with unknown mathematical models. The stability analysis shows that the control method is asymptotically stable. The simulation experiment of single input and single output, multiple input multiple output and continuous stirred tank reactor nonlinear systems are performed. The validity of the proposed control method is also verified by an actual electric heating furnace system. The simulation and practical experiment results show that the proposed predictive control method has good tracking signal and anti-interference ability.
Powered by Netflix: speed test services and video-on-demand’s global development projects
Authors: Elkins Evan
Published: February 2018

This article examines three online tools that enable users of video-on-demand (VOD) platforms to check their Internet speeds: the ISP Speed Index and Fast.com, both developed by Netflix, and Google/YouTube’s Video Quality Report. In the context of VOD corporations’ aims of global market expansion, these sites are part of Netflix and YouTube’s broader initiatives to promote high-speed broadband and mobile Internet to users throughout the world. However, I argue that these speed test sites are ultimately less concerned with encouraging high-speed Internet as a broadly accessible public good and more invested in ensuring that consumers have quick and ready access to the one particular video platform owned by that stakeholder. Merging literature on media globalization, development communication, and digital infrastructures, this article shows that like many corporate global development projects, these speed test sites mask commercialized self-interest behind a seemingly humanitarian and philanthropic push for increased user participation in a modernized mediascape. Mundane as they may seem, Netflix’s and YouTube’s speed test services provide opportunities to critique how Silicon Valley and global entertainment industries position themselves jointly as benefactors of development.
Clinical Consensus Statement: Balloon Dilation of the Sinuses
Authors: Piccirillo Jay F. , Payne Spencer C. , Rosenfeld Richard M. , Baroody Fuad M. , Batra Pete S. , DelGaudio John M. , Edelstein David R. , Lane Andrew P. , Luong Amber U. , Manes R. Peter , McCoul Edward D. , Platt Michael P. , Reh Douglas D. , Corrigan Maureen D.
Published: February 2018

Objective

To develop a clinical consensus statement on the use of sinus ostial dilation (SOD) of the paranasal sinuses.

Methods

An expert panel of otolaryngologists was assembled to represent general otolaryngology and relevant subspecialty societies. The target population is adults 18 years or older with chronic or recurrent rhinosinusitis (with or without nasal polyps, with or without prior sinus surgery) for whom SOD is being recommended, defined as endoscopic use of a balloon device to enlarge or open the outflow tracts of the maxillary, frontal, or sphenoid sinuses, as a standalone procedure or with endoscopic surgery. A modified Delphi method was used to distill expert opinion into clinical statements that met a standardized definition of consensus.

Results

After 3 iterative Delphi method surveys, 13 statements met the standardized definition of consensus while 45 statements did not. The clinical statements were grouped into 3 categories for presentation and discussion: (1) patient criteria, (2) perioperative considerations, and (3) outcomes. Strong consensus was obtained for not performing SOD in patients without sinonasal symptoms or positive findings on computed tomography (CT) in patients with symptoms only of headache or sleep apnea without criteria for sinusitis. In addition, strong consensus was met that CT scan of the sinuses was necessary before performing SOD and that surgeons need to understand and abide by regulations set forth by the US Food and Drug Administration if they choose to reuse/reprocess devices.

Conclusion

Expert panel consensus may provide helpful information for the otolaryngologist considering the use of SOD for the management of patients with a diagnosis of rhinosinusitis. This panel reached consensus on a number of statements that defined the use of SOD as inappropriate in the management of a variety of symptoms or diseases in the absence of underlying sinusitis. When patients meet the definition of chronic sinusitis as confirmed by CT scan, SOD of the sinuses can be indicated and/or effective in certain scenarios. Additional consensus statements regarding proper setting and safeguards for performing the procedure are described.
Facilitated playgroups to promote speech and language skills of young children with communication delays: A pilot study
Authors: Green Katherine B , Towson Jacqueline A , Head Cynthia , Janowski Brittany , Smith Laura
Published: February 2018

Family-centered practices that build caregiver capacity are a central focus of early intervention services for young children with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of adapting the ‘Parents Interacting with Infants’ (PIWI) facilitated playgroup model to target effective communication strategies for parents of young children with communication delays. A concurrent multiple baseline across behaviors design with three parent–child dyads was used to determine the effects of the weekly facilitated playgroup model on parents’ successful implementation of communicative strategies and the effects on the children’s communication behaviors. Visual analysis revealed a functional relationship between the seven-week intervention and an increase in parent and child outcomes. Results support the feasibility of using a facilitated playgroup model to enhance parents’ ability to implement effective communication strategies with their children. Clinical implications and future directions for research are discussed.
Migraine and the risk of incident hypertension among women
Authors: Rist Pamela M , Winter Anke C , Buring Julie E , Sesso Howard D , Kurth Tobias
Published: February 2018

Background

Few studies have examined whether migraine is associated with an increased risk of incident hypertension.

Methods

We performed a prospective cohort study among 29,040 women without hypertension at baseline. Women were classified as having active migraine with aura, active migraine without aura, a past history of migraine, or no history of migraine. Incident hypertension was defined as new physician diagnosis or newly self-reported systolic or diastolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg or ≥90 mmHg respectively. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between migraine and incident hypertension.

