bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cumulative Advantage in Sustainability Communication
Authors: Gustafson Abel , Rice Ronald E.
Published: October 2016

The knowledge deficit model proposes that more information increases public knowledge levels about a given topic and thus leads to improved attitudes and practice. However, research critiques the varying and limited ability of the deficit model. We argue that the deficit model can also produce an unintended cumulative advantage system: growing inequality between and within the knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) gap of individuals and groups due to a wide variety of possible moderators. Over time, these effects can exacerbate gaps between individuals’ and groups’ levels of KAP. We discuss the negative effects of increasing inequality in sustainability KAP and provide recommendations for future research.
Distinct fatty acid composition of some edible by-products from bovines fed high or low silage diets
Authors: Alfaia Cristina M , Alves Susana P , Pestana José M , Madeira Marta S , Moreira Olga , Santos-Silva José , Bessa Rui JB , Toldrá Fidel , Prates José AM
Published: October 2016

In the present study, it was hypothesized that the incorporation of fatty acids is distinct among ruminant tissues and that it could be modulated by diet composition. To test this hypothesis, fatty acid composition, including conjugated linoleic acid isomers, of the most relevant beef by-products (brain, heart, kidney, liver, pancreas and tongue) from young bulls those fed distinct silage levels was assessed. Data indicated a large variation in fatty acid profile and conjugated linoleic acid composition among edible by-products. The most abundant fatty acids were C16:0 (kidney), C18:0 (heart and liver) and C18:1 c9 (brain, pancreas and tongue) followed by C20:4 n-6, except in brain (C22:6 n-3 predominates). Brain, as shown by principal component analysis, presents a distinct fatty acid composition compared to the other beef by-products analysed. In addition, high silage diet relative to low silage diet promoted an increase of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, t11, t13 and t11, c13 conjugated linoleic acid in heart, kidney, liver and pancreas. Overall, the data suggested that beef by-products had, in general, high contents of cholesterol, saturated fatty acid and trans fatty acid, as well as high levels of conjugated linoleic acid. Therefore, from a nutritional point of view they are recommended only in small amounts as part of a balanced diet.
Tax Incentives and Noncompliance
Authors: Alstadsæter Annette , Jacob Martin
Published: October 2016

Using rich Swedish administrative panel data, we are able to observe and analyze a specific type of tax noncompliance, namely, overstatement of a self-reported dividend allowance that can reduce shareholders’ tax liability. Some 3 percent of Swedish owner managers overstate this allowance during the period 2006 to 2009. Exploiting a large kink in the income tax schedule, we identify a positive and significant effect of the income tax rate on noncompliance. The estimated elasticity of noncompliance with respect to the marginal tax rate ranges from .5 to .7, depending on the specification.
Equalization of Expenditures and the Demand for Local Public Education: The Case of New Jersey
Authors: Megdal Sharon Bernstein
Published: October 2016

This article focuses on the goal of equalization of educational expenditures up to a minimum. The distribution of expenditures produced by three different aid formulas is examined. The response of local school districts to receipt of aid revenues is discussed, and an aid disbursement formula that could promote compliance with the aforementioned goal is proposed.
Realized Income and Wealth for Owners of Closely Held Farms and Businesses: A Comparison
Authors: Steuerle Eugene
Published: October 2016

In a match of estate and income tax returns, owners of closely held businesses and farms reveal a very low realized rate of return on assets. The rate of realization is found to decline significantly as wealth increases and as the percentage of wealth in noncorporate, closely held farms increases.
Cardinal vs. Characteristic Indices of Preference for Applied Welfare Economics
Authors: Stahl Dale O.
Published: October 2016

The concept of cardinality is defined for a binary index of preference. The qualifications on the cardinality of the compensating and equivalent variations are examined in detail. It is argued that a characteristic index, such as the sign of the monotonic variation of consumer surplus, is adequate for most practical applications.
Sales Tax Audit Performance among the States
Authors: Conn Robert L. , Williams Paul F. , Young William E.
Published: October 2016

This article provides an econometric explanation for the different sales tax audit performances among the selected states. Using recently developed primary data for 1979, tax recovery from sales tax audits is found to depend principally upon the degree of sophistication used in selecting accounts for audit, as well as the total number of accounts available for audit and number of accounts actually audited. Variables representing location of audit selection (centralized versus decentralized), tax rates, auditor quality, and size of accounts do not contribute significantly to the models; thus, some commonly cited arguments for explaining performance differences among the states' sales tax audit programs are not supported. The major policy implication of the study is that most states could increase their audit effectiveness by utilizing more formal, computer-based selection techniques.
Specific Taxes, Product Quality, and Rate-Revenue Analysis
Authors: Bohanon Cecil E. , Van Cott T. Norman
Published: October 2016

The effect that specific taxes have on product quality has been a question of interest to economists over the last few years. The problem arises because while goods and services are multidimensional in terms of utility generating characteristics, specific taxes are almost always levied on just one of the characteristics. The effect of quality adjustment on tax revenue has not yet been examined in any detail. Quality adjustment is no doubt a change that occurs over a longer-run time frame. Heretofore, the only attempts at adding a temporal dimension to rate-revenue analysis distinguish between the short run and long run in terms of supply and demand elasticities. In the previous analysis the tax rate at which revenue is maximized and the tax rate at which revenue reaches zero are both lower in the long run. What makes the analysis presented here interesting is that when product quality accounts for the intertemporal distinction, the revenue maximizing tax rate and the tax rate that yields zero revenue are both higher in the long run.
Measuring the Welfare Loss of Pension Mandates: A Methodology and Example
Authors: Hayes Kathy , Grosskopf Shawna
Published: October 2016

In this article we employ recent advances in measuring consumer's surplus (and the related Hicksian compensation measures) to measure the impact of state mandates requiring local governments to establish minimum pensions for their employees. We measure the Hicksian compensating variation of the price distortion caused by such mandates and compare those losses to those calculated using a Harberger-type second-order approximation method.
The Marginal Social Security Tax on Labor
Authors: Browning Edgar K.
Published: October 2016

The effective marginal tax rate on labor income under the social security payroll tax can be less than the statutory rate because additional earnings are associated with higher future benefits. This article develops a theoretical analysis of the determinants of the effective marginal tax rate for an unfunded social security system and applies the analysis to the U.S. system. It concludes that the effective marginal tax rate is only slightly lower than the statutory rate for most workers, except for those who retire in the start-up phase of the system.
Is the Social Security Payroll Tax a Tax?
Authors: Burkhauser Richard V. , Turner John A.
Published: October 2016

Social security benefits are linked directly to earnings through the social security benefit formula. Hence, the marginal increment in benefits due to increased earnings offsets to some degree the marginal increment in taxes. We show that the true life-cycle payroll tax rate for a given legislated rate differs systematically by age, year of birth, marital status, and life expectancy. For many workers, during some part of their life the true life-cycle payroll tax is in fact a subsidy. Changes in the tax and benefit rules over the last decade have reduced the subsidy for current workers. Major changes brought about under the 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act have furthered this trend. Even though benefit reductions in the 1983 act will not be fully in place until well into the next century, their effect on the true payroll tax rates on young workers is already being felt.
Pay-As-You-Go versus Advance-Funded Public Pension Systems under Imperfect Capital Markets
Authors: Schwab Robert M.
Published: October 2016

In this article I asked whether pay-as-you-go pension plans for public sector workers give local governments an incentive to offer workers overly generous pension benefits and to substitute labor for other inputs in the production of local public goods. I show that the answer turns in part on whether capital market imperfections represent an effective constraint for consumers. If a community's public assets and liabilities are capitalized into property values and borrowing constraints are not binding, these incentives are not present. If borrowing constraints are effective, these incentives exist even if capitalization is working smoothly.
Private Schooling and the Tiebout Hypothesis
Authors: Martinez-Vazquez Jorge , Seaman Bruce A.
Published: October 2016

This article develops an alternative to both the capitalization and the “heterogeneity” tests of the Tiebout hypothesis. By examining the implication that the greater the degree of public school choice in a metro area the lesser should be the reliance on private schooling, additional and novel support is found for the hypothesis. Specifically, interjurisdictional choice linked to the number of school districts, and intrajurisdictional choice as reflected by the number of individual schools per district both were found to be important dimensions of school choice. That the Tiebout process is operational at the SMSA level of aggregation also suggests that the net fiscal gains from mobility are relevant to both central city and suburban dwellers.
A Model of State Expenditures on Mental Health Services
Authors: Frank Richard G.
Published: October 2016

This article incorporates several institutional characteristics of the mental health market place into a model of public expenditure. Estimates of the elasticity of demand for mental hospital services, the responsiveness to cost shifting opportunities, and several epidemiological determinants of mental hospital use are presented. The estimated model is used to interpret recent trends in mental hospital policy.
Does Anticipated Fiscal Policy Matter? The Italian Evidence
Authors: Darrat Ali F.
Published: October 2016

This article tests for Italy the validity of the Rational Expectations-Natural Rate (RENR) hypothesis that anticipated fiscal policy does not matter for real economic activity. An atheoretical statistical technique is employed for decomposing the Italian fiscal policy into anticipated and unanticipated components. The empirical results over the quarterly period 1960 to 1983 lend strong support to the RENR hypothesis: Only unanticipated fiscal policy exerts a significant expansionary impact upon real economic activity in Italy. These results. therefore, cast doubt on the appropriateness of activist fiscal policy for real economic stabilization in the case of Italy.
Charitable Giving as a Mixed Public/Private Good: Implications for Tax Policy
Authors: Steinberg Richard
Published: October 2016

This is an analysis of the effect of tax changes on charitable giving in a model in which donors possess both private and public good motivations. In Nash equilibrium, donors respond both to changes in taxes and to induced responses by other donors. The aggregate change in donations is smaller than it would be in the pure private model by a factor involving the extent of crowdout of one's own donations by others’ giving. The direction and magnitude of crowdout depends on the relative importance of the public and private motivations, the Hicksian relation between the two (substitutes or complements), the extent of over- or undersupply of the public good, and the income elasticity of demand for the public good.
On the Legal and Illegal Behavior of the Regulated Firm
Authors: Martin Lawrence
Published: October 2016

This article develops a simple model of a firm's privately optimal choice of the degree to which it will abide with regulations. The model allows for the firm to disguise its illegal actions in order to avoid detection and to expend resources to mitigate possible punishment for violations. Both price and quantity type regulatory schemes are considered. Under quantity regulation noncompliance increases the total amount of the regulated activity and distorts efficiency in production. Price regulation, on the other hand, introduces a kind of dichotomy between the real production plan of the firm and its illegal activity. Even though price regulations are substantially evaded, the total amount of the regulated activity remains unchanged, and the firm continues to produce efficiently.
Canons of Just Taxation: Efficiency and Fairness in an Economy with a Public Good
Authors: Sullivan Dennis , Schlesinger Harris
Published: October 2016

This article analyzes the relationships among three canons of “just” taxation: Pareto optimality, individual rationality, and fairness (nonenvy). Using a helpful device called a Kolm triangle, the analysis shows that the fair and Pareto optimal point need not be individually rational, that it will involve progressive taxation, and that it bears no particular relationship to Lindahl equilibrium, but a rather close relationship to Rawlsian justice.
Radio
Authors: Starkey Guy
Published: October 2016

Radio is a resilient medium. As in different countries around the world celebrations are being planned to mark the 100th anniversaries of the first regular domestic radio services, early predictions of its demise have so far been proven wrong. Radio transmission remains overwhelmingly analogue in a world where digital switchover of television currently preoccupies many governments and audiences alike.
Changes over time in the risk of hospitalization for physical diseases among homeless men and women in Stockholm: A comparison of two cohorts
Authors: Beijer Ulla , Bruce Daniel , Burström Bo
Published: October 2016

Aims: To follow-up hospitalization for physical diseases among homeless men and women compared with a control group from the general population. The study also investigated the changes in the difference between the homeless men and women and the general population over time by comparing two cohorts of homeless people (2000–2002 and 1996). Methods: A total of 3887 people (24% women) who were homeless during the period 2000–2002 were compared with 11,661 people from the general population with respect to hospitalization for physical diseases and injuries (2000–2010). Indirect comparisons were used to compare the relative risk (RR) of hospitalization between the cohort of people who were homeless in 2000–2002 with a cohort of those who were homeless in 1996. Results: Homeless people have an RR of being hospitalized for physical diseases twice that of the general population. The largest differences were found in skin diseases, infections, injury/poisoning and diseases of the respiratory system. Indirect comparison between people who were homeless in 2000–2002 and 1996 showed an increasing difference between young (18–35 years) homeless men and men in the control group (RR 1.32). The difference had also increased between homeless men and men in the control group for hospitalization for heart disease (RR 1.35), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (RR 2.60) and poisoning (RR 1.89). Among women, the difference had decreased between homeless women and women in the control group for skin disease (RR 0.20) and injury/poisoning (RR 0.60). There was no significant difference between the sexes in the two homeless cohorts. Conclusions: There was no improvement in excess hospitalization among homeless people over time. The difference between young homeless men and young men in the general population increased between 1996 and 2000–2002.
Chinese elite migrants and formation of new communities in a changing society: An online-offline ethnography
Authors: Dong Jie
Published: October 2016

The online-offline distinction is increasingly observed by academics and laypersons. How are the ‘virtual’ spaces intertwined with the offline physical world? What are locally specific meanings of the online communicative practices? And how do offline contexts shape online activities? Drawing on my ethnographic fieldwork among Chinese urban elite migrants, the study explores the ways in which new types of urban communities are formed as an outcome of online-offline dynamics in a rapidly changing society. The research starts as a ‘traditional’ ethnography focusing on the offline ‘natural habitat’ of the participants. However, the participants demonstrate that their virtual spaces are as important as their offline physical spaces; the online and offline spaces are growing into one lived reality, and the ethnographer is compelled to take into account the online in order to gain a rounded understanding of the participants’ life worlds.
Are we allowed to use fictional vignettes in cultural geographies?
Authors: Rabbiosi Chiara , Vanolo Alberto
Published: October 2016

Fictional vignettes are narrative texts that academic researchers may invent in order to illustrate arguments or to present their research outcomes; they are stories or situations that do not strictly report factual realities observed by the author, but that, in any case, implement the heuristics for the arguments that the author wants to raise. Although there are several works in social sciences taking advantage of fictional narratives, geographers have started mobilising invented stories in their writings mostly recently, provided that a variety of creative methodologies had been introduced. The aim of this article is to present fictional vignettes as an integrative research method and writing technique, while discussing potential opportunities and limits relating to their use in geographical research, particularly within the recent rise of various ‘creative methodologies’ in cultural geographies.
Geography and art: encountering place across disciplines
Authors: Schaaf Rebecca , Worrall-Hood Julieann , Jones Owain
Published: October 2016

This article summarises a project undertaken at the Newton Park campus of Bath Spa University over 1 week in October 2015. The project provided a space for interdisciplinary collaborations between geography and art students to explore the commonalities and differences in how they saw, interpreted and creatively re-presented the campus, using a variety of methods. This article outlines the project and reflects on the processes, outcomes, and challenges of collaboration. It highlights how this approach can enhance student learning experiences, by facilitating more interdisciplinary collaboration across the sciences, arts and humanities, and social sciences. In doing so, it explores the potential and pitfalls of collaborative cultural geography in practice across disciplines.
Recent Research on Divine Violence in the Old Testament (with Special Attention to Christian Theological Perspectives)
Authors: Seibert Eric A.
Published: October 2016

Many readers of the Bible are troubled by passages in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament that portray God behaving violently and commanding others to do likewise. This article offers a survey of various ways contemporary scholars—particularly Christian scholars—have attempted to respond to the moral and theological challenges these troubling texts inevitably raise for modern readers. The contributions considered here are mostly from the past twenty years. Seven different approaches are examined, with special attention given to attempts to defend or critique God’s violent behavior. Brief evaluation of the relative merits of these approaches is offered along the way. A range of theological perspectives is included, and scholars from a number of different academic disciplines are represented. The article’s conviction is that regardless of how these texts are interpreted, readers should not use them to harm others or to justify future acts of violence.
‘God’s Israel’ in Galatians 6.16: An Overview and Assessment of the Key Arguments
Authors: Filtvedt Ole Jakob
Published: October 2016

The article presents and discusses the main arguments that have been used to argue either that non-Jews are included or excluded from God’s Israel. The arguments in favour of the view that non-Jews are excluded focus on: (i) the syntax and translation; (ii) possible influence from a Jewish synagogue prayer; (iii) the combination of the terms ‘mercy’ and ‘Israel’; and (iv) Paul’s regular use of the term ‘Israel’. The arguments for the view that non-Jews are included in God’s Israel are: (i) that non-Jewish members of God’s Israel seem to be a possibility in Galatians; (ii) that an exclusively Jewish Israel is theologically impossible in Galatians; (iii) that an exclusively Jewish Israel in Galatians would have been confusing for the addressees; (iv) the fact that Galatians seems to provide insufficient material for deciding which Jews God’s Israel is supposed to denote.
What are the focal points in bioethics literature? Examining the discussions about everyday ethics in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Zizzo Natalie , Bell Emily , Racine Eric
Published: October 2016

Everyday ethics refers to those issues which have a sometimes unrecognized moral dimension and that arise regularly within healthcare and research. These issues are often contrasted to dramatic ethics issues (i.e. issues that have seemingly higher stakes such as those arising in acute care situations or with invasive or life-threatening interventions). Claims have been made that scholarly bioethics tends to focus on dramatic ethics to the detriment of everyday ethics discussions. However, empirical evidence showing this has been lacking. Our own research investigating bioethics discussions in the Parkinson’s disease literature suggested this trend. Consequently, we decided to characterize the context and content of the Parkinson’s disease bioethics literature to empirically test the hypothesis that everyday ethics is under discussed. We conducted a broad literature search using the keywords “Parkinson’s disease” AND (“ethics” OR “bioethics”) and classified results inductively based on the context in which the bioethics discussion occurred. In line with our hypothesis and initial observations, we found that there is indeed a greater focus on dramatic ethics where topics such as deep brain stimulation and neuronal cell transplantations, dominated bioethics discussions. Given the potential utility of everyday ethics in improving healthcare and research, this mismatch in focus ought to be addressed. There is a clear need for further understanding and discussion of everyday ethical issues in scholarly bioethics.
Why Capitalism?
Authors: Iley-Williamson Dan
Published: October 2016

An endorsement of capitalism is often thought to be a concession to human selfishness. The thought often runs that while some other socioeconomic system – socialism, perhaps – would be morally preferable, we cannot live up to those high ideals. Jason Brennan has recently attempted to show that this widespread view is mistaken. Even in terms of ideal theory, Brennan argues, capitalism is morally superior to its rival. To make this case, Brennan critiques the work of the late socialist political philosopher, GA Cohen. Brennan argues that Cohen’s justification of socialism is ill-conceived, and in fact, Cohen’s failure helps to reveal that capitalism is morally superior to socialism. In this review article, I argue that Brennan’s critique and attempted counter-claim are unsuccessful. Among other failings, Brennan leaves us with no adequate answer to the question, why capitalism?

Cohen GA (2009) Why Not Socialism? Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Brennan J (2014) Why Not Capitalism? New York: Routledge.
A non-exercise method to determine cardiorespiratory fitness identifies females predicted to be at ‘high risk’ of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Gray Benjamin J , Stephens Jeffrey W , Turner Daniel , Thomas Michael , Williams Sally P , Morgan Kerry , Williams Meurig , Rice Sam , Bracken Richard M ,   on behalf of the Prosiect Sir Gâr Group
Published: October 2016

This study examined the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness determined by a non-exercise testing method for estimating fitness and predicted risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus using five risk assessments/questionnaires (Leicester Diabetes Risk Score, QDiabetes, Cambridge Risk Score, Finnish Diabetes Risk Score and American Diabetes Association Diabetes Risk Test). Retrospective analysis was performed on 330 female individuals with no prior diagnosis of cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes mellitus who participated in the Prosiect Sir Gâr workplace initiative in Carmarthenshire, South Wales. Non-exercise testing method for estimating fitness (expressed as metabolic equivalents) was calculated using a validated algorithm, and females were grouped accordingly into fitness quintiles <6.8 metabolic equivalents (Quintile 1), 6.8–7.6 metabolic equivalents (Quintile 2), 7.6–8.6 metabolic equivalents (Quintile 3), 8.6–9.5 metabolic equivalents (Quintile 4), >9.5 metabolic equivalents (Quintile 5). Body mass index, waist circumference, and HbA1c all decreased between increasing non-exercise testing method for estimating fitness quintiles ( p < 0.05), as did risk prediction scores in each of the five assessments/questionnaires ( p < 0.05). The proportion of females in Quintile 1 predicted at ‘high risk’ was between 20.9% and 81.4%, depending on diabetes risk assessment used, compared to none of the females in Quintile 5. A calculated non-exercise testing method for estimating fitness <6.8 metabolic equivalents could help to identify females at ‘high risk’ of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus as predicted using five risk assessments/questionnaires.
Acute effects of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, exenatide, on blood pressure and heart rate responses to intraduodenal glucose infusion in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Thazhath Sony S , Marathe Chinmay S , Wu Tongzhi , Chang Jessica , Khoo Joan , Kuo Paul , Checklin Helen L , Bound Michelle J , Rigda Rachael S , Horowitz Michael , Jones Karen L , Rayner Christopher K
Published: October 2016

Aim:

To evaluate the effects of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, exenatide, on blood pressure and heart rate during an intraduodenal glucose infusion in type 2 diabetes.

Methods:

Nine subjects with type 2 diabetes were randomised to receive intravenous exenatide or saline control in a crossover design. Glucose (3 kcal min−1) was infused via an intraduodenal manometry catheter for 60 min. Blood pressure, heart rate, and the frequency and amplitude of duodenal pressure waves were measured at regular intervals. Gastrointestinal symptoms were monitored using 100 mm visual analogue scales.

Results:

During intraduodenal glucose infusion (0–60 min), diastolic ( p(0–60) = 0.03) and mean arterial ( p(0–60) = 0.03) blood pressures and heart rate ( p(0–60) = 0.06; p(0–120) = 0.03)) were higher with exenatide compared to placebo. The increase in the area under the curve for diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure was related directly to the suppression of the duodenal motility index with exenatide compared to control ( p = 0.007 and 0.04, respectively).

Conclusion:

In type 2 diabetes, intravenous exenatide increases mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate during an intraduodenal glucose infusion, supporting the need for further research with exenatide for its potential use in postprandial hypotension.
Common Factors in Major League Baseball Game Attendance
Authors: Lee Young H.
Published: October 2016

This article applies a panel data model with observed common factors to Major League Baseball (MLB) data from 1904 to 2012 to analyze attendance. In particular, it aims to identify common factors. The empirical results suggest that MLB fan preferences were simple in the early years (1904-1957) with respect to common factors and then became multifaceted in later years (1958-2012), because the number of significant common factors increased from four to seven. Time trends and per capita gross domestic product were significant over the whole sample period, but outcome uncertainties and offensive performance, such as slugging performance, became newly significant common factors influencing attendance in later years. This indicates that fans consider not only their home team’s characteristics but also the characteristics of the away teams; then, in the modern era, it became critical for the league to implement elaborate business measures to promote competitive balance and slugging performance.
Evaluating the Effects of Multiple Opinion Rationales on Supreme Court Legitimacy
Authors: Bonneau Chris W. , Kelly Jarrod T. , Pronin Kira , Redman Shane M. , Zarit Matthew
Published: October 2016

The literature on the U.S. Supreme Court has paid substantial attention to the perceived legitimacy of the Court’s decisions. However, much less attention has been paid to the perceived legitimacy of the reasons the Court provides for its opinions. We design two experiments to understand how the public perceives opinion content. Unlike prior studies, we take it as a given that the Court uses legal reasons in its decisions. This offers us a baseline by which to compare departures from these legal reasons. We find that extralegal reasons, when paired with legal reasons, do nothing to harm the legitimacy of the Court. Furthermore, we find that even with a lack of legal reasons, the use of extralegal reasons does not harm the legitimacy of the Court, even among those who find that these reasons are inappropriate for the Court to use.
Associations Between Foot Placement Asymmetries and Metabolic Cost of Transport in Hemiparetic Gait
Authors: Finley James M. , Bastian Amy J.
Published: October 2016

Stroke survivors often have a slow, asymmetric walking pattern. They also walk with a higher metabolic cost than healthy, age-matched controls. It is often assumed that spatial-temporal asymmetries contribute to the increased metabolic cost of walking poststroke. However, elucidating this relationship is made challenging because of the interdependence between spatial-temporal asymmetries, walking speed, and metabolic cost. Here, we address these potential confounds by measuring speed-dependent changes in metabolic cost and implementing a recently developed approach to dissociate spatial versus temporal contributions to asymmetry in a sample of stroke survivors. We used expired gas analysis to compute the metabolic cost of transport (CoT) for each participant at 4 different walking speeds: self-selected speed, 80% and 120% of their self-selected speed, and their fastest comfortable speed. We also computed CoT for a sample of age- and gender-matched control participants who walked at the same speeds as their matched stroke survivor. Kinematic data were used to compute the magnitude of a number of variables characterizing spatial-temporal asymmetries. Across all speeds, stroke survivors had a higher CoT than controls. We also found that our sample of stroke survivors did not choose a self-selected speed that minimized CoT, contrary to typical observations in healthy controls. Multiple regression analyses revealed negative associations between speed and CoT and a positive association between asymmetries in foot placement relative to the trunk and CoT. These findings suggest that interventions designed to increase self-selected walking speed and reduce foot-placement asymmetries may be ideal for improving walking economy poststroke.
On-demand Misbehavior Detection for Vehicular Ad Hoc Network
Authors: Ho Yao-Hua , Lin Chun-Han , Chen Ling-Jyh
Published: October 2016

Maintaining communication links of an established communication path that extends between source and destination nodes is a significant challenge in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks due to movement of the vehicles. Operations of Vehicular Ad Hoc Network rely on the collaboration of participating nodes to route data for each other. A critical requirement on the nodes is to cooperate with each other for successful data transmission. Thus, the impact of malicious and selfish users must be detected to ensure the operations of Vehicular Ad Hoc Network. In this article, we proposed On-demand Misbehavior Detection technique for vehicle-to-vehicle communication. We adapt two location-based routing protocols, Contention-Based Forwarding and Connectionless Approach for Streets, to our On-demand Misbehavior Detection. Various experiments are conducted to show the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed On-demand Misbehavior Detection technique. The simulation and analytical results showed that the proposed technique is very effective in detecting misbehaving nodes.
Balancing Opposing Forces—A Nested Process Evaluation Study Protocol for a Stepped Wedge Designed Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of an Experience Based Codesign Intervention
Authors: Palmer Victoria Jane , Piper Donella , Richard Lauralie , Furler John , Herrman Helen , Cameron Jacqui , Godbee Kali , Pierce David , Callander Rosemary , Weavell Wayne , Gunn Jane , Iedema Rick
Published: October 2016

Background:

Process evaluations are essential to understand the contextual, relational, and organizational and system factors of complex interventions. The guidance for developing process evaluations for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) has until recently however, been fairly limited.

Method/Design:

A nested process evaluation (NPE) was designed and embedded across all stages of a stepped wedge cluster RCT called the CORE study. The aim of the CORE study is to test the effectiveness of an experience-based codesign methodology for improving psychosocial recovery outcomes for people living with severe mental illness (service users). Process evaluation data collection combines qualitative and quantitative methods with four aims: (1) to describe organizational characteristics, service models, policy contexts, and government reforms and examine the interaction of these with the intervention; (2) to understand how the codesign intervention works, the cluster variability in implementation, and if the intervention is or is not sustained in different settings; (3) to assist in the interpretation of the primary and secondary outcomes and determine if the causal assumptions underpinning the codesign interventions are accurate; and (4) to determine the impact of a purposefully designed engagement model on the broader study retention and knowledge transfer in the trial.

Discussion:

Process evaluations require prespecified study protocols but finding a balance between their iterative nature and the structure offered by protocol development is an important step forward. Taking this step will advance the role of qualitative research within trials research and enable more focused data collection to occur at strategic points within studies.
Numerical simulation of airfoil aerodynamic performance under the coupling effects of heavy rain and ice accretion
Authors: Wu Zhenlong , Cao Yihua
Published: October 2016

It has been widely investigated before that both heavy rain and icing conditions can cause severe aerodynamic performance penalties to aircraft in flight; however, aircraft aerodynamics in the presence of both heavy rain and ice accretion has been little explored so far. In this article, a numerical simulation is performed to study the aerodynamic performance of an iced NACA 0012 airfoil in simulated heavy rain condition. A two-way momentum-coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian two-phase flow approach is developed to simulate raindrop trajectories in the airflow field. The analysis indicates that both rain and ice can separately cause severe aerodynamic performance degradation to the airfoil at most angles of attack of interest. In the presence of both ice and rain, a further severe aerodynamic penalty can be produced by rain based on the ice-induced aerodynamic performance degradation. Premature boundary-layer separation and boundary-layer momentum losses by splashed-back raindrops are also observed.
Guidance control strategy for air traffic flow in terminal areas
Authors: Zhang Hong-hai , Yang Xiao-li , Fan Wei , Wang Zhong-ye , Liao Zhi-hua
Published: October 2016

This article researches on the characteristics of air traffic flow with guidance information to improve operation efficiency and safety for terminal control areas. First, several microscopic air traffic flow models are proposed based on aircraft’s behavior and operation rules in terminal areas. Second, a traffic flow guidance strategy is developed to optimize aircraft’s flight routes and velocities with several guidance decision factors, which include guidance strength, node saturation, runway coordinate coefficient, and so on. Finally, the proposed guidance strategy is verified using simulation with an airport terminal area in China. The simulation results show that the proposed guidance strategy helps in controlling the air traffic flow in a more safe, smooth, and efficient manner by changing the relationship among traffic flow parameters. In addition, the average arrival delays and the average departure delays decrease by 56.3% and 29.4%, respectively, and the total number of conflict resolution behavior also decreases remarkably. It is also found that the runway coordinate coefficient has an important influence on optimization results, and that a certain runway coordination coefficient value (2.5) can help minimize air traffic delays. These results indicate that the proposed guidance strategy helps to remarkably improve air traffic operation safety and efficiency in the terminal area.
Expected impact quantification–based reliability assessment methodology for Chilean copper smelting process: A case study
Authors: Kristjanpoller Fredy , Crespo Adolfo , Viveros Pablo , Barberá Luis
Published: October 2016

Currently, a lack of interpretation tools and methodologies hinders the ability to assess the performance of a single piece of equipment or a total system. Therefore, a reliability, availability, and maintainability analysis must be combined with a quantitative reliability impact analysis to interpret the actual performance and identify bottlenecks and improvement opportunities. This article proposes a novel methodology that uses reliability, availability, and maintainability analysis to quantify the expected impact. The strengths of the failure expected impact methodology include its ability to systematically and quantitatively assess the expected impact in terms of reliability, availability, and maintainability indicators and the logical configuration of subsystems and individual equipment, which show the direct effects of each element on the total system. This proposed analysis complements plant modeling and analysis. Determining the operational effectiveness impact, as the final result of the computation process, enables the quantitative and unequivocal prioritization of the system elements by assessing the associated loss as a “production loss” regarding its unavailability and effect on the system process. The Chilean copper smelting process study provides useful results for developing a hierarchization that enables an analysis of improvement actions that are aligned with the best opportunities.
Barriers and facilitators to epilepsy self-management for patients with physical and psychological co-morbidity
Authors: Perzynski Adam T , Ramsey Riane K , Colón-Zimmermann Kari , Cage Jamie , Welter Elisabeth , Sajatovic Martha
Published: October 2016

Objectives

This exploratory study identifies barriers and facilitators to self-management to inform future epilepsy self-management interventions for persons who have epilepsy complicated by co-morbid mental health conditions and serious medical events.

Methods

Focus group methods were used in a series of community advisory board meetings. Analysis was conducted using a thematic, constant comparative approach aiming to describe the range of barriers and facilitators salient to participants. There were a total of 22 participants, including 8 health professionals, 9 patients with epilepsy, and 5 care partners. Mean age was 49.1 (SD = 11.0, range 32–69), 11 (50%) were female, and 11 (50%) were male. For those with epilepsy, mean years having epilepsy was 24.7 (SD = 19.9, range 1–58 years).

Results

Individual psychological barriers (mental illness, fatigue, and psychological distress) prominently interfered with health behaviors. Community and family barriers included stigma, lack of epilepsy knowledge, and poor social support. Facilitators included planning for seizures, learning about medications, stress management, socializing with others, and talking with other epilepsy patients.

Discussion

Qualitative evidence in this study suggests a linkage between social integration and positive health behaviors. Future efforts to embed patients with epilepsy and their caregivers into clinical care processes could offset barriers and enhance facilitators.
A novel primary-specialist care collaborative demonstration project to improve the access and health care of medically complex patients
Authors: Siu Henry Yu-Hin , Steward Nicole , Peter Jessica , Cooke Laurel , Arnold Donald M , Price David
Published: October 2016

Objective

Medically complex patients experience fragmented health care compounded by long wait times. The MedREACH program was developed to improve access and overall system experience for medically complex patients.

Program description

MedREACH is a novel primary–tertiary care collaborative demonstration program that features community nursing outreach, community specialist outreach, and a multi-specialty consultation clinic.

Methods

All 179 patients, referring primary care clinicians, and specialists involved were eligible to participate. Patient and clinician feedback were elicited by feedback surveys. Process measures were evaluated by participant retrospective chart reviews. Community nursing outreach patients completed the Goal Attainment Scale.

Results

Forty-eight patients and 22 clinicians consented to the feedback survey. About 75% of patients were seen within 2 weeks of referral. Patients spent an average of 3, 1.63, and 1.2 visits with the nursing outreach, multi-specialty clinic, and specialist outreach, respectively. Patients indicated a better medical experience, health enablement, and goals attainment. Family physicians felt more supported in the community management of medically complex patients and, overall, physicians felt MedREACH could improve collaborative care for medically complex patients. Qualitative analysis of clinician responses identified the need for increased mental health services.

Discussion

MedREACH demonstrates a patient-centered link between primary and tertiary care that could improve health care access and overall experience.
Performance comparison between an improved and a classical Trombe wall: An experimental study
Authors: Dimassi Narjes , Dehmani Leila
Published: October 2016

In this article, the comparison of energy performance between a classical and an improved Trombe wall of a model test room has been carried out experimentally. The case study is conducted in Borj Cedria, Tunisia, where there is always heating requirements. Here, we propose an improved Trombe wall whose absorber wall is covered with a thin black copper panel backed rather than simply painted black wall. The proposed idea would offer improved thermal performance, especially in natural convection. The comparison shows that the improved Trombe wall design gives an increase for both conductive and convective flux. The results show that the improved Trombe wall works more effectively than the classical Trombe wall system in utilizing solar energy for the example of test room.
MicroRNA-30b regulates expression of the sodium channel Nav1.7 in nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain in the rat
Authors: Shao Jinping , Cao Jing , Wang Jiannan , Ren Xiuhua , Su Songxue , Li Ming , Li Zhihua , Zhao Qingzan , Zang Weidong
Published: October 2016

Voltage-gated sodium channels, which are involved in pain pathways, have emerged as major targets for therapeutic intervention in pain disorders. Nav1.7, the tetrodotoxin-sensitive voltage-gated sodium channel isoform encoded by SCN9A and predominantly expressed in pain-sensing neurons in the dorsal root ganglion, plays a crucial role in nociception. MicroRNAs are highly conserved, small non-coding RNAs. Through binding to the 3′ untranslated region of their target mRNAs, microRNAs induce the cleavage and/or inhibition of protein translation. Based on bioinformatics analysis using TargetScan software, we determined that miR-30b directly targets SCN9A. To investigate the roles of Nav1.7 and miR-30b in neuropathic pain, we examined changes in the expression of Nav1.7 in the dorsal root ganglion by miR-30b over-expression or knockdown in rats with spared nerve injury. Our results demonstrated that the expression of miR-30b and Nav1.7 was down-regulated and up-regulated, respectively, in the dorsal root ganglion of spared nerve injury rats. MiR-30b over-expression in spared nerve injury rats inhibited SCN9A transcription, resulting in pain relief. In addition, miR-30b knockdown significantly increased hypersensitivity to pain in naive rats. We also observed that miR-30b decreased Nav1.7 expression in PC12 cells. Taken together, our results suggest that miR-30b plays an important role in neuropathic pain by regulating Nav1.7 expression. Therefore, miR-30b may be a promising target for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain.
Multidisciplinary reliability design optimization using an enhanced saddlepoint approximation in the framework of sequential optimization and reliability analysis
Authors: Yuan Rong , Meng Debiao , Li Haiqing
Published: October 2016

For high reliability calculation efficiency and evaluation accuracy, saddlepoint approximation technology has been introduced into design and optimization under uncertainties. When using saddlepoint approximation, there are two prerequisites: