bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of emergence times and quality between isoflurane and sevoflurane in rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) undergoing neurosurgical procedure
Authors: Bertrand Henri G M J , Springer Svenja , Burnside Wesley , Sandersen Charlotte , Flecknell Paul A
Published: February 2017

Volatile agents for anaesthesia are widely used for anaesthetizing laboratory primates, and isoflurane is one of the most frequently used agents. Sevoflurane has been shown to offer a more rapid recovery than isoflurane in a number of species, but no comparisons have been made in non-human primates. This study compared the recovery characteristics of isoflurane and sevoflurane in rhesus macaques undergoing experimental neurosurgery. Twelve primates (7 males and 5 females) were randomly allocated to the treatment groups. They were sedated with ketamine (10 mg/kg) and anaesthesia was induced with propofol (usually 8 mg/kg intravenously [IV]). Anaesthesia was maintained with either sevoflurane (SEVO) (2.2 ± 0.4%) or isoflurane (ISO) (1.2 ± 0.2%) and alfentanil (0.2–0.5 µg/kg/min IV) for 332–592 min. Animals were mechanically ventilated. Meloxicam (0.3 mg/kg) and methylprednisolone infusion (5.4 mg/kg/h) were also administered. Time to extubation after cessation of anaesthesia was significantly shorter with sevoflurane (ISO: 7.0 ± 1.8 min; SEVO: 3.6 ± 1.5; *P = 0.005) as was the time to the animal sitting unaided (ISO: 15.7 ± 8.2 min; SEVO: 7.1 ± 1.7 min; *P = 0.004) . No significant difference in the quality of recovery following isoflurane or sevoflurane anaesthesia was found. In conclusion, isoflurane and sevoflurane are both suitable volatile agents for the maintenance of general anaesthesia in rhesus macaques undergoing experimental neurosurgical procedures. The two volatile agents presented a similar emergence quality profile, however sevoflurane anaesthesia was associated with a faster recovery, offering the possibility of conducting earlier post-operative neurological assessment.
Reconsidering the performance of DEVS modeling and simulation environments using the DEVStone benchmark
Authors: Risco-Martín José L. , Mittal Saurabh , Fabero Jiménez Juan Carlos , Zapater Marina , Hermida Correa Román
Published: February 2017

The discrete event system specification formalism, which supports hierarchical and modular model composition, has been widely used to understand, analyze and develop a variety of systems. Discrete event system specification has been implemented in various languages and platforms over the years. The DEVStone benchmark was conceived to generate a set of models with varied structure and behavior, and to automate the evaluation of the performance of discrete event system specification-based simulators. However, DEVStone is still in a preliminary phase and more model analysis is required. In this paper, we revisit DEVStone introducing new equations to compute the number of events triggered. We also introduce a new benchmark with a similar central processing unit and memory requirements to the most complex benchmark in DEVStone, but with an easier implementation and with it being more manageable analytically. Finally, we compare both the performance and memory footprint of five different discrete event system specification simulators in two different hardware platforms.
Parenting teenagers as they grow up: Values, practices and young people’s pathways beyond school in England
Authors: Irwin Sarah
Published: February 2017

Parents’ values and practices are central to theorising the reproduction of inequality across generations. Where researchers have explored how parental values and practices relate to class circumstances and their combined influence on children’s outcomes, the focus has been largely on younger families, with limited evidence on parents’ perspectives at the point children approach and pass compulsory school leaving age. The trebling of university tuition fees in England, the insecurity which characterises many non-academic routes into the labour market and concerns about economic recession make this a particularly significant historical moment to investigate parental influences on children’s pathways through post-compulsory education and training. This article draws on research into parents’ perceptions and practices whilst their children were growing up through their teenage years between 2008 and 2014. In particular, it examines classed differences in how parents frame their young adult children’s decision making, assess their pathways and accord markedly differing value to academic and vocational pursuit. It evidences temporal dynamics through showing how diverse values and resources underpin young people’s evolving biographical pathways. In these ways, the analysis contributes to theorising parents’ values and practices and their complex relationship with social class at a time of some significant social structural changes.
Divine Pedagogy: Dei Verbum and the Theology of Virgilio Elizondo
Authors: Goizueta Roberto , Matovina Timothy
Published: February 2017

The influence of Vatican II and the conciliar era on Virgilio Elizondo’s theology is insufficiently acknowledged. In particular, he contended Dei Verbum teaches that the Scriptures and Christian tradition not only testify to the past words and deeds of God, but also instruct us in divine pedagogy. He further insisted that the poor and marginal are the privileged bearers of divine revelation, so these and all sources of faith must be engaged through their eyes. Elizondo’s theological investigations offer striking insights into Dei Verbum and the divine pedagogy it expounds.
Receiving Amoris Laetitia
Authors: Keenan James. F.
Published: February 2017

The papal exhortation Amoris Laetitia has prompted questions about the way it develops doctrine, prioritizes the Gospel value of mercy, and calls for an accompaniment of and a respect for the discerning consciences of those in “irregular situations.” In their response to these questions, bishops and theologians in Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Belgium, South Africa, and Argentina offer positive and imaginative policies to embrace not only divorced and remarried couples, but all those looking for greater communion with the church.
Conscience, Catholicism, and Politics
Authors: DeCosse David E.
Published: February 2017

Reviewing the literature on conscience, Catholicism, and politics, especially from the last ten years, the author argues that there are two views of conscience emerging: the ecclesial view and the personalist view. The author also discusses the significance of historical context for the development of theological thought about conscience in relation to politics.
Has the Church of England lost the English people?
Authors: Field Clive D.
Published: February 2017

Claims made by the authors of That Was the Church that Was (2016) that the Church of England has ‘lost’ the English people since 1986 are examined through religious statistics. Both attachment and attitudinal indicators are reviewed, the former showing the decline of the Church has been long-term, the latter that division between Church and nation is not always clear-cut.
Cult books revisited
Authors: Gill Robin
Published: February 2017

This is the first article of new series for Theology on ‘Cult books revisited’. Written in this instance by the Editor, it re-evaluates Joseph Fletcher’s Situation Ethics, setting it into context and assessing its strengths and weaknesses.
The 500th anniversary of the Reformation
Authors: Worthen Jeremy
Published: February 2017

The 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 represents a challenge as well as an opportunity for contemporary ecumenism. The challenge is how to remember the Reformation in a way that neither entrenches the divisions of the past nor denies the seriousness of the issues that lay at its heart. Responding to that challenge might begin by identifying within the Reformation a striving for renewal and unity in the gospel. That would underline the importance of repentance in seeking Christian unity. It would emphasize the need to address the current distance between ecumenical ecclesiology on the one hand and the theology and practice of mission on the other. Finally, it would point to the centrality of the person of Jesus Christ for ecumenical thinking about gospel and Church. Together, these points could form a significant agenda for contemporary ecumenism.
Difficult texts: Matthew 28.19–20
Authors: Duffield Ian K.
Published: February 2017

Have these two famous verses had too much weight placed upon them? The conclusion to Matthew’s Gospel is used to justify and mandate a vast range of missionary activity, but is this justified by the text? Can it bear the load? A close reading of verses 19–20 suggest that they make sense within Matthew’s Gospel and have a rather different meaning from the popular resort to them as ‘The Great Commission’. The interpretation offered here problematizes totemic ways of reading these verses by seeking to understand them in the light Matthew’s presentation of Jesus and his way as particularly expressed in the Sermon on the Mount.
Evaluating Testing, Profile Likelihood Confidence Interval Estimation, and Model Comparisons for Item Covariate Effects in Linear Logistic Test Models
Authors: Cho Sun-Joo , De Boeck Paul , Lee Woo-Yeol
Published: February 2017

The linear logistic test model (LLTM) has been widely applied to investigate the effects of item covariates on item difficulty. The LLTM was extended with random item residuals to account for item differences not explained by the item covariates. This extended LLTM is called the LLTM-R. In this article, statistical inference methods are investigated for these two models. Type I error rates and power are compared via Monte Carlo studies. Based on the simulation results, the use of the likelihood ratio test (LRT) is recommended over the paired-sample t test based on sum scores, the Wald z test, and information criteria, and the LRT is recommended over the profile likelihood confidence interval because of the simplicity of the LRT. In addition, it is concluded that the LLTM-R is the better general model approach. Inferences based on the LLTM while the LLTM-R is the true model appear to be largely biased in the liberal way, while inferences based on the LLTM-R while the LLTM is the true model are only biased in a very minor and conservative way. Furthermore, in the absence of residual variance, Type I error rate and power were acceptable except for power when the number of items is small (10 items) and also the number of persons is small (200 persons). In the presence of residual variance, however, the number of items needs to be large (80 items) to avoid an inflated Type I error and to reach a power level of .90 for a moderate effect.
Probiotic Environmentalities: Rewilding with Wolves and Worms
Authors: Lorimer Jamie
Published: February 2017

A probiotic turn is underway in the management of human and environmental health. Modern approaches are being challenged by deliberate interventions that introduce formerly taboo life forms into bodies, homes, cities and the wider countryside. These are guided by concepts drawn from the life sciences, including immunity and resilience. This analysis critically evaluates this turn, drawing on examples of rewilding nature reserves and reworming the human microbiome. It identifies a common ontology of socio-ecological systems marked by anthropogenic absences and tipped across thresholds into less desirable states. It examines the operation of an environmental mode of biopower associated with deliberate efforts to engineer ecologies through the introduction of keystone species. It offers a set of criteria for critically evaluating the degree to which these interventions transform or sustain prevalent forms of late modern biopolitics. The conclusion reflects on the potentials of probiotic environmentalities for hospitable government beyond the Anthropocene.
Treatment of foot varicose veins: A study of 119 consecutive patients
Authors: Albernaz Luiz Fernando , Albernaz Daiane Taís Schlindwein , Zignani Fernanda Rita Machado , Chi Yung-Wei
Published: February 2017

Objective

To analyze the outcomes of 119 (188 feet) patients undergoing foot varicose vein phlebectomy with and without sclerotherapy between 2013 and 2015.

Methods

Legs and feet were treated in one single procedure. Clinical and ultrasound assessments were carried out at 7, 30, and 90 days for visualization of the sapheno-femoral and sapheno-popliteal junctions and the deep vein system.

Results

Mean age was 50 ± 12 years (25–79 years); 67 patients were female (56.3%). Median venous clinical severity score was 4 (range 2–5) before and 1 (range 0–2) at 90 days ( p < 0.001). Edema and transient paresthesia were the most frequent complications (13 (10.92%) and 11 (9.24%) patients, respectively). All complications were resolved at 90 days except one case of edema (resolved after 150 days with compression stockings and lymphatic drainage manual therapy).

Conclusions

Symptomatic foot varicose vein intervention was safe and effective. Further studies should focus on assessment of vein-specific quality of life questionnaires.
Caffeine intake decreases oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in experimental liver diseases induced by thioacetamide: Biochemical and histological study
Authors: Amer Mona G , Mazen Nehad F , Mohamed Ahmed M
Published: February 2017

Liver disease remains a significant global health problem. Increased caffeine consumption has been associated with a lower prevalence of chronic liver disease. This study aimed to investigate the modifying effects of caffeine on liver injury induced by thioacetamide (TAA) administration in male rats and the possible underlying mechanisms. Forty adult male rats were equally classified into four groups: control group, received only tap water; caffeine-treated group, received caffeine (37.5 mg/kg per day); TAA-treated group, received intraperitoneal (i.p.) TAA (200 mg/kg b.w.) twice a week; and caffeine + TAA-treated group, received combined TAA and caffeine in the same previous doses. After eight weeks of treatment, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis and liver specimens were prepared for histological and immunohistochemical studies and for assessment of oxidative stress. TAA induced liver toxicity with elevated liver enzymes and histological alterations, fatty changes, apoptosis, and fibrosis evidenced by increased immunohistochemical reaction to matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and collagen type IV in hepatocytes. Also, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in serum were significantly elevated. Co-treatment with caffeine and TAA restored normal liver structure and function. Caffeine provided an anti-fibrogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effect that was associated with recovery of hepatic histological and functional alterations from TAA-induced hepatotoxicity.
Constant effective thermal conductivity of intumescent coatings: Analysis of experimental results
Authors: Li GQ , Han Jun , Wang Yong C
Published: February 2017

This article presents the results of an investigation to obtain the constant effective thermal conductivities of intumescent coatings under the influence of different intumescent coating factors (type of intumescent coating, coating thickness, steel section factor, fire condition), based on the analysis of an extensive collection of fire test data. The constant effective thermal conductivity is not a fundamental property of the intumescent coating, but is a desired quantity for simplified practical fire resistance design. It is defined as the temperature-averaged value of the temperature-dependent effective thermal conductivity within the temperature range of interest for fire resistance design of steel structures. The results indicate that for each of the intumescent coating types examined, a consistent constant effective thermal conductivity exists. The constant effective thermal conductivity tends to increase with decreasing steel section factor and to decrease with increasing coating thickness. For intumescent coating–protected steel I-sections, incorporating the shadow effect gives more consistent values of constant thermal conductivity compared to those without accounting for the effect. The same constant effective thermal conductivity obtained from the ISO fire tests may be used for different fire conditions as long as the steel temperature is higher than 400 °C. The results of this research make it possible to develop a simple method to calculate temperatures of intumescent coating–protected steel sections under different fire conditions.
Is There Consensus About Children’s Memory and Suggestibility?
Authors: Goodman Gail S. , Jones Olivia , McLeod Cynthia
Published: February 2017

The modern scientific study of children’s eyewitness memory was initially motivated, in important part, by the sensational preschool investigations and prosecutions of the 1980s and 1990s (e.g., the McMartin case, the Kelly Michaels case, the Country Walk case). These cases form the centerpiece of Professor Cheit’s scholarly book, The Witch-Hunt Narrative. In recent years, researchers have made great strides in helping the legal system tackle some of the complex issues involved in child sexual abuse investigations. While commenting on Professor Cheit’s book, we review areas of consensus regarding child forensic interviewing, areas of disconnect between scientific laboratory studies and needs of the legal system, and the potential effects of bias on the scientific enterprise relevant to Professor Cheit’s treatise. Although we find that there is consensus in the field regarding a set of general principles, there is often room for disagreement in evaluating a particular case, and there is still much to be learned about how best to interview children when allegations of sexual abuse arise.
The Wage and Job Impacts of Hospitals on Local Labor Markets
Authors: Mandich Anne M. , Dorfman Jeffrey H.
Published: February 2017

This study examines the impact of hospitals on local labor markets in rural and urban counties. We measure the ability of hospitals, particularly in rural communities, to attract nonhealth-related employment and provide higher wage jobs to residents based on their education level. Results find hospital employees with an associate’s degree can expect a 21.4% wage premium, when compared with alternative opportunities, and those with a bachelor’s degree can earn 12.2% more working in a hospital. Hospitals are shown to be positively related to overall employment as well as exhibit positive employment spillover. For rural counties, a short-term general hospital is associated with 559 jobs in the county, 60 of which are hospital based and 499 are non–health care related. With the positive benefits on wages and non–health care job growth, hospitals have measurable positive labor market outcomes above their primary objective of providing health care access, particularly in rural counties.
Characterization and performance analysis of a new type of a high water-based hydraulic motor with a self-balanced distribution valve mode
Authors: Qiu Bingjing , Zhao Jiyun , Zhao Liang
Published: February 2017

High water-based hydraulic motors (HWBHMs) with advantages including higher specific power and shorter acceleration and braking time can be used to directly drive loads. In particular, low speed and high torque high water-based hydraulic motors work well in limited space and for special applications (open flame areas). However, traditional structure and flow distribution mechanisms cause serious leakage and lower work efficiency for low speed and high torque high water-based hydraulic motors. Thus, a new structure and flow distribution mechanism with self-balanced distribution valve groups for a high water-based hydraulic motor need to be developed to work in high pressure, low speed, and high torque conditions. In this paper, a high water-based hydraulic motor was theoretically analyzed and the working principle behind a high water-based hydraulic motor was briefly introduced. Numerical simulations were performed to examine the effects of the distribution valve parameters on the distribution performance. An orthogonal test method was used to determine the optimized structure parameters. A simulation model of a high water-based hydraulic motor was established using the AMESim simulation method to validate the feasibility of the optimized structure parameters. This research has laid a foundation for the further development of a high water-based hydraulic motor with low speed and high torque.
On methodological pluralism, context, and misinterpretation in the historiography of psychology: A reply to Brock and Burman
Authors: Araujo Saulo de Freitas
Published: February 2017

In my rejoinder, I show how Brock’s and Burman’s replies to my article (Araujo, 2017) are based on a series of misunderstandings and misattributions. First, I argue that Brock ignores crucial passages of my article and my related book, and show not only that he misunderstands Wundt’s position on the introspective method, but also that his claim, according to which there is nothing new in my approach, lacks substance. Second, I argue that Burman’s text fails to make contact with the substantive thrust of my paper, and that his appeal to contextualism is vague and does not address the substantive questions I raise. Finally, I conclude that Brock’s rejection of my proposal, as well as his misunderstandings and misattributions, derives from a kind of methodological dogmatism, against which the best medicine is methodological pluralism, and that Burman’s worries are unjustified and can be avoided by a careful reading of my paper.
Design and real-time implementation of a decentralized sliding mode controller for twin rotor multi-input multi-output system
Authors: Faris Farah , Moussaoui Abdelkrim , Djamel Boukhetala , Mohammed Tadjine
Published: February 2017

The article deals with a real-time implementation of a decentralized sliding mode controller applied to a twin rotor multi-input multi-output system, a system with 2 degrees of freedom, strongly coupled and its dynamic resembles that of a helicopter. The work is motivated by the fact that in the literature several control techniques have been proposed for the twin rotor multi-input multi-output system control without being applied to the system, and the considered authors presented just the simulation results. To control the vertical and horizontal positions of the twin rotor multi-input multi-output system, the system is decoupled into two subsystems, vertical and horizontal, controlled by two independent sliding mode regulators calculated from the mathematical models of vertical and horizontal subsystems, respectively. From the results of real-time control of the twin rotor multi-input multi-output system in stabilization and tracking modes, and performing robustness and disturbance rejection tests, the effectiveness of the suggested control scheme was proven.
The prevalence and determinants of anti-DFS70 autoantibodies in an international inception cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Choi M Y , Clarke A E , St Pierre Y , Hanly J G , Urowitz M B , Romero-Diaz J , Gordon C , Bae S-C , Bernatsky S , Wallace D J , Merrill J T , Isenberg D A , Rahman A , Ginzler E M , Petri M , Bruce I N , Dooley M A , Fortin P , Gladman D D , Sanchez-Guerrero J , Steinsson K , Ramsey-Goldman R , Khamashta M A , Aranow C , Alarcón G S , Manzi S , Nived O , Zoma A A , van Vollenhoven R F , Ramos-Casals M , Ruiz-Irastorza G , Lim S S , Kalunian K C , Inanc M , Kamen D L , Peschken C A , Jacobsen S , Askanase A , Buyon J , Mahler M , Fritzler M J
Published: February 2017

Autoantibodies to dense fine speckles 70 (DFS70) are purported to rule out the diagnosis of SLE when they occur in the absence of other SLE-related autoantibodies. This study is the first to report the prevalence of anti-DFS70 in an early, multinational inception SLE cohort and examine demographic, clinical, and autoantibody associations. Patients were enrolled in the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) inception cohort within 15 months of diagnosis. The association between anti-DFS70 and multiple parameters in 1137 patients was assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The frequency of anti-DFS70 was 7.1% (95% CI: 5.7–8.8%), while only 1.1% (95% CI: 0.6–1.9%) were monospecific for anti-DFS70. In multivariate analysis, patients with musculoskeletal activity (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.24 [95% CI: 1.10, 1.41]) or with anti-β2 glycoprotein 1 (OR 2.17 [95% CI: 1.22, 3.87]) were more likely and patients with anti-dsDNA (OR 0.53 [95% CI: 0.31, 0.92]) or anti-SSB/La (OR 0.25 [95% CI: 0.08, 0.81]) were less likely to have anti-DFS70. In this study, the prevalence of anti-DFS70 was higher than the range previously published for adult SLE (7.1 versus 0–2.8%) and was associated with musculoskeletal activity and anti-β2 glycoprotein 1 autoantibodies. However, ‘monospecific’ anti-DFS70 autoantibodies were rare (1.1%) and therefore may be helpful to discriminate between ANA-positive healthy individuals and SLE.
Perceived stress and reported cognitive symptoms among Georgia patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Plantinga L , Lim S S , Bowling C B , Drenkard C
Published: February 2017

Objective

To examine associations of perceived stress with cognitive symptoms among adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

Among 777 adult (≥18 years) SLE patients, the association of Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) scores with two self-reported cognitive symptoms was examined: forgetfulness (severe/moderate vs. mild/none; from the Systemic Lupus Activity Questionnaire) and difficulty concentrating (all/most vs. some/little/none of the time; from the Lupus Impact Tracker). The study used multivariable logistic regression to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) per minimal important difference (MID = 0.5*SD) of PSS score and cognitive symptoms.

Results

Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating were reported by 41.7% and 29.5%, respectively. Women and those with less education and high disease activity had higher PSS scores and were more likely to report cognitive symptoms than their counterparts. With adjustment for age, race, sex, education, and disease activity, each MID increase in PSS score was associated with higher prevalence of forgetfulness (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.29–1.47) and difficulty concentrating (OR = 2.19, 95% CI 1.90–2.52). No substantial differences in this association by age, race, sex, or disease activity were noted.

Conclusions

SLE patients, particularly those with high disease activity, report a high burden of cognitive symptoms, for which stress may be a modifiable risk factor.
Organ damage accrual and distribution in systemic lupus erythematosus patients followed-up for more than 10 years
Authors: Taraborelli M , Cavazzana I , Martinazzi N , Lazzaroni M Grazia , Fredi M , Andreoli L , Franceschini F , Tincani A
Published: February 2017

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, predictors and progression of organ damage in a monocentric cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus patients with a long follow-up. Organ damage was assessed by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index one year after diagnosis and every five years. Disease activity was measured by the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI)-2K at the beginning of the follow-up. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to detect items associated with damage. A total of 511 systemic lupus erythematosus patients (92% females, 95% Caucasian), prospectively followed from 1972 to 2014, were included.

Results

After a mean disease duration of 16 years (SD: 9.5) and a mean follow-up of 12.9 years (SD: 8.8), 354 patients (69.3%) had accrued some damage: 49.7% developed mild/moderate damage, while 19.5% showed severe damage. Damage was evident in 40% of 511 patients one year after diagnosis, and its prevalence linearly increased over time. Longer disease duration, higher SLEDAI, severe Raynaud’s, chronic alopecia and cerebral ischaemia were significantly associated with organ damage. No associations between damage and autoantibodies, including anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm or antiphospholipid antibodies, were observed. Anyway, antiphospholipid syndrome and anticardiolipin antibodies predicted the development of neuropsychiatric damage. The ocular, musculoskeletal and neuropsychiatric systems were the most frequently damaged organs, with a linear increase during follow-up.

Conclusion

A high rate of moderate and severe damage has been detected early in a wide cohort of young lupus patients, with a linear trend of increase over time. Disease activity and long duration of disease predict damage, while antiphospholipid antibodies play a role in determining neuropsychiatric damage.
Bias away from the null due to miscounted outcomes? A case study on the TORCH trial
Authors: Muff Stefanie , Puhan Milo A , Held Leonhard
Published: February 2017

Count outcomes occur in virtually all disciplines, such as medicine, epidemiology or biology, but they often contain error. Recently, it has been shown that self-reported numbers of exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease patients can be considerably miscounted. Motivated by this result, we reanalysed data from the Towards a Revolution in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Health trial, a large randomized controlled trial with the self-reported number of exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease patients as outcome. To adjust for miscounting error in the response of Poisson and (zero-inflated) negative binomial models, we introduce novel, general methodology. The key idea is to formulate a zero-inflated negative binomial model to capture the error mechanism. This parametric approach automatically circumvents drawbacks of previously suggested methodology that treats miscounted outcomes in the misclassification framework. Prior information for the response error model parameters was elicited from validation data of an external study and adaptively weighted to account for potential prior-data conflict. The results of the Bayesian hierarchical modelling approach indicated that the treatment effect has been overestimated in the original study. However, closer inspection revealed that this unexpected result was an artefact of an unaccounted time dependency of the treatment effect.
Family Benefits in the EU
Authors: Strban Grega
Published: February 2017

The coordination and especially the export of family benefits within the EU is high on the agenda, not only due to its complexity, but also because it is politically sensitive. In the present article the plethora of various family benefits, corresponding to distinctive perceptions, historical developments, as well as modified family structures and patterns of mobility is presented. It is questioned whether a definition of a family is important for coordinating family benefits. Moreover, deviations from general principles of social security coordination law are analysed. Among them are the rules on equal treatment, determining the legislation(s) applicable for providing family benefits (including the question of overlapping benefits and the number of so-called ‘baskets’ of family benefits) as well as the export (of adjusted or unadjusted) family benefits. The question is raised as to whether social security coordination rules should be modified and focus more on a child and child benefit(s), leaving other kind of support to the family to social and tax advantages and the right to reside rules.
The Unstoppable Expansion of the EU Fundamental Right to Data Protection
Authors: Brkan Maja
Published: February 2017

The EU fundamental right to data protection and the secondary legislation in this field are undergoing a constant process of expansion both through decisions of the Court of Justice of the EU as well as by means of legislative measures. This right is not only expanding in terms of its material and personal scope of application, but it is also gradually gaining importance compared to other fundamental rights and competing interests. Moreover, its scope of application is expanding outside of the EU borders as EU data protection becomes progressively more important for third-country controllers. The General Data Protection Regulation foresees further expansion of the scope of application of EU data protection. This article aims to assess the consequences of this gradual expansion of EU data protection and to determine whether the EU data protection regime could potentially expand to an undesirable extent, creating imbalances in the overall regime of fundamental rights protection.
In-situ poling and structurization of piezoelectric particulate composites
Authors: Khanbareh H , van der Zwaag S , Groen WA
Published: February 2017

Composites of lead zirconate titanate particles in an epoxy matrix are prepared in the form of 0–3 and quasi 1–3 with different ceramic volume contents from 10% to 50%. Two different processing routes are tested. Firstly a conventional dielectrophoretic structuring is used to induce a chain-like particle configuration, followed by curing the matrix and poling at a high temperature and under a high voltage. Secondly a simultaneous combination of dielectrophoresis and poling is applied at room temperature while the polymer is in the liquid state followed by subsequent curing. This new processing route is practiced in an uncured thermoset system while the polymer matrix still possess a relatively high electrical conductivity. Composites with different degrees of alignment are produced by altering the magnitude of the applied electric field. A significant improvement in piezoelectric properties of quasi 1–3 composites can be achieved by a combination of dielectrophoretic alignment of the ceramic particles and poling process. It has been observed that the degree of structuring as well as the functional properties of the in-situ structured and poled composites enhance significantly compared to those of the conventionally manufactured structured composites. Improving the alignment quality enhances the piezoelectric properties of the particulate composites.
Metamodel-assisted design optimization of piezoelectric flex transducer for maximal bio-kinetic energy conversion
Authors: Luo Liheng , Liu Dianzi , Zhu Meiling , Ye Jianqiao
Published: February 2017

Energy-harvesting devices have been widely used to generate electrical power from the bio-kinetic energy of human body movement. A novel piezoelectric flex transducer based on the Cymbal device has been proposed by other researchers for the purpose of energy harvesting. To further improve the efficiency of the device, optimal design of the piezoelectric flex transducer for maximum output power subject to stress and displacement constraints is carried out in this article. Sequential quadratic programming on metamodels generated with genetic programming from a 140-point optimal Latin hypercube design of experiments is used in the optimization. Finally, the optimal design is validated by finite element simulations. The simulations show that the magnitude of the electrical power generated from this optimal piezoelectric flex transducer harvesting device can be up to 6.5 MW when a safety design factor of 2.0 is applied.
High actuation force of piezoelectric hybrid actuator with multiple piezoelectric pump design
Authors: Li Yongzhe , Le Vinh Tung , Goo Nam Seo , Kim Tae Heun , Lee Chang Seop
Published: February 2017

The piezoelectric hybrid actuator is a new electro-hydrostatic actuator with broad prospects for development. Compared with the traditional hydraulic pump, the piezoelectric hybrid actuator is characterized by a simple structure, small size, lightweight, and low power. However, it has a well-known weakness: It produces only a small actuation force and then cannot be used in real applications. Because the maximum force produced by a one-piezoelectric pump design cannot be increased much due to limitations in the power supply and piezoelectric materials, researchers have moved to the use of multiple piezoelectric pumps. In this research, a double-piezoelectric pump-hydraulic cylinder hybrid actuator was designed, manufactured, and tested in order to increase the actuation force. Key design factors such as the connection method and driving method were investigated to realize the double-piezoelectric pump design and achieve a high level of performance. A total of three kinds of double-piezoelectric pump-hydraulic cylinder hybrid actuator designs were selected by a theoretical approach and implemented using two identical piezoelectric pumps. A manual valve system was installed for switching the connection method (series and parallel modes). The driving method, phase, or voltage was controlled by a LabVIEW program. The maximum blocking force of 4615 N was measured at 250 Hz for cross driving, series connection and φ30-mm cylinder. The maximum velocity of 68.3 mm/s was measured at 300 Hz for cross driving, series connection and φ21-mm cylinder. Fluid structural interaction analysis using ANSYS software confirmed the experimental results. The performance of double-piezoelectric pump-hydraulic hybrid actuator meets the minimum requirements for mechanical and aerospace actuator applications.
Analysis of sensor-debonding failure in active vibration control of smart composite plate
Authors: Khan Asif , Lee Hyun Sung , Kim Heung Soo
Published: February 2017

In this article, the effect of a sensor-debonding failure on the active vibration control of a smart composite plate is investigated numerically. A mathematical model of the smart structure with a partially debonded piezoelectric sensor is developed using an improved layerwise theory, a higher-order electric-potential field that serves as the displacement field, and the potential variation through the piezoelectric patches. A state-space form that is based on the reduced-order model is employed for the controller design. A control strategy with a constant gain and velocity feedback is used to assess the vibration-control characteristics of the controller in the presence of the sensor-debonding failure. The obtained results show that sensor-debonding failure reduces the sensor-output, control-input signal, and active damping in magnitude that successively degrades the vibration attenuation capability of the active vibration controller. The settling time and relative tip displacement of the controlled structure increase with the increasing length of partial debonding between the piezoelectric sensor and host structure. Furthermore, a damage-sensitive feature along with multidimensional scaling showed excellent results for the detection and quantification of sensor-debonding failure in the active vibration control of smart structures.
Constructing Singing Assessments for the Music Classroom
Authors: Nichols Bryan E.
Published: February 2017

As teachers are increasingly asked to respond to assessment and evaluation demands in their schools, the aim of this article is to provide suggestions and scales for singing accuracy. A description of each step in the assessment design process is provided, along with specific suggestions for a singing development scale and a singing accuracy scale.
Comparing Vitamin A and Moist Chamber in Preventing Ocular Surface Disorders
Authors: Babamohamadi Hassan , Nobahar Monir , Razi Jalaladin , Ghorbani Raheb
Published: February 2017

The present study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of vitamin A eye ointment (VAEO) and moist chamber (MC) in preventing ocular surface disorders (OSD) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. A total of 38 eligible patients were selected for participation in the present clinical trial. All the patients were randomly administered VAEO in one eye every 6 hr for 5 days and had a polyethylene cover (PC) placed on their other eye to create an MC that was replaced every 12 hr as well. The results of Schirmer’s test also increased by 2.06 mm in the VAEO group ( p < .001), while they showed a slight reduction by 0.15 mm in the MC group ( p = .669). VAEO was more effective in preventing OSD in ICU patients than MC and is, therefore, recommended to be used as a method of preventing OSD.
How Does the Media Frame Corporate Scandals? The Case of German Newspapers and the Volkswagen Diesel Scandal
Authors: Clemente Marco , Gabbioneta Claudia
Published: February 2017

Despite the importance that the media has in regard to influencing people’s perceptions of wrongdoing, organizational scholars have paid little attention to how the media reports wrongdoing. This article starts to address this gap by considering how the media frames corporate scandals. We empirically examine how four different German newspapers reported on the Volkswagen diesel scandal. We inductively identify the constitutive elements of a general corporate scandal frame. Then, we analyze how each newspaper framed the scandal through combinations of different elements. We identify from our dataset four frames of corporate scandals that newspapers applied: legalistic, contextual, reputational, and scapegoating. Our article testifies to the importance of cross-fertilization between research on mass communication and political science on one side, and organizational research on the other side and, more generally, it calls for more attention to be given to the media in the study of scandals and organizational wrongdoing.
Screening for Problematic Worry in Adults With a Single Item From the Penn State Worry Questionnaire
Authors: Schroder Hans S. , Clark D. Angus , Moser Jason S.
Published: February 2017

As the rapid assessment of mental health is a growing need, a quick and valid tool for the early detection of symptoms that can be flexibly deployed across a range of contexts may be especially beneficial. This is particularly true of anxiety problems, which when undetected contribute to health care costs and lost work productivity. Data from more than 10,000 respondents (primarily female undergraduates) were used to test whether a single item from the popular Penn State Worry Questionnaire could serve as a screening tool in settings where administration of the full scale is undesirable. Items were evaluated by examining item response theory models, screening capabilities, stability over time, convergence with other anxiety and depression measures, and a response time analysis that assessed how quickly participants responded to each item. Item 15 (“I worry all the time”) emerged as the strongest item: It was the most discriminating and reliable item, had sensitivity and specificity similar to the full scale, had the highest 1-month and 1-year retest coefficients, the highest convergent correlations with measures of anxiety and depression, and was responded to significantly faster than any other item. We suggest that in time-limited contexts, this item is suitable for screening.
An IPEM for optimal control of uncertain beam-moving mass systems with saturation nonlinearity
Authors: Liu Xiao-Xiao , Ren Xing-Min
Published: February 2017

This paper addresses the vibration control of single-span beams subjected to a moving mass by coupling the saturated nonlinear control and an improved point estimation method (IPEM). An optimal nonlinear feedback control law, for a kind of uncertain linear system with actuator nonlinearities, is derived using the combination of Pontryagin's maximum principles and the improved point estimation method. The stability of the feedback system is guaranteed using a Lyapunov function. In order to obtain the instantaneously probabilistic information of output responses, a novel moment approach is presented by combining the improved point estimation method, the maximum entropy methodology and the probability density evolution theory. In addition to the consideration of stochastic system parameters, the external loadings are considered as a nonstationary random excitation and a moving sprung mass, respectively. The proposed strategy is then used to perform vibration suppression analysis and parametric sensitivity analysis of the given beam. From numerical simulation results, it is deduced that the improved point estimation method is a priority approach to the optimal saturated nonlinear control of stochastic beam systems. This observation has widespread applications and prospects in vehicle–bridge interaction and missile–gun systems.
Instrument variable method based on nonlinear transformed instruments for Hammerstein system identification
Authors: Saini Vikram , Dewan Lillie
Published: February 2017

An extended instrumental variable (EIV) method is considered for the stochastic Hammerstein system (ARMAX and general model structure). The EIV method provides consistent parameter estimates by eliminating noise-induced bias in the least square (LS) method. To estimate the parameters, the Hammerstein model is formulated using the bilinear parameterization. The bilinear model is identified by introducing the nonlinear instrumental variables obtained from transformed delayed outputs using nonlinear mapping and polynomial basis of delayed inputs. These instruments are analyzed in full generality by computing the bounds on expected relationship between instruments and noise for the general noise disturbance structure. Then, a specific case with hyperbolic tangent (tanh) transformation is considered. Comparative performance analysis of the proposed IV method with the existing IV method, the data filtering-based LS methods, and the extended LS method shows improvement in the statistical properties of parameters estimates.
Advanced parameter analysis for damper influence on ride dynamics
Authors: Bedük M Durukan , Çalışkan Kemal , Henze Roman , Küçükay Ferit
Published: February 2017

The conflicting objectives related to damping characteristics of vehicle suspensions promote further development of new damper concepts. The effort is no longer limited to finding the optimal damper velocity–force characteristics for a vehicle suspension system. Besides this basic design parameter, the amplitude- and frequency-dependent characteristics of dampers are also taken into consideration. The first step in adjustment of the velocity, displacement, and frequency-dependent damper characteristics is to understand the effect of these characteristics on the dynamics of the vehicle. Therefore, in this study, the interaction between the damper characteristics and vehicle ride response is analyzed by using a detailed mathematical damper model together with a verified full vehicle simulation model. A semi-parametric detailed damper model is first verified through physical testing of different dampers and then it is fully parameterized and implemented inside the full vehicle simulation model. A parameter variation analysis is performed to show the effect of the different damper characteristics on vehicle ride comfort.
Bending impact behaviour of sandwich beams with expanded polystyrene foam core: Analysis
Authors: Caliskan Umut , Apalak M Kemal
Published: February 2017

This study addresses the bending impact behaviour of sandwich beams made of a low density core bonded to two metal face sheets under low-velocity impact. The geometrical and material non-linearities were considered in the explicit dynamic analysis. The face sheets and core were made of aluminum and expanded polystyrene foam. The effects of design parameters, such as foam density, foam thickness, plate thickness, on the impact energy absorption of the joint were investigated. The foam material was modelled as a crushable foam material, and the cohesive response of the adhesive interface was analysed using the cohesive zone model. Experimental low-speed impact tests were carried out to validate the finite element analysis, and the temporal variations of the contact force and the permanent central deflections at the top and bottom faces of the sandwich beams were in good agreement.