Results

During a mean follow-up of 12.2 years, 15,176 incident hypertension cases occurred. Compared to those with no history of migraine, women who experience migraine with aura had a 9% increase in their risk of developing hypertension (95% CI: 1.02, 1.18); women who experience migraine without aura had a 21% increase in their risk of developing hypertension (95% CI: 1.14, 1.28); and women with a past history of migraine had a 15% increase in their risk of developing hypertension (95% CI: 1.07, 1.23).

Conclusions

Women with migraine have a higher relative risk of developing hypertension compared to women without migraine.
“They Give Teachers a Hard Time”: Symbolic Violence and Intersections of Race and Class in Interpretations of Teacher-student Relations
Authors: Gast Melanie Jones
Published: February 2018

A number of studies identify racial and class differences in disciplinary actions and teacher-student interactions; however, scholars place less emphasis on how race and class intersect to shape classifications of teacher-student relations. Using findings from an ethnographic study in a high school with significant racial and class stratification, I examine how teachers and black students of varying social-class backgrounds describe teacher-student relations and academic disparities. I show how middle-class and some working-class Honors black students shared their teachers’ discourse about urban poor disengagement and “black” misbehavior with teachers. Meanwhile, working-class (primarily non-Honors) black students called out teacher mistreatment in light of experiencing punitive relations and problems with teachers. Some of their peers and teachers interpreted such calls of racism as “making excuses” for disengagement. Using Bourdieu’s concepts of symbolic violence and misrecognition, I demonstrate the power of language about black student-teacher relations as school actors routinely legitimate race-class stereotypes in a diverse school.
‘A certain false, malicious, scandalous and famous libel’: Sir Henry Morgan’s legal action against a London publisher of Alexandre Exquemelin, 1685
Authors: Gibbs Joseph
Published: February 2018

This research examines the surviving plea roll from Sir Henry Morgan’s 1685 libel action against London publisher Thomas Malthus, presenting what it reveals about the substance of the complaint in the context of contemporary English libel law and Morgan-related sources. Malthus and rival printer William Crooke had produced competing English translations of buccaneer Alexandre Exquemelin’s memoir of Morgan-led operations against the Spanish, which included passages Morgan objected to through his attorney. The document (in the UK National Archives) summarizes the form and resolution of the lawsuit in the Court of King’s Bench against Malthus, and offers insight into what Morgan’s attorney considered libellous; these points probably echo Morgan’s concerns about the edition printed by Crooke, who settled out of court. Though the truth of Exquemelin’s contested statements was never tested in court, the episode can be seen as marking the first step in an ongoing critical appraisal of the buccaneer-turned-author’s veracity.
Portuguese emigration, shipping companies and the state: The business of migrant transport after the Belle Époque
Authors: Santos Yvette
Published: February 2018

This article seeks to understand why Portugal, with its strong migration tradition and its close ties with Brazil, did not manage to assert itself in the transport of emigrants to Brazil in the face of foreign competition from the mid-nineteenth century. We identify the primary internal and external factors that led to the loss of visibility of Portuguese shipping companies on the Portugal–Brazil route, even as migration reached a peak during the Belle Époque. An assessment is made of the extent to which the retreat of the major shipping nations from the maritime routes as a result of the First World War provided Portugal with an opportunity to assert itself as an international maritime power. We also analyse the politically motivated attempt to strengthen maritime contacts with Brazil through the Transportes Marítimos do Estado, and the weaknesses of that policy, which owed much to the unstable international maritime context and foreign competition.
Feeding Neptune: Food and nutrition in the Catalan-Aragonese fleet, 1282–1302
Authors: Mott Lawrence V.
Published: February 2018

During the War of the Sicilian Vespers (1282–1302) the Crown of Aragon developed a system to provide food for the crews of the Catalan-Aragonese fleet. This was no small undertaking as even when the fleet mustered only the minimal number of galleys the Office of the Admiral had to provide food for well over 3000 men for up to five months. Not only did tons food have to be gathered, it had to be prepared and stored for months at sea. All of this effort, of course, was to ensure the crews had an adequate diet. Their work was hard, particularly that of the rowers, and insufficient nutrition and calories could have seriously affected the fleet’s performance. Rowing required a great deal of energy and the diet had to provide the necessary calories if the men were to stay in fighting condition. Like other Christian fleets of the period, the meals consisted of cheese, meat mixed in a salsa of vegetables, biscotti and wine. However, the proportions of these elements were distinctly different from that in other fleets, and may reflect a distinct operational philosophy. This research note investigates the food provided to the crews in order to discover the nutrition and calories received by the typical crewman and to determine whether these were in fact sufficient for the gruelling work in which they were employed.
The French fleet and the Italian occupation of France, 1940–1942
Authors: MacGalloway Niall
Published: February 2018

The scuttling of the French fleet in November 1942 brought an abrupt end to a political tug of war which had been ongoing since the Italian occupation of France began in 1940. The seizure of the French fleet had been explicitly forbidden by the Italo–French armistice, which represented the cornerstone of all Italo–French diplomatic transactions. This research note seeks to demonstrate the role played by the French fleet and its use as a political pawn by both sides to change the existing political structures. For France, the overhaul of the Italo–French armistice would offer greater political power and status, whilst for Italy a more encompassing agreement would allow greater exploitation of France both in a political and an economic sense. This research note argues that the status of the French fleet represented a crucial and often overlooked aspect of this struggle.