bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Taxonomic reassessment and redescription of Scolopendra arthrorhabdoides Ribaut, 1913, with a discussion on its related species (Scolopendromorpha, Scolopendridae)
Authors: CHAGAS-JR AMAZONAS , JIMÉNEZ SEBASTIÁN GALVIS
Published: May 2018

Scolopendra arthrorhabdoides Ribaut, 1913 is redescribed based on fresh material. Its taxonomic status is evaluated and compared with Scolopendra armata Kraepelin, 1903 and Scolopendra alternans Leach, 1816. The geographical distribution of S. arthrorhabdoides is also revised. Scolopendra armata is reported from Colombia for the first time.
Wind Hazard and Turbulence Monitoring at Airports with Lidar, Radar, and Mode-S Downlinks: The UFO Project
Authors: Oude Nijhuis A. C. P. , Thobois L. P. , Barbaresco F. , De Haan S. , Dolfi-Bouteyre A. , Kovalev D. , Krasnov O. A. , Vanhoenacker-Janvier D. , Wilson R. , Yarovoy A. G.
Published: May 2018

This article presents the prospects of measurement systems for wind hazards and turbulence at airports, which have been explored in the Ultrafast Wind Sensors (UFO) project. At France’s Toulouse–Blagnac Airport, in situ, profiling, and scanning sensors have been used to collect measurements, from which wind vectors and turbulence intensities are estimated. A scanning 1.5-µm coherent Doppler lidar and a solid state X-band Doppler radar have been developed with improved update rates, spatial resolution, and coverage. In addition, Mode-S data downlinks have been collected for data analysis. Wind vector and turbulence intensity retrieval techniques are applied to demonstrate the capabilities of these measurement systems. An optimal combination of remote measurement systems is defined for all weather monitoring at airports. In this combination, lidar and radar systems are complementary for clear-air and rainy conditions, which are formulated in terms of visibility and rain rate. The added value of the measurement systems for high-resolution numerical weather prediction models is estimated by an observing system experiment, and a positive impact on the local wind forecast is demonstrated.
Weather on the Go: An Assessment of Smartphone Mobile Weather Application Use among College Students
Authors: Phan Minh D. , Montz Burrell E. , Curtis Scott , Rickenbach Thomas M.
Published: May 2018

Millions of people in the United States regularly acquire information from weather forecasts for a wide variety of reasons. The rapid growth in mobile device technology has created a convenient means for people to retrieve this data, and in recent years, mobile weather applications (MWAs) have quickly gained popularity. Research on weather sources, however, has been unable to sufficiently capture the importance of this form of information gathering. As use of these apps continues to grow, it is important to gain insight on the usefulness of MWAs to consumers. To better examine MWA preferences and behaviors relating to acquired weather information, a survey of 308 undergraduate students from three different universities throughout the southeast United States was undertaken. Analyses of the survey showed that smartphone MWAs are the primary weather forecast source among college students. Additionally, MWA users tend to seek short-term forecast information, like the hourly forecast, from their apps. Results also provide insight into daily MWA use by college students as well as perceptions of and preferential choices for specific MWA features and designs. The information gathered from this study will allow other researchers to better evaluate and understand the changing landscape of weather information acquisition and how this relates to the uses, perceptions, and values people garner from forecasts. Organizations that provide weather forecasts have an ever-growing arsenal of resources to disseminate information, making research of this topic extremely valuable for future development of weather communication technology.
Nondestructive Spectroscopic Tracing of Simulated Formation Processes of Humic-Like Substances Based on the Maillard Reaction
Authors: Nakaya Yuki , Nakashima Satoru , Moriizumi Mihoko
Published: May 2018

The formation processes of humic-like substances have been simulated by heating a glycine and ribose mixed solution (0.1 mol L−1) at 80 ℃ using the Maillard reaction. Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis), three-dimensional excitation emission spectroscopy and size exclusion liquid chromatography succeeded in quantitatively tracing increases of the products during the heating of glycine and ribose mixed solution (0.1 mol L−1). Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopic analyses suggested that a band area around 280 nm ( UV280) and 254 nm absorbance ( UV254) can be used as measures of the formation of furfural-like intermediates and humic-like products, respectively. They were monitored using in situ UV–Vis spectroscopy with the original heatable liquid cell at 60–80 ℃. Kinetic analyses of the obtained data gave activation energies of 91.4–96.6 kJ mol−1. These nondestructive measurements by an in situ spectroscopic method did not require any additional procedures including drying or extracting the solution and they can be effectively used for direct tracing of the reaction progress and/or decomposition.
Splitting and blaming: The psychic life of neoliberal executive women
Authors: Baker Darren T , Kelan Elisabeth K
Published: May 2018

The aim of the article is to explore the psychic life of executive women under neoliberalism using psychosocial approaches. The article shows how, despite enduring unfair treatment and access to opportunities, many executive women remain emotionally invested in upholding the neoliberal ideal that if one perseveres, one shall be successful, regardless of gender. Drawing on psychosocial approaches, we explore how the accounts given by some executive women of repudiation, as denying gender inequality, and individualization, as subjects completely agentic, are underpinned by the unconscious, intertwined processes of splitting and blaming. Women sometimes split off undesirable aspects of the workplace, which repudiates gender inequality, or blame other women, which individualizes failure and responsibility for change. We explain that splitting and blaming enable some executive women to manage the anxiety evoked from threats to the neoliberal ideal of the workplace. This article thereby makes a contribution to existing postfeminist scholarship by integrating psychosocial approaches to the study of the psychic life of neoliberal executive women, by exploring why they appear unable to engage directly with and redress instances of gender discrimination in the workplace.
Global civil society and the test of Kyoto: A theoretical extension
Authors: Anderson Emma , Zaloznaya Marina
Published: May 2018

What determines how successful global civil society is in promoting international governance norms within nation-states? Studies attribute the varied effectiveness of civil action to the capacity of non-governmental groups and organizations, the nature of global regimes that generate such norms, domestic political landscapes, or combinations of these factors. Yet, empirical cases, analyzed in this article, suggest that global civil society may lose or gain in domestic effectiveness even when these determinants remain stable. Using primary and secondary data on Kyoto Protocol negotiations in Japan, Canada, and Australia, we argue that changes in the Kyoto stances of these three countries between 2005 and 2012 stemmed from the realignment of domestic political actors engaged in the contestation of the protocol alongside civil society. Our data reveal that exogenous natural and political events led to shifts in the positions of local political elites, media, and the energy industry. As a result, the pro-Kyoto coalition, headed by global civil society, either lost or gained in bargaining power vis-à-vis the counter-coalition. We, therefore, theorize realignment as a mechanism that connects exogenous events to the changing effectiveness of global civil society. Theoretically, our study emphasizes the importance of embedding civil action into its concrete socio-historical contexts and advocates for a process-oriented study of agentic social change.
Quality of Explanation as an Indicator of Fraction Magnitude Understanding
Authors: Foreman-Murray Lindsay , Fuchs Lynn S.
Published: May 2018

Students’ explanations of their mathematical thinking and conclusions have become a greater part of the assessment landscape in recent years. With a sample of 71 fourth-grade students at risk for mathematics learning disabilities, we investigated the relation between student accuracy in comparing the magnitude of fractions and the quality of students’ explanations of those comparisons, as well as the relation between those measures and scores on a criterion test: released fraction items from the National Assessment of Educational Progress. We also considered the extent to which reasoning and language contribute to the prediction. Results indicated a significant moderate correlation between accuracy and explanation quality. Commonality analyses indicated that explanation quality accounts for little variance in National Assessment of Educational Progress scores beyond what is accounted for by traditional measures of magnitude understanding. Implications for instruction and assessment are discussed.
Explaining Interest Group Density Across Economic Sectors: Evidence from Germany
Authors: Klüver Heike , Zeidler Elisabeth
Published: May 2018

Why does the number of interest groups vary across economic sectors? Interest groups are an important channel through which companies can transmit their policy preferences to decision-makers. However, empirical research shows that the number of interest groups varies considerably across sectors. We argue that the size and the wealth of the potential constituency as well as government activity positively affect interest group density. We test our theoretical expectations based on an unprecedented longitudinal analysis of interest groups that registered at the German Bundestag from 1978 until 2013 and show that the number of firms, the wealth of an economic sector, and government activity positively influence interest group density. However, we also find that the relationship between interest groups and legislative activity is reciprocal as legislative activity positively impacts the number of interest groups in an economic sector, but at the same time interest group density also positively affects legislative activity.
Electrospun natural cellulose/polyacrylonitrile nanofiber: simulation and experimental study
Authors: Xiao Yaqian , Cao Yanjuan , Liu Yan , Xin Binjie , Lin Lantian , Sun Yanggang , Chen Zhuoming
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we report on the fabrication and characterization of cellulose/polyacrylonitrile (cellulose/PAN) nanofiber via the electrospinning technique. The effects of voltage and blending ratio on the morphology of the electrospun cellulose/PAN nanofibers are investigated. The electric field distribution of the nanofiber manufacturing system is simulated by using finite element method analysis. The results show that the morphology and diameters of the nanofiber are obviously affected with the change of the electric field and blending ratio. The surface morphology, chemical structural, thermal stability, mechanical property and wettability of the cellulose/PAN nanofibers with different blending ratios are evaluated systematically.

The thermal stability and mechanical property of the cellulose/PAN nanofibers have a certain improvement compared with pure cellulose nanofiber. The wettability of cellulose/PAN nanofibers is better than that of ordinary medical gauze.
Urban parks and urban problems: An historical perspective on green space development as a cultural fix
Authors: Loughran Kevin
Published: May 2018

Why does everyone think cities can save the planet? Contemporary planning interventions promise salvation via spatial fixes that might reduce carbon emissions, boost metropolitan economies, and allow urban society to thrive in spite of rising seas and climate disasters. New wetlands, floodgates, and other adaptive infrastructures allow water to coexist with urban space; new parks, such as New York’s High Line and Chicago’s 606, celebrate the interweaving of built and natural environments and suggest how outmoded infrastructure can be repurposed for civic benefit. While the climate dilemmas at hand are historically new, the use of landscaped environments in the service of solving social problems is not. Dating to the first generation of urban park development in the 19th century, planners have deployed green spaces as solutions to various cultural, political, and economic conundrums of the city. Offering an historical parallel and counterweight to investigations of contemporary urban–environmental dynamics, this paper investigates the period of park development that occurred in the 19th century in North America and Europe, using Chicago’s Olmsted-designed South Park (the contemporary Washington and Jackson Parks) as a case study. I argue that green spaces’ distinct nexus of (1) normative cultural meanings around nature, (2) power relations bound up in dominant landscape aesthetics, and (3) direct link to the economic realm via the structuring of land values have made green space development a powerful ‘cultural fix’: a means of using social space to mitigate perceived social crises. Understanding the historical foundations of green spaces’ use as cultural fixes can inform contemporary analyses, particularly as new landscape ideologies emerge as part of broader green urbanism development and climate change adaptation strategies.
Prevalence of Obesity, Prediabetes, and Diabetes in Sexual Minority Women of Diverse Races/Ethnicities: Findings From the 2014-2015 BRFSS Surveys
Authors: Newlin Lew Kelley , Dorsen Caroline , Melkus Gail D. , Maclean Monika
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the weighted prevalence and odds ratios of obesity, prediabetes, and diabetes by (1) female sexual orientation (lesbian, bisexual, and straight) with racial/ethnic (Hispanic, non-Hispanic black, and non-Hispanic white) groups combined and (2) across and within racial/ethnic groups by sexual orientation.

Methods

A secondary analysis of pooled 2014-2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 28 states (N = 136 878) was conducted. Rao-Scott chi-square test statistics were computed and logistic regression models were developed to assess weighted prevalence and odds ratios of obesity, prediabetes, and diabetes with adjustments for demographics (age, income, and education), depression, and health care access factors.

Results

With racial/ethnic groups combined, lesbian and bisexual women, relative to straight women, had a significantly increased likelihood for obesity when controlling for demographics. Bisexual women were found to have significantly reduced odds for diabetes, compared with straight women, with adjustments for demographics, depression, and health care access factors. Compared with their non-Hispanic white counterparts, Hispanic lesbian women had significantly increased odds for obesity and diabetes, while non-Hispanic black bisexual women had a significantly greater likelihood for obesity, holding demographics, depression, and health care access factors constant. Non-Hispanic white lesbian women had an increased likelihood for obesity relative to their straight, ethnic/racial counterparts. Prediabetes subsample analysis revealed the prevalence was low across all female sexual orientation groups.

Conclusion

Sexual minority women, particularly those of color, may be at increased risk for obesity and diabetes. Research is needed to confirm the findings.
Increasing Industry Involvement in Otolaryngology: Insights from 3 Years of the Open Payments Database
Authors: Morse Elliot , Fujiwara Rance J. T. , Mehra Saral
Published: May 2018

Objectives

To characterize industry payments to otolaryngologists in 2016 versus 2014 and 2015.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional retrospective analysis.

Setting

Open Payments Database.

Subjects and Methods

Using the Open Payments Database, we identified otolaryngologists receiving payments from industry sponsors from 2014 to 2016. We characterized the number and value of payments per physician overall and by census region, as well as by sponsor subspecialty and payment type. Study years were compared via analysis of variance and Kruskal‐Wallis tests. Trends in payments to otolaryngologists were compared with trends in 21 other specialties.

Results

Payment to otolaryngologists increased 67% from 2014 to 2016—from $8.7 million in 2014 to $9.9 and $14.5 million in 2015 and 2016, respectively (P <. 001). While mean payment per compensated otolaryngologist increased ($1095, $1243, and $1834 in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively, P <. 001), median payments stayed relatively constant ($169, $165, and $172), suggesting an increasingly unequal distribution. Much of the increase is accounted for by an increased number of payments for consulting fees and physician ownership. Most payments were made by companies specializing in rhinology. Otolaryngology received the lowest industry compensation per physician among the surgical specialties examined and lower compensation than most nonsurgical specialties. The increase in payments to otolaryngologists was proportionally greater than all but 1 of the other 21 specialties examined.

Conclusions

Industry compensation to otolaryngologists is increasing and increasingly unequal, although it is still less than that in most other specialties. In otolaryngology, the Open Payments Database has not decreased physician‐industry relationships as intended.
Consideration of the diagnosis of hypertension accompanied with hypokalaemia: monism or dualism?
Authors: Lü Qingguo , Dong Yajie , Wan Heng , Zhang Yuwei , Tang Lizhi , Zhang Fang , Yan Zhe , Tong Nanwei
Published: May 2018

This case report describes a 53-year-old male patient with persistent hypertension and hypokalaemia. Laboratory tests showed that the patient had hypokalaemia, hypocalcaemia and reduced urine calcium/creatinine. Levels of aldosterone and renin activity were increased significantly. Serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone, plasma total cortisol level, 24-h urinary-free cortisol, catecholamines, thyroid stimulating hormone and free tetraiodothyronine were normal. A novel single heterozygous mutation (c.836T> G [E6]) was found after full sequencing of the solute carrier family 12 member 3 ( SLC12A3) gene exons. The patient was diagnosed as having primary hypertension with Gitelman syndrome (GS). These findings triggered the careful consideration of whether a monistic or dualist approach to the diagnosis of this patient was the most appropriate. Monism may not always be the most appropriate approach for the diagnosis of coexistent hypertension and hypokalaemia. Consideration should be given to the possibility of the independent existence of distinct diseases (i.e. dualism) when secondary hypertension cannot be confirmed by conventional examinations and when a genetic diagnosis is crucial. As a common cause of hypokalaemia with a high level of clinical phenotypic variation, GS does not conform to the usual diagnostic criteria. It should also be noted that single heterozygous SLC12A3 gene mutations can cause disease symptoms and other genetic mutations might be involved in the pathogenesis of GS.
Emotional well-being and social support in social housing neighbourhoods in China
Authors: Liu Jinhua , Chen Hongsheng , Chen Yang , Li Zhigang
Published: May 2018

Objective

This study investigated the effect of the number of close friends (within and outside of social housing neighbourhoods) on the emotional well-being of men and women in social housing neighbourhoods in China.

Methods

Data (n = 535) were collected in 13 social housing neighbourhoods in Guangzhou from September to December 2013 using the random sample method. The t-test, chi-square test, and linear regression analysis were used to analyse the factors influencing residents’ emotional well-being.

Results

Having a greater number of close friends living within the social housing neighbourhood had a significantly positive association with the respondents’ emotional well-being (regression coefficient = 0.473). The number of close friends living in nearby neighbourhoods was only positively related to women’s emotional well-being (coefficient = 0.433).

Conclusions

These results highlight the importance of friendship for residents’ emotional well-being. Especially for women, friendship outside the social housing neighbourhood is essential for good mental health. This conclusion is based on analysis of cross-sectional data, and reflects the directionality of social associations. The mental health of the poor warrants greater attention in China.
Easier operation and similar power of 10 g monofilament test for screening diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Authors: Zhang Qi , Yi Na , Liu Siying , Zheng Hangping , Qiao Xiaona , Xiong Qian , Liu Xiaoxia , Zhang Shuo , Wen Jie , Ye Hongying , Zhou Linuo , Li Yiming , Hu Renming , Lu Bin
Published: May 2018

Objective

The 10 g Semmes–Weinstein monofilament evaluation (SWME) of 4 sites on each foot is recommended for distal symmetric polyneuropathy screening and diagnosis. A similar method has been proposed to diagnose ‘high-risk’ (for ulceration) feet, using 3 sites per foot. This study compared the effectiveness of SWME for testing 3, 4 and 10 sites per foot to identify patients with diabetic neuropathy.

Methods

We included 3497 subjects in a SWME of 10 sites; records from the 10-site SWME were used for a SWME of 3 and 4 sites. Neuropathy symptom scores and neuropathy deficit scores were evaluated to identify patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Results

The sensitivities of the 10 g SWME for 3, 4 and 10 sites were 17.8%, 19.0% and 22.4%, respectively. The Kappa coefficients for the SWME tests of 3, 4 and 10 sites were high (range: 0.78–0.93).

Conclusions

There were no significant differences in the effectiveness of 3-, 4- and 10-site SWME testing for diabetic peripheral neuropathy screening. SWME testing of 3 sites on each foot may be sufficient to screen for diabetic neuropathy.
Silent Order: the Temporal Turn in Critical International Relations
Authors: Hom Andrew R.
Published: May 2018

Recently, more and more International Relations (IR) scholars have begun to recognise time explicitly as a political phenomenon and an important element of IR theorising. Spanning different approaches and substantive concerns, their efforts suggest that IR is taking a ‘temporal turn’. This is most evident in the field’s critical wing, which has expanded our perspective on time and challenged temporalities associated with sovereign politics and mainstream theories. However, critical treatments of time also manifest four discursive habits – two targets of criticism and two alternatives – that reproduce hidden tensions and contradictions detrimental to the temporal turn. First, scholars incoherently denounce timeless visions of politics. Second, attacks on linear time obscure a variety of hegemonic temporalities and reproduce assumptions that critics wish to challenge. Third, advocates of heterotemporality amass woolly alternatives, foreclosing analysis and dialogue. Finally, times of rupture recapitulate a liberal-idealism that depoliticises temporal enquiry just when it could be pushing the politics of time further. These habits hamstring conceptual development and critical IR’s ability to contribute distinctive perspectives to a field growing increasingly interested in time. To redress this, the paper identifies and sharpens critical IR’s temporal tensions, shows how they encourage particular visions of time and politics, and suggests initial steps towards maximising the critical potential of time.
Palliative Care Use Among Patients With Solid Cancer Tumors
Authors: Osagiede Osayande , Colibaseanu Dorin T. , Spaulding Aaron C. , Frank Ryan D. , Merchea Amit , Kelley Scott R. , Uitti Ryan J. , Ailawadhi Sikander
Published: May 2018

Background:

Palliative care has been increasingly recognized as an important part of cancer care but remains underutilized in patients with solid cancers. There is a current gap in knowledge regarding why palliative care is underutilized nationwide.

Objective:

To identify the factors associated with palliative care use among deceased patients with solid cancer tumors.

Methods:

Using the 2016 National Cancer Data Base, we identified deceased patients (2004-2013) with breast, colon, lung, melanoma, and prostate cancer. Data were described as percentages. Associations between palliative care use and patient, facility, and geographic characteristics were evaluated through multivariate logistic regression.

Results:

A total of 1 840 111 patients were analyzed; 9.6% received palliative care. Palliative care use was higher in the following patient groups: survival >24 months (17% vs 2%), male (54% vs 46%), higher Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score (16% vs 8%), treatment at designated cancer programs (74% vs 71%), lung cancer (76% vs 28%), higher grade cancer (53% vs 24%), and stage IV cancer (59% vs 13%). Patients who lived in communities with a greater percentage of high school degrees had higher odds of receiving palliative care; Central and Pacific regions of the United States had lower odds of palliative care use than the East Coast. Patients with colon, melanoma, or prostate cancer had lower odds of palliative care than patients with breast cancer, whereas those with lung cancer had higher odds.

Conclusions:

Palliative care use in solid cancer tumors is variable, with a preference for patients with lung cancer, younger age, known insurance status, and higher educational level.
Dyskinetic vs Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Cross-sectional Study Comparing Functional Profiles, Comorbidities, and Brain Imaging Patterns
Authors: Reid Susan M. , Meehan Elaine M. , Reddihough Dinah S. , Harvey Adrienne R.
Published: May 2018

The authors aimed to describe the distribution of predominant and secondary motor types and compare functional profiles, comorbidities, and brain imaging patterns between dyskinetic and spastic cerebral palsy. Children recruited from a cerebral palsy register were assessed at age 5, 10, or 15. Motor types, topography, functional classifications, and comorbidities were recorded. Univariable logistic regression was used to compare dyskinesia with spasticity, with and without adjustment for topography. Neuroimaging classifications were extracted from the register. Of 243 children with spasticity or dyskinesia, the predominant motor type was spastic in 183 and dyskinetic in 56. Dyskinesia was associated with comparatively poorer function, total body involvement, and gray matter injury. After adjustment for topography, dyskinesia was associated with similar or better function. The study suggests that practical tools routinely incorporated into clinical practice would facilitate accurate and reliable classification of predominant and secondary motor types, topography, and functional abilities.
Orbital plane change maneuver strategy using electric propulsion
Authors: Cao Jing , Li Hengnian , Shen Hongxin
Published: May 2018

The orbital dynamics basis for orbital plane change maneuver using chemical propulsion is the impulsive orbital change theory in practical engineering. The orbital plane change theory using continuous thrust suitable for electric propulsion is studied in this paper. A set of nonsingular orbital variational equations using quaternion is used to investigate the orbital motion of spacecraft under constant normal acceleration departing from a Keplerian circular orbit firstly. Results show that the orbit of spacecraft under continuous constant normal acceleration is a circular orbit over the gravitational center on the same spherical surface as the initial orbit, and it is tangent to the initial circular orbit at the initial position. Continuous and discontinuous maneuver strategies are then designed using the previous theory, and they are validated by numerical simulations. Results indicate that the strategy can work effectively.
Remote web-based control laboratories using embedded Linux and field-programmable gate array
Authors: Jaziri Ibtihel , Charaabi Lotfi , Jelassi Khaled
Published: May 2018

In this article, the authors present a new approach based on the hardware and software architecture using embedded Linux and field-programmable gate array for implementation of remote laboratories. It combines a set of software and hardware resources in the interest of offering a multidisciplinary low-cost open platform for engineering education. Thus, the proposed approach allows students to develop low-cost and easily programmable prototypes of electrical systems control, robotics, and other embedded devices that feature Internet connectivity, Input/output, networking, and operating systems. In the proposed work, the authors present a codesign solution with flexible hardware devices, providing characteristics of multipurpose use with many experimental devices, and fully configurable graphical user interface. The physical setup and communication principles of hardware architecture are based on two types of devices: the Beaglebone running embedded Linux operating system and the field-programmable logic gate array. The graphical user interface is designed as a web page based on HTML and PHP programming languages; this allows the teachers/students to control the system easily, parameterize, and observe the behavior of the controller/system remotely.
Efficient pump and meter-out control for electrohydraulic system with time-varying negative load
Authors: Mengren Jin , Qingfeng Wang
Published: May 2018

In hydraulic systems under negative loads, counterbalance valves are widely employed, which introduce instability and sizable energy consumption. This article focuses on the electrohydraulic system with meter-out orifice and variable pump, which allows flexible control structure. The target is to reduce inlet pressure level as well as diminish oscillation caused by time-varying loads. An extended load observer is constructed to estimate the external load. Accordingly, a robust back-stepping controller with integral part and disturbance compensation is proposed to regulate the meter-out orifice, achieving velocity-oriented control. Also, a model-based pressure-oriented controller is developed to determine pump displacement. The target is set to 3 bar in this work, while the pressure losses in conventional systems are more than 12 bar. The stabilities of these two independent controllers are both proved by Lyapunov theory. Experiments focusing on energy consumption, load compensation, and velocity tracking are carried out verifying the controller effectiveness. Discussions of results illustrate that the whole proposed controller succeeds in velocity tracking and reducing energy consumption in the presence of time-varying negative load.
Usability evaluation of a library website with different end user groups
Authors: Kous Katja , Pušnik Maja , Heričko Marjan , Polančič Gregor
Published: May 2018

To ensure a certain degree of usability, a library website should be carefully designed, especially since end users constitute a multitude of people with different needs and demands. The focal objective of this research was to investigate how different types of end users (i.e. pupils, students, the working population, seniors and researchers) respond to a library website in terms of its effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction, which together represent its usability. The answers were obtained by performing formal usability testing, including think-aloud protocol, log analysis and questionnaires. The results of the statistical analysis show that different groups of end users achieve different levels of effectiveness and efficiency, while there is no significant difference between groups in satisfaction level. The results also indicate that participants did not achieve the threshold for a usable website. Based on the identified weaknesses, researchers present recommendations for improving a website’s usefulness, especially for non-experienced users. This research has two main contributions: (1) the connection between the theoretical definition and practical use of ISO 9241-11 attributes and (2) a usability testing procedure with a measurement framework applicable for different types of users in a specific domain, which could be applied to other domains.
A 6-month open-label extension study of the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Doria A , Bass D , Schwarting A , Hammer A , Gordon D , Scheinberg M , Fox N L , Groark J , Stohl W , Kleoudis C , Roth D
Published: May 2018

Objective

To evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of subcutaneous (SC) belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) beyond 1 year.

Methods

This was a 24-week, open-label extension following a 52-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of belimumab SC. Patients who completed the double-blind phase were eligible to enter the open-label phase. All patients received weekly belimumab 200 mg SC plus standard SLE therapy. Outcome measures included safety and efficacy (SLE Response Index (SRI) and SLE Flare Index (SFI) rates), and changes in biomarker and B cell levels.

Results

Of 677 patients who completed the 52-week, double-blind phase, 662 entered the open-label phase; 206 had previously received placebo and 456 had previously received belimumab. Despite differences in total belimumab exposure (24 weeks in the placebo-to-belimumab group versus 76 weeks in the belimumab group), the proportions of patients experiencing more than one adverse event (AE) or a serious AE in the open-label phase were similar between groups (placebo-to-belimumab: 51.5 and 6.8%; belimumab: 48.2 and 5.5%, respectively). Most AEs were mild/moderate in severity. Efficacy was maintained through the extension phase. An SRI response was achieved by 16.1% of patients in the placebo-to-belimumab group and 76.3% patients in the belimumab group. Furthermore, 1.0% of patients in the placebo-to-belimumab group and 2.6% of patients in the belimumab group experienced a severe SFI flare.

Conclusion

Belimumab SC was well tolerated and efficacy was maintained during the extension phase of this study. The safety profile of belimumab SC is consistent with that of previous experience with belimumab.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01484496
Age-related Beta-synuclein Alters the p53/Mdm2 Pathway and Induces the Apoptosis of Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells In Vitro
Authors: Brockhaus Katrin , Böhm Michael R. R. , Melkonyan Harutyun , Thanos Solon
Published: May 2018

Increased β-synuclein (Sncb) expression has been described in the aging visual system. Sncb functions as the physiological antagonist of α-synuclein (Snca), which is involved in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. However, the exact function of Sncb remains unknown. The aim of this study was to elucidate the age-dependent role of Sncb in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs). BMECs were isolated from the cortices of 5- to 9-d-old Sprague-Dawley rats and were cultured with different concentrations of recombinant Sncb (rSncb) up to 72 h resembling to some degree age-related as well as pathophysiological conditions. Viability, apoptosis, expression levels of Snca, and the members of phospholipase D2 (Pld2)/ p53/ Mouse double minute 2 homolog (Mdm2)/p19(Arf) pathway, response in RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (Akt), and stress-mediating factors such as heme oxygenase (decycling) 1 (Hmox) and Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxygenase 4 (Nox4) were examined. rSncb-induced effects were confirmed through Sncb small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown in BMECs. We demonstrated that the viability decreases, while the rate of apoptosis underly dose-dependent alterations. For example, apoptosis increases in BMECs following the treatment with higher dosed rSncb. Furthermore, we observed a decrease in Snca immunostaining and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels following the exposure to higher rScnb concentrations. Akt was shown to be downregulated and pAkt upregulated by this treatment, which was accompanied by a dose-independent increase in p19(Arf) levels and enhanced intracellular Mdm2 translocation in contrast to a dose-dependent p53 activation. Moreover, Pld2 activity was shown to be induced in rSncb-treated BMECs. The expression of Hmox and Nox4 after Sncb treatment was altered on BEMCs. The obtained results demonstrate dose-dependent effects of Sncb on BMECs in vitro. For example, the p53-mediated and Akt-independent apoptosis together with the stress-mediated response of BMECs related to exposure of higher SNCB concentrations may reflect the increase in Sncb with duration of culture as well as its impact on cell decay. Further studies, expanding on the role of Sncb, may help understand its role in the neurodegenerative diseases.
Differences in Nicotine Encoding Dopamine Release between the Striatum and Shell Portion of the Nucleus Accumbens
Authors: Chen Yuan-Hao , Lin Bon-Jour , Hsieh Tsung-Hsun , Kuo Tung-Tai , Miller Jonathan , Chou Yu-Ching , Huang Eagle Yi-Kung , Hoffer Barry J.
Published: May 2018

The aim of this work was to determine the effect of nicotine desensitization on dopamine (DA) release in the dorsal striatum and shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) from brain slices. In vitro fast-scan cyclic voltammetry analysis was used to evaluate dopamine release in the dorsal striatum and the NAc shell of Sprague–Dawley rats after infusion of nicotine, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist mecamylamine (Mec), and an α4β2 cholinergic receptor antagonist (DHβe). DA release related to nicotine desensitization in the striatum and NAc shell was compared. In both structures, tonic release was suppressed by inhibition of the nicotine receptor (via Mec) and the α4β2 receptor (via DHβe). Paired-pulse ratio (PPR) was facilitated in both structures after nicotine and Mec infusion, and this facilitation was suppressed by increasing the stimulation interval. After variable frequency stimulation (simulating phasic burst), nicotine infusion induced significant augmentation of DA release in the striatum that was not seen in the absence of nicotine. In contrast, nicotine reduced phasic DA release in NAc, although frequency augmentation was seen both with and without nicotine. Evaluation of DA release evoked by various trains (high-frequency stimulation (HFS) 100 Hz) of high-frequency stimulation revealed significant enhancement after a train of three or more pulses in the striatum and NAc. The concentration differences between tonic and phasic release related to nicotine desensitization were more pronounced in the NAc shell. Nicotine desensitization is associated with suppression of tonic release of DA in both the striatum and NAc shell that may occur via the α4β2 subtype of nAChR, whereas phasic frequency-dependent augmentation and HFS-related gating release is more pronounced in the striatum than in the NAc shell. Differences between phasic and tonic release associated with nicotine desensitization may underlie processing of reward signals in the NAc shell, and this may have major implications for addictive behavior.
Book review: Shlomo Maital and D.V.R. Sheshadri (Ed.). 2017. Smartonomics
Authors: Bhattacharya Kaushik
Published: May 2018

Shlomo Maital and D.V.R. Sheshadri (Ed.). 2017. Smartonomics. New Delhi, India: SAGE Publications, pp. 234, ₹395, ISBN: 978-93-860-6236-9
Crafting High-Impact Entrepreneurial Orientation Research: Some Suggested Guidelines
Authors: Covin Jeffrey G. , Wales William J.
Published: May 2018

Research on the topic of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) continues to proliferate. Nonetheless, the conceptualization and measurement of this construct are matters of ongoing discussion and debate, and construct-specific advice with respect to the generation high value-added EO research is sparse. This editorial is aimed at providing guidance to EO researchers in three areas: (a) EO’s conceptualization(s) and position as they relate to the larger set of corporate entrepreneurship-related constructs, (b) EO’s measurement challenges and possibilities, and (c) suggested guidance and directions for future EO research.
Accountability, Framing Effects, and Risk-Seeking by Elected Representatives: An Experimental Study with American Local Politicians
Authors: Sheffer Lior , Loewen Peter John
Published: May 2018

Risk management underlies almost every aspect of elite politics. However, due to the difficulty of administering assessment tasks to elites, direct evidence on the risk preferences of elected politicians scarcely exists. As a result, we do not know how consistent are politicians’ risk preferences, and under what conditions they can be changed. In this paper, we conduct a survey experiment with 440 incumbent local politicians from across the United States. Using a modified version of the Asian Disease framing experiment, we show that gain/loss frames alter the stated risk preferences of elected officials. We further show that priming democratic accountability increases the tendency to engage in risky behavior, but that this shift in preference only occurs in those politicians who are interested in seeking reelection. These results inform several political science theories that assume stable risk preferences by political elites, or that make no risk assumptions whatsoever. They also provide insights into the role of political ambition and accountability in structuring the behavior of political elites.
Validity and Normative Data for the Biber Figure Learning Test: A Visual Supraspan Memory Measure
Authors: Gifford Katherine A. , Liu Dandan , Neal Jacquelyn E. , Acosta Lealani Mae Y. , Bell Susan P. , Wiggins Margaret E. , Wisniewski Kristi M. , Godfrey Mary , Logan Laura A. , Hohman Timothy J. , Pechman Kimberly R. , Libon David J. , Blennow Kaj , Zetterberg Henrik , Jefferson Angela L.
Published: May 2018

The Biber Figure Learning Test (BFLT), a visuospatial serial figure learning test, was evaluated for biological correlates and psychometric properties, and normative data were generated. Nondemented individuals ( n = 332, 73 ± 7, 41% female) from the Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project completed a comprehensive neuropsychological protocol. Adjusted regression models related BFLT indices to structural brain magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of brain health. Regression-based normative data were generated. Lower BFLT performances (Total Learning, Delayed Recall, Recognition) related to smaller medial temporal lobe volumes and higher CSF tau concentrations but not CSF amyloid. BFLT indices were most strongly correlated with other measures of verbal and nonverbal memory and visuospatial skills. The BFLT provides a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of visuospatial learning and memory and is sensitive to biomarkers of unhealthy brain aging. Enhanced normative data enriches the clinical utility of this visual serial figure learning test for use with older adults.
Measuring Grandiose and Vulnerable Narcissism in Children and Adolescents: The Narcissism Scale for Children
Authors: Derry Kate L. , Bayliss Donna M. , Ohan Jeneva L.
Published: May 2018

Clinical and empirical research have consistently distinguished two dimensions of narcissism: grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism. However, to date there is no psychometrically validated measure of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism for children. A measure that assesses both expressions of narcissism in children and adolescents is necessary to understand the causes and consequences of narcissistic self-views prior to adulthood. In this article, four studies are presented documenting the construction and psychometric properties of a 15-item Narcissism Scale for Children, adapted from the (adult) Narcissism Scale. Partial confirmatory factor analysis supported two dimensions of narcissism in children (Study 1) and adolescents (Study 4), with evidence for good validity and reliability (Studies 1-4). As in adults, trait narcissism in children and adolescents consists of both grandiose and vulnerable dimensions. Enabling the measurement of multidimensional narcissism prior to adulthood has important implications for narcissism theory and future research.
Gluten-free biscuits based on composite rice–chickpea flour and xanthan gum
Authors: Benkadri Soulef , Salvador Ana , Zidoune Mohammed N , Sanz Teresa
Published: May 2018

A gluten-free biscuit for celiac children based on composite rice–chickpea flour was developed. Xanthan gum was used to overcome the handling difficulties associated with the absence of gluten in the rice–chickpea flour. The effect of different levels of xanthan gum incorporation (0.5, 1, and 1.5% of flour) on the texture and rheological properties of the dough and on the texture, dimensions, moisture, water activity (aw), and sensory acceptability of the biscuit was studied. The incorporation of xanthan gum into rice–chickpea flour significantly affected the textural and linear viscoelastic properties of the dough, as well as the texture, weight, moisture, aw, and dimensions of the biscuits. Increasing the xanthan gum level increases the hardness and elasticity of the dough, and decreases its springiness, cohesiveness, and adhesiveness. The addition of xanthan gum resulted in a significant improvement in the thickness and specific volume of biscuits. Xanthan gum water holding capacity increases the moisture content and the aw of the baked biscuits and reduces biscuit hardness. In terms of sensory acceptability, xanthan gum slightly reduces rice–chickpea flour biscuit acceptability, but the differences were not significant. Consequently, using xanthan gum to achieve the proper technological properties of dough required for the industrial production of gluten-free rice–chickpea flour biscuits is a viable alternative.
Democracy, Autocracy, and Direction of Lethal Violence: Homicide and Suicide
Authors: Chon Don Soo
Published: May 2018

Using the framework of civilizing theory and attributional style of blame theory, the present researcher examines the role of democracy in rates of homicide and suicide. The regression analyses, which were based on information from 120 countries, indicated that democracy is related to a reduced homicide rate and an increased suicide rate. This finding implies that people in a democratic nation are likely to direct violence inward rather than outward, blaming themselves for their failures and frustrations. By contrast, those in ideal autocratic nations are likely to use violence toward others, directing blame outwards for personal failures and frustrations.