bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human Estimates of Randomly Perturbed Functional Values
Authors: Hillix William A. , Kapfer Edgar L. , Hershman Ramon L.
Published: January 2017

The ability to estimate values of a function of 2 independent variables was studied. Numbers in a matrix were first estimated on the basis of past observations; then different subjects estimated the heights of rods which were to occupy positions in the same matrix. In each condition subjects were given feedback information which deviated from the true functional values becuase of “noise” or random error in the abservations. The visual effect of the rods presentation enhanced estimation performance only at the highest noise levels and then only to a small degree. Subjects showed a decreasing but persistent ability to estimate, and this was linearly related to the standard deviation of the perturbing noise. The variance of subjects' guesses generally increased with the variance of the perturbed inputs. Subjects' behaviors were compared with that of a simple scanning and average-taking estimator.
Signal Detection Theory in the Analysis of Human Vigilance
Authors: Jerison Harry J.
Published: January 2017

This note analyzes several recent experimental and theoretical reports on vigilance that use the theory of signal detectability (TSD). The psychological interpretation of the TSD measure of criterion, β, as an index of conservativeness during a vigil does not appear to be valid. As computed, β is probably an artifact due to pooling observations made under different conditions of attentiveness during a long vigil. The basic problems of vigilance research remain: to determine the condiitons that affect attentiveness in signal detection tasks.
A Model for the Perception of Morse Code-Like Signals
Authors: Wish Myron
Published: January 2017

A model for the perception of some Morse Code-like signals is developed, tested, and generalized. In the development certain formal relations among the signals provide the bases for hypotheses concerning the relative confusability of signal pairs. The measure of confusability used in testing the hypotheses is the percentage of “same” responses to each pair in a Same-Different judgment task. The judgment data give very strong support to the hypotheses of the model. Multidimensional analyses of the data matrix reveal three prominent dimensions which are interpreted as Temporal Length, Sound-to-Silence Ratio, and Dash First—Dot First. Finally, a generalization of the model is described.
Predicting the Decision Behavior of a Knowledgeable Opponent
Authors: Sidorsky Raymond C.
Published: January 2017

24 subjects were required to make Anticipation type decisions in a simulated tactical situation. On each trial, the tactical situation required a choice between two targets which could be of the same or different value. The targets also varied from trial to trial with regard to their vulnerability to attack. The subjects participated in pairs—one as an attacker, the other as defender. Despite sizable discrepancies in the mix of strategies employed in particular cases, the patterns of the subjects' responses were similar to those dictated by game theoretic considerations. In general the attackers were better able to predict their opponents' behavior. However, neither group was able to capitalize on the non-optimum behavior of their opponents.
Energistic Effects of Task Sequencing
Authors: Chase Richard B.
Published: January 2017

Each of five subjects performed a total of 25 cranking and walking tasks, 16 of which contained serial variation. The purpose was to test whether the caloric cost of a series of dynamic tasks performed sequentially could be predicted by summing the caloric cost of the individual tasks performed separately. The results indicate that, if work and recovery caloric values as measured by the integral method are considered for both sequential and separate tasks, such prediction is possible. However, when just the working caloric values as measured by the steady-state method are compared, such an equality cannot be assumed.
Energy Expenditure and Fatigue During Simple Repetitive Tasks
Authors: Pierson William R. , Rich George Q.
Published: January 2017

Twenty-five male college students were measured for oxygen consumption during a simple stimulus-response task. Performance, as measured by reaction time and speed of arm movement, maintained a steady state except for a period of work decrement which had no relationship to initial speed or isotonic endurance. Oxygen consumption was maintained at a steady rate throughout the task. Fatigue, work decrement, and endurance were not reflected in oxygen consumption rates.
Continuous Recording of Cardiac and Respiratory Functions in Normal and Handicapped People
Authors: Brouha Lucien , Krobath Hans
Published: January 2017

Measurement procedures and preliminary data are described for continuous cardiac and respiratory function measures with both normal and handicapped individuals. These methods allow (1) extensive sampling of the phenomena, (2) maximum freedom of action by the subject, and (3) minimal stress to the subject due to the measuring instruments.
Urinary Mucoprotein Excretion in Physical Exercise
Authors: Dukes-Dobos Francis N. , Keenan Robert G. , Carlow Thomas J.
Published: January 2017

The average pattern of urinary mucoprotein (MP) excretion was assessed in four subjects during 104 workdays. The subjects were performing their usual tasks connected with their jobs. On alternate days they were exposed to an additional treadmill exercise for one hour. On days with treadmill excerise MP excretion was elevated; however, the total excess MP excretion was not significantly different whether the subjects walked at speeds of 2.4 mph or 3.5 mph. On the other hand, the rate of MP excretion (mg/hr) increased more during the 3.5 mph walk than during the 2.4 mph. This suggests that the measurement of the urinary MP excretion rate during physical exercise may be a useful method to determine the magnitude of the stress imposed by a workload upon an individual subject.
Methods for Studying Energy Costs and Energy Flow During Human Locomotion
Authors: Lukin L. , Polissar M. J. , Ralston H. J.
Published: January 2017

Methods are described for studying the metabolic cost of increased and diminished gravitational work done by the human subject during normal locomotion at various speeds and slopes on the treadmill. It is shown that the energy expenditure is a linear function of the gravitational work and, as long as the gait is of a smooth and natural character, appears to be dependent upon the true vertical lift per step multiplied by the number of steps per minute. The true vertical lift is defined as the lift resulting from muscle action, as contrasted with components due to treadmill motion. Methods are also described for recording the vertical and translational motions of the torso during a single step, and for analyzing the flow of mechanical energy into and out of the torso during each phase of the walking cycle. Implications for calculation of efficiency are briefly discussed.
A Hierarchical Model of a Helicopter Pilot
Authors: Benjamin Peter
Published: January 2017

A hierarchical model of a helicopter pilot is developed and mechanized by means of computer simulation. The basic element of the pilot model is a decision hierarchy which determines the multiloop closure and tracking characteristics of the man-vehicle system. Pilot model input is quantized and used by the hierarchy to determine the specific loop to be closed and the particular transfer function to apply to that loop. The pilot model and vehicle dynamics are implemented on a digital computer. Model validation is provided by comparison of tracking records obtained from this simulation of the vehicle with a human operator.

Although developed for a vehicle with only the two lateral degrees of freedom, the pilot model is sufficiently general in form to allow its extension to six degrees of freedom. As a fourth-order system, it is applicable to the control of not only the helicopter, but all VTOL vehicles. The reduction of higher-order inputs to zero permits applicability to vehicles with lower-order dynamics. Its form is independent of the input function.
Criteria for the Design of Helicopter Collective Controls
Authors: Stave A. M.
Published: January 2017

The study described in this report shows that the angle at which a man's thumb rests most comfortably when operating a helicopter collective control is represented by a plane extending from the end of the collective. This comfort plane is tilted downward at an angle of 28° and rotated toward the pilot at an angle of 21°. For convenient operation all switches should be placed so that their upper surface lies on or near the surface of the Comfort Plane. A mock-up was built using the criteria from the study and received a positive evaluation by test pilots.
Diver Performance in Cold Water
Authors: Stang Paul R. , Wiener Earl L.
Published: January 2017

Twelve experienced divers repeatedly performed several representative underwater work tasks for 90-min. sessions at water temperatures of 50°, 60°, and 70° F. Time to complete the task was the primary performance measure; choice reaction time, with mental arithmetic as loading task, and four physiological measurements were also recorded. The subjects worked in 6 1/2 ft. of water wearing full 3/16-in.-thick wet suits and SCUBA equipment. Performance on all tasks except mental arithmetic tended to decrease as water temperature decreased. Most performance measures also showed a significant decrement over time and a significant time-by-temperature interaction. The general trend in performance measures was also reflected in several of the physiological measurements.
Defect Signal Detection Model Based on Variable Confidence
Authors: Miehle William , Siegel Arthur I.
Published: January 2017

A person is assumed to have varying levels of confidence that a defect or a target exists. He will say that a defect or target exists when his confidence (x) is equal to or exceeds a criterion level (c). For a single criterion level, he will say that no target or defect exists when his confidence is below c. For a double criterion level, he will say “no” when his confidence is below a lower value than c. Otherwise, he will try again.

When a defect exists, the confidence frequency function (f1) increases with increasing confidence. When no defect is present, a different (decreasing) function (fo) describes the behavior. Confidence (x) varies between 0 and 1. For a given frequency function, reliability (R) is calculated as a function of the relative number of defects (r) and the criterion level. The optimum criterion level and maximum reliability (Rm) are found. Operating characteristic (OC) curves are presented. For a single criterion level, results are given for the following types of frequency functions: linear, exponential, normal, step, and arbitrary. Discrete distributions are also considered. An example for a double criterion level is also presented.
Is Human Factors Engineering Worth the Investment?
Authors: Teel Kenneth S.
Published: January 2017

The cost of and the savings resulting from three different human factors engineering studies are presented. The data cited indicate clearly that human factors work can be highly cost effective and yield high returns on investment.
Psychophysical Assessment of Whole-Body Vibration
Authors: Shoenberger Richard W. , Harris C. Stanley
Published: January 2017

Using the methods of magnitude estimation and intensity matching, curves of equal subjective vibration intensity were constructed over the frequency range from 3.5 to 20 Hz. Twenty subjects made magnitude estimations of the intensity of vibration at 0.08, 0.16, 0.24, 0.40, 0.48, and 0.56 gz with vibration at 0.32 gz serving as a standard. These intensities were judged at each of the frequencies of 3.5, 5, 7, 9, 11, 15, and 20 Hz. For each frequency, the results were plotted as straight-line functions on log-log graphs of subjective intensity against physical intensity. The slopes of the lines varied as a function of frequency, the steepest slope occurring at 5 Hz. (the frequency of greatest body response due to resonance in this axis). Additional experiments were conducted in which ten subjects matched the intensity of 9-Hz. vibration at 0.16, 0.36, and 0.56 gz with vibration at each of the other six frequencies listed above, and ten different subjects made similar equality judgments against 9-Hz. vibration at 0.08, 0.26, and 0.46 gz. Equal intensity curves derived from the magnitude estimation data show the same general shape and comparable levels as corresponding curves determined experimentally using the intensity matching procedure. These methods provide more systematic and quantitative characterizations of subjective response to vibration than previous approaches which have relied heavily on qualitative descriptions.
Measuring the Physiological Effects of Cooling
Authors: Webb Paul
Published: January 2017

Men wear cooling garments to reduce external heat load and to remove metabolic heat. The effects of cooling can be seen in physiological measurements made with and without cooling, and the question is: what are the meaningful measurements to make? The following measurements are described and illustrated with experimental data: tolerance times to a physiological or performance end point; heart rate; sweat rate; temperatures in three body compartments; and heat flows to the cooling garment. All of these measurements are useful in various ways, particularly those dealing with heat storage and rates of heat removal.
Keyboard Design and Operation: A Review of the Major Issues
Authors: Alden David G. , Daniels Richard W. , Kanarick Arnold F.
Published: January 2017

A search of the psychological, technical, and promotional literature was conducted to compile information relevant to key, keyboard, and operator characteristics. The most recent and significant articles were discussed and evaluated. Where possible, general conclusions have been drawn to aid the keyboard designer.
Team Size and Decision Rule in the Performance of Simulated Monitoring Teams
Authors: Waag Wayne L. , Halcomb Charles G.
Published: January 2017

A methodology is presented for randomly creating “teams” from a data pool of individual response records. Using this approach, the effects of two variables on team monitoring performance were investigated: (1) team size and (2) the decision rule employed in defining the requirements of a “team” response. Size of the simulated teams was varied from two to five members. The decision rule was varied from “parallel” in which a response by any one or more members produced a “team” response to “series” in which a “team” response occurred only if all members responded. “Parallel” teams were found to maximize correct detections while “series” teams eliminated all false alarms. For each decision rule, detection rate increased as a function of team size. For each team size, detection rate deteriorated as the decision rule required more members to respond correctly.
Visual Search by Automobile Drivers
Authors: Robinson Gordon H. , Erickson Donald J. , Thurston Gregory L. , Clark Richard L.
Published: January 2017

Data are presented on the visual search of automobile drivers during two maneuvers: (1) entering a highway after a stop, and (2) changing lanes on a multilane highway. Head-movement measurements were used to infer patterns and timing of search. The relationships between eye and head movements are discussed.
Strategies of Visual Search by Novice and Experienced Drivers
Authors: Mourant Ronald R. , Rockwell Thomas H.
Published: January 2017

Six novice drivers drove a 2.1-mi. neighborhood route and a 4.3-mi. freeway route. Eye movements (including blinks and glances to the vehicle's mirrors and speedometer) were videotaped. The visual behavior of a control group, consisting of four experienced drivers, was also videotaped on the same routes. The results showed that the novice drivers: (1) concentrated their eye fixations in a smaller area as they gained driving experience, (2) looked closer in front of the vehicle and more to the right of the vehicle's direction of travel than the experienced drivers, (3) sampled their mirrors less frequently than the experienced drivers, and (4) made pursuit eye movements on the freeway route while the experienced drivers made only eye fixations. These results suggest that the visual acquisition process of the novice drivers was unskilled and overloaded. Thus, the search and scan patterns of the novice drivers may be considered unsafe in terms of impairing the drivers’ ability to detect circumstances that have high accident potential. On this basis it is recommended that novice drivers be prohibited from driving on public roads until they achieve an acceptable level of vehicle handling control and develop skill in acquiring visual information.
Proximity and Direction of Arrangement in Numeric Displays
Authors: Woodward Rodney M.
Published: January 2017

Review of two earlier studies which compared vertical and horizontal arrangements of alphanumeric materials indicated doubt as to whether horizontal arrangements yielded superior performance. One study indicated no differences between horizontal and vertical arrangements, while a later study indicated that certain ways of arranging typewritten numbers resulted in superiority for horizontal groups. The present study used a visual comparison of numeric materials to examine the factors of proximity and direction of arrangement, and attempts to reconcile the differences in earlier experiments.
Another Look at Blinking Displays
Authors: Smith Sidney L. , Goodwin Nancy C.
Published: January 2017

Twelve subjects scanned displayed prose passages to detect randomly inserted letter substitution errors. In comparison with steady displays, this check-reading task was performed 10% more slowly but with equal accuracy when the displayed material blinked at a 3-Hz rate. Although the potential value of blink coding confirmed in previous research is not questioned, the reduction in readability of blinking displays demonstrated in the present study suggests that some precautions must be taken in the practical application of this display coding technique.
The body, identity and gender in managerial athleticism
Authors: Johansson Janet , Tienari Janne , Valtonen Anu
Published: January 2017

We argue that the healthy, fit and athletic body plays an essential role in the way contemporary managerial identities are construed. Drawing on insights from Judith Butler, we study these bodily identities as a form of regulation in organizations. We identify the cultural basis of regulation, show how it operates through specific norms, and detail how it implies gender. Based on an empirical study of men and women in management who are passionate about their healthy and fit bodies and athletic lifestyles, we demonstrate how norms set by managerial athleticism – understood as a particular regulative regime – operate through three discursive practices: perfecting the body, advocating against non-fit bodies, and becoming a role model. We show how the norms operate in both explicit and abject fashion and how they are implied in masculine language and materialized in physical (athletic) bodies. We offer new insights on how bodily identity regulation occurs and elucidate the gendered complexity and contradictions inscribed in managerial athleticism.
Sexual Orientation and Earnings: New Evidence from the United Kingdom
Authors: Aksoy Cevat G. , Carpenter Christopher S. , Frank Jeff
Published: January 2017

Most prior work on sexual orientation and labor market earnings has relied either on individual-level surveys with small samples of sexual minorities or on large samples of same-sex couples. For this study, the authors use a large individual-level data set from the United Kingdom that allows investigation of both constructs. They replicate the well-documented lesbian advantage and gay male penalty in couples-based comparisons but show that these effects are absent in similarly specified models of non-partnered workers. This finding suggests that couples-based samples overstate the true earnings differences attributable to a minority sexual orientation as well as that household specialization plays an important role in the lesbian earnings advantage. Results also show that no significant lesbian advantage or gay male penalty is observed in London. Finally, they find robust evidence that bisexual men earn significantly less than otherwise similar heterosexual men. The authors discuss how the effects reconcile with theories of specialization and discrimination.
Design and development of a smart grid laboratory for an energy and power engineering technology program
Authors: Turner Matthew J
Published: January 2017

This paper presents the design and development of a laboratory facility to accompany a three-course power systems sequence in the Energy and Power Engineering Technology program at Purdue University. This hardware-based system is modeled after the US electric grid and emulates a complete power network: generation, transmission and distribution, end-use, and control. The approach taken is to divide the lab hardware in two: a simplified three-phase, three-bus system for power transfer from a synchronous generator and infinite bus to a variable load, and a multi-bus single phase system with prime movers and associated generators, transformers, contactors, transmission lines, constant impedance loads, induction motor loads, power factor correction capacitors, DC generation, AC/DC conversion, energy storage, high voltage DC transmission, and supervisory control and data acquisition. The bifurcation of the lab hardware by phase enables the hands on teaching of both three-phase power basics and more advanced content in context of the power grid, supporting a systems-based approach to electric power engineering education.
A matlab-based identification procedure applied to a two-degrees-of-freedom robot manipulator for engineering students
Authors: Moreno-Valenzuela J , Miranda-Colorado Roger , Aguilar-Avelar Carlos
Published: January 2017

This document proposes a parameter identification procedure, which overcomes drawbacks due to disturbances in an experimental platform. The main purpose of this work is to describe and formalize a matlab-based identification procedure that can be used by undergraduate and graduate students. The procedure can be easily extended to many types of system. As an application example, this work considers a two-degrees-of-freedom rigid link robot manipulator. The program code for matlab is provided, only requiring the joint position and applied torque measurements. Finally, the estimated parameters of the identified system are validated, showing that simulations and experiments are consistent. Assessment of the identification method by engineering students is described. Specifically, learning of parameter identification was observed since students were able to perform the proposed methodology and to apply it to other systems.
Role of laboratory setup in project-based learning of freshmen electrical engineering in Pakistan
Authors: Khan Zeashan H , Abid Muhammad I
Published: January 2017

This paper deals with lab design tools and their impact on the learning progression of first-year electrical engineering students. Project-based learning is an innovative domain of acquiring knowledge in engineering education, where the role of experimental setup and use of advanced technology imitates real-world engineering problems. This experimentation induces a desire to learn in newly inducted students and influences their minds to understand the applied content of engineering education thus resulting in improved retention rates in engineering programs. A Likert scale is used to generate statistics which suggest that an intelligent design of engineering lab by choosing advanced learning methodology for freshmen electrical engineering students improves their ability to absorb modern engineering concepts as compared to the classical lab setup.
Women and Leadership
Authors: Gipson Asha N. , Pfaff Danielle L. , Mendelsohn David B. , Catenacci Lauren T. , Burke W. Warner
Published: January 2017

Despite the proliferation of leadership research in the past 75 years, investigating the ways in which women and men leaders enact and experience leadership continues to surface unanswered questions. Through the framework of selection, development, leadership style, and performance, we report gender-related findings from a broad survey of existing literature from the past three decades. Findings include differential rates of selection for women and men leaders; leader development considerations that vary by gender; evidence in favor of general similarities in leadership style (with noted exceptions) between women and men leaders; and similar performance outcomes between women and men leaders. The importance of context, be it job type, group composition, organizational culture, or industry/sector, was also revealed. Implications for practitioners and academics alike are offered throughout this report.
Fire performance of composites made from carbon/phenolic prepregs with nanoclays
Authors: Asaro L , Villanueva S , Alvarez V , Manfredi LB , Rodríguez ES
Published: January 2017

This article describes the development of fire resistant composite materials based on phenolic resin and carbon fibers. Two types of composites were developed, with neat phenolic resin and with phenolic resin/modified bentonite. Composite materials were processed from prepregs by compression molding and were characterized by density, fiber content, cone calorimeter test, scanning electron microscope, and mechanical properties before and after the exposure to fire. In both cases, high fiber content materials were developed, about 75% by volume. The addition of clay improved some fire properties such as the peak of the heat release rate and the residual mass of the burned samples. Also, the bentonite-modified composite required higher time to develop the maximum of the heat release rate in the material; therefore, the addition of modified nanoclays improved the fire properties of the developed composites. Regarding to mechanical behavior the modified composites presented low modulus and flexural stiffness than the unmodified materials, and presented a higher decreased in the properties after fire, which could be related with the different fiber content in both composites.
Identities in between
Authors: Hierro María José , Gallego Aina
Published: January 2017

This article examines how political conflict shapes ethnonational identities in contexts where a national group coexists with territorially concentrated ethnic minorities and qualifies the view that conflict polarizes identities. An often overlooked fact is that large numbers of citizens in these contexts identify simultaneously with both groups. Based on the research about cross-pressures, we claim that dual identifiers react differently to conflict than exclusive identifiers. We predict that political disputes harden and polarize identities, but only among citizens at the extremes. Heightened conflict should not alter the identity of dual identifiers, but lead them to withdraw from politics. The setting of our study is Catalonia, a territory with numerous dual identifiers and an intense nonviolent political conflict. Results from two survey experiments, qualitative interviews, and public opinion surveys confirm that heightened political conflict only produces polarization at the extremes, but dual identifiers do not exhibit this reaction. Our findings have implications for policy interventions, as they suggest that strengthening dual identities may assuage the polarizing effects of conflict.
Why Do People Join Backlash Protests? Lessons from Turkey
Authors: Aytaç S. Erdem , Schiumerini Luis , Stokes Susan
Published: January 2017

When people learn that demonstrators are being subjected to harsh treatment by the police, sometimes their reaction is to join demonstrations. What explains the potentially mobilizing power of repression? Information-oriented theories posit that repression changes people’s beliefs about the likely success of the protests or the type of the government, thus encouraging them to join. Social–psychological theories posit that repression provokes a moral and emotional reaction from bystanders, and these emotional reactions are mobilizing. Our research offers a rare opportunity to test these theories, empirically, against one another. We offer experimental evidence from Turkey after the 2013 Gezi uprising. In this setting, emotional reactions appear to be the link between repression and backlash mobilization. Information-oriented theories of backlash mobilization may be less germane in democracies, in which people already have access to information about their governments, and in highly polarized polities, in which few people’s political affinities are up for grabs.
Differential Expression and Roles of Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 5 and the Wingless Homolog Wnt5a in Periodontitis
Authors: Maekawa T. , Kulwattanaporn P. , Hosur K. , Domon H. , Oda M. , Terao Y. , Maeda T. , Hajishengallis G.
Published: January 2017

The Wingless/integrase-1 (Wnt) family of protein ligands and their functional antagonists, secreted frizzled-related proteins (sFRPs), regulate various biological processes ranging from embryonic development to immunity and inflammation. Wnt5a and sFRP5 comprise a typical ligand/antagonist pair, and the former molecule was recently detected at the messenger RNA (mRNA) level in human periodontitis. The main objective of this study was to investigate the interrelationship of expression of Wnt5a and sFRP5 in human periodontitis (as compared to health) and to determine their roles in inflammation and bone loss in an animal model. We detected both Wnt5a and sFRP5 mRNA in human gingiva, with Wnt5a dominating in diseased and sFRP5 in healthy tissue. Wnt5a and sFRP5 protein colocalized in the gingival epithelium, suggesting epithelial cell expression, which was confirmed in cultured human gingival epithelial cells (HGECs). The HGEC expression of Wnt5a and sFRP5 was differentially regulated by a proinflammatory stimulus (lipopolysaccharide [LPS] from Porphyromonas gingivalis) in a manner consistent with the clinical observations (i.e., LPS upregulated Wnt5a and downregulated sFRP5). In HGECs, exogenously added Wnt5a enhanced whereas sFRP5 inhibited LPS-induced inflammation, as monitored by interleukin 8 production. Consistent with this, local treatment with sFRP5 in mice subjected to ligature-induced periodontitis inhibited inflammation and bone loss, correlating with decreased numbers of osteoclasts in bone tissue sections. As in humans, mouse periodontitis was associated with high expression of Wnt5a and low expression of sFRP5, although this profile was reversed after treatment with sFRP5. In conclusion, we demonstrated a novel reciprocal relationship between sFRP5 and Wnt5a expression in periodontal health and disease, paving the way to clinical investigation of the possibility of using the Wnt5a/sFRP5 ratio as a periodontitis biomarker. Moreover, we showed that sFRP5 blocks experimental periodontal inflammation and bone loss, suggesting a promising platform for the development of a new host modulation therapy in periodontitis.
Social Disadvantage, Severe Child Abuse, and Biological Profiles in Adulthood
Authors: Lee Chioun , Coe Christopher L. , Ryff Carol D.
Published: January 2017

Guided by the stress process model and the life course perspective, we hypothesize: (1) that childhood abuse is concentrated, in terms of type and intensity, among socially disadvantaged individuals, and (2) that experiencing serious abuse contributes to poor biological profiles in multiple body systems in adulthood. Data came from the Biomarker subsample of Midlife in the United States (2004–2006). We used latent class analysis to identify distinct profiles of childhood abuse, each reflecting a combination of type and severity. Results indicate that disadvantaged groups, women, and those from disadvantaged families are at greater risk of experiencing more severe and multiple types of abuse. Those with more severe and multifaceted childhood abuse show greater physiological dysregulation. Childhood abuse experiences partially accounted for the social status differences in physiological profiles. Our findings underscore that differential exposure to serious childhood stressors plays a significant role in gender and class inequalities in adult health.
Institutional authority and security cooperation within regional economic organizations
Authors: Haftel Yoram Z , Hofmann Stephanie C
Published: January 2017

The proliferation of regional economic organizations (REOs) is a prominent feature of the contemporary international environment. Many of these organizations aspire to promote regional peace and stability. Some strive to promote these goals only through economic cooperation, while others have expanded their mandate to include mechanisms that address security concerns more directly. A glance at the security components of such organizations indicates that their purpose and design are very diverse. This article sheds light on the sources of this poorly understood phenomenon. Specifically, it argues that organizations that enjoy greater delegated authority are in a better position to expand their mandate into the security realm and to have more far-reaching agreements in this issue area. It then develops a metric that gauges the degree of security cooperation within REOs and presents a new dataset of numerous organizations on this institutional aspect. Employing this dataset in a rigorous statistical analysis and controlling for a host of alternative explanations, it demonstrates that, indeed, REOs with greater delegated authority develop deeper security cooperation.
Minimally invasive technique for intrathecal administration of morphine in rats: practicality and antinociceptive properties
Authors: Thomas Aurelie Anic , Detilleux Johann , Sandersen Charlotte Friederike , Flecknell Paul Andrew
Published: January 2017

The intrathecal (IT) route of administration represents a means to reduce the dose of morphine administered for analgesia, potentially minimizing interactions between opioid effects and experimental outcomes. Perceived technical difficulty, and previously described invasive methods, may limit its use. This report describes a minimally invasive technique for IT administration of morphine by direct transcutaneous lumbosacral puncture in rats; and assesses antinociceptive properties of morphine in anaesthetized rats. Rats ( n = 28) anaesthetized with sevoflurane (inspired fraction of sevoflurane: FiSevo = 2.4%) were randomly allocated to receive: IT morphine (0.2 mg/kg); subcutaneous (SC) morphine (3 mg/kg); SC buprenorphine (0.05 mg/kg); or SC or IT sodium chloride (NaCl). After a wash-in period (40 min), thermal nociceptive stimuli were applied at nine locations corresponding to different rostrocaudal dermatomes of the rat. Nociceptive stimulation cycles were repeated at all locations after successive decrement of FiSevo by 15%. Presence or absence of gross purposeful movement (GPM) was recorded for each individual stimulation. IT injection of morphine by direct puncture with a 25 G hypodermic needle is easily performed (successful first attempt: 82%) without complications. IT morphine reduced the frequency of GPM following nociceptive thermal stimulation in a way comparable with SC buprenorphine or morphine. It was not possible to delimit any rostral spinal spread of morphine. This report describes a refined and effective technique of administering morphine IT in rats using readily available materials. IT doses being markedly smaller than the systemic equivalent, analgesia could be provided whilst minimizing the potential interactions of non-analgesic opioid effects with research protocols.
An updated method for the jugular catheterization of grower pigs for repeated blood sampling following an oral glucose tolerance test
Authors: Pluschke Anton M , Simmons Gregory S , Keates Helen L , Cameron Ranald D A , Zhang Dagong , Wright John D , Williams Barbara A
Published: January 2017

Jugular catheterization is a common procedure used under experimental conditions. However, there is considerable variation in the reported techniques, particularly for grower pigs (>40 kg and <60 kg) when larger volumes of blood per sample (>10 mL) are required. This paper provides a complete methodology including the use of current equipment and anaesthetic regimen for grower pigs. This surgical jugular catheterization method was carried out in 30 large white grower pigs. Firstly, the pigs were habituated to human handling for at least two weeks prior to surgery. Animals were sedated and anesthetized. Following intubation, an incision was made in the jugular fossa, and the jugular vein was located. A catheter was then inserted and fixated. The wound was stapled and the catheter line secured to the back of the neck. The pigs recovered fully from the surgery and the catheters remained patent for the duration of the blood sampling period (min 72 h). Twenty millilitres of blood were collected every 15 min, taking approximately 2 min per pig. No haemolysis was detected in any samples. Jugular catheterization of pigs using this procedure proved successful both in terms of animal recovery and quality of samples. Catheters remained patent and pigs remained calm during sampling.
Anaesthesia and changes in parameters that reflect glucose metabolism in pigs – a pilot study
Authors: Manell Elin , Jensen-Waern Marianne , Hedenqvist Patricia
Published: January 2017

Pigs are commonly used in diabetes research due to their many physiological similarities to humans. They are especially useful in imaging procedures because of their large size. However, to achieve imaging procedures the pig must lie completely still, and thus needs to be anaesthetized. Most anaesthetic drugs used in laboratory animals affect carbohydrate metabolism by the inhibition of insulin release. The aim of this pilot study was primarily to develop an anaesthetic protocol for pigs that did not have an effect on blood glucose levels throughout the 3 h of anaesthesia; and secondly, to evaluate the most promising protocol in combination with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Two anaesthetic protocols were used in four growing pigs. Intravenous propofol infusion caused hyperglycaemia in three out of four pigs within 5–10 min after induction and was therefore excluded. Intravenous infusion with tiletamine, zolazepam and butorphanol (TZB) for 3 h did not affect blood glucose levels. The pigs underwent OGTT twice, once without anaesthesia and once with TZB induction after glucose intake. Anaesthesia during OGTT resulted in a lower area under the curve (AUC) of glucose ( P < 0.05), higher AUC of glucagon ( P < 0.05) and an insulin response less than 10% of that during OGTT without anaesthesia. In conclusion, long-term infusion anaesthesia with TZB does not affect glucose homeostasis in pigs. However, the protocol is not effective when combined with OGTT, as glucose, insulin and glucagon levels are affected.
Mononuclear Cells in Subcutaneous Haemorrhage with Special Consideration of Myeloid Precursor Cells
Authors: Oehmichen M , Windisch A , Meissner C
Published: January 2017

Various hematogenous markers were used to differentiate and quantify the types of mononuclear cells present in subcutaneous haemorrhages. Fifty samples of subcutaneous bleeding with a survival time of a few minutes to more than 48 hours were studied. The various cell types were detected using the following stains: Naphthol AS-D chloracetate esterase for myeloid cells, including mast cells; (α1-antichymotrypsin for monocytes/macrophages; UCHL1 for T-lymphocytes; and L26 for B lymphocytes. The percentage of monocytes/macrophages was found to increase in dependence on survival time, whereas T-lymphocytes declined. Within minutes of injury neutrophilic granulocytes had emigrated into the surrounding tissue and mast cell degranulation had occurred within the haemorrhagic zone. Esterase-positive mononuclear cells, namely metamyelocytes, were detected within minutes after injury and were still present after survival times exceeding 48 hours; however, no dependence on survival time or cause of death was found. Although the increasing number of monocytes/macrophages and T-lymphocytes was expected, the sometimes high percentage of myeloid precursor cells within the wound were surprising. Possible explanations for this phenomenon are discussed.
Basic Knowledge of Internet in Forensic Medicine: Logging On, Fetching Files and Information
Authors: Marc Bernard
Published: January 2017

The Internet stands at the forefront of telecommunications in medicine, including forensic medicine, since information technology (IT) has been able to revolutionize medical and scientific practices. Today, forensic physicians and professionals need to be familiar with the use of computers and the key applications of information technology: multimedia and the Internet. From the office, the forensic physician can communicate with other physicians by means of e-mail, take part in discussion groups, obtain information on meetings and get information from public libraries and various databases by means of file transfer protocol. The search among the huge amount of information is facilitated by the ‘click and play’ use of the Internet, by its increased ease and availability of access and by faster communications to an increasing number of accessible technical, scientific and biomedical resources.

Therefore, it is useful to introduce some of the most frequent concepts encountered when exploring the Internet, to give simple references for any forensic physician exploring the Internet and to present typical Internet aspects by illustrations saved from worldwide websites and linked to the accompanying text. Some of the main forensic websites and basic Internet procedures are described, explaining how to search and exchange information in the domain of forensic medicine and sciences. Search engines and search procedures on the worldwide web are briefly explained. The aim of this paper is to give forensic physicians, scientists and law professionals some basic tools and references to access the vast possibilities of the Internet.
The Sexual Habits of Males Who Molest
Authors: Lim L E , Yap A K , Ong S H , Chan A O M , Chan K L
Published: January 2017

To gain better understanding into the causes of molesting behaviour in males, we examined a prison cohort of molesters and compared them with a control group comprising thieves. The molesters were older, had attained a higher educational level and were more likely to be married. They had their initial sexual intercourse at an older age but tended to have multiple sexual relationships and were less likely to report having viewed pornographic material. Three months prior to committing their offences, molesters seemed to engage in less sexual activity. The implications are that molesters had a need for more explicit sexual contact but were unable to sustain ongoing, stable, intimate sexual relationships.
Formal Justifications for Compulsory Psychiatric Detention
Authors: Dixon Mandy , Oyebode Femi , Brannigan Chris
Published: January 2017

The formal justifications for all detentions under s.2 of the Mental Health Act 1983 within an inner-city mental health trust were examined over a 12-month period. The study explored: the nature of the justifications for detention; the extent to which these were associated with patient characteristics; and the extent to which the two medical practitioners involved in each case agreed on the justifications. The justifications reflected a greater emphasis on the protection of the individual concerned rather than the protection of others. A content analysis of the textual justifications revealed five broad themes: the nature of the risk posed by the patient; the patient's capacity to provide informed consent; their need for hospitalization; their lack of consent to informal admission; and their reliability or likely compliance. There was a significant association between patients' sex, ethnic group, diagnosis and the nature of risk indicated in the documentation, but further research is needed to clarify the nature of this association. The study found that in nearly a quarter of cases, the two professionals did not agree about whether or not the patient presented a danger to others. This lack of agreement was not associated with any patient or professional characteristics, and may reflect the complexity of this area of risk assessment. The authors suggest that the issue of ‘risk’ needs to be addressed in a more sophisticated manner within the Mental Health Act. Specifically, further guidance is needed as to the nature and levels of risk that constitute grounds for detention. Further guidance is also needed regarding the issues that need to be recorded on the legal documentation for detention.
Institutional Behaviour and Time in Treatment among Psychopaths Admitted to a Prison-Based Therapeutic Community
Authors: Shine John , Hobson Julie
Published: January 2017

Previous research has indicated that psychopathy is associated with high levels of institutional misconduct and high attrition rates in therapeutic communities. However, most of this work has been conducted with North American populations. In the present study, data is presented on institutional behaviour and time in therapy for 104 inmates admitted to Grendon Therapeutic Prison. The results indicated that high scores on the Hare Psychopathy Checklist Revised were significantly associated with failure to progress from the assessment unit onto a therapy wing and the number of adjudications and security information reports. A trend was found for psychopathy to be associated with shorter periods in therapy, but this just failed to reach significance. The results confirm previous research on the association between psychopathy and institutional misconduct and provide some support for the association between psychopathy and early termination of treatment in therapeutic communities. A number of methodological issues are discussed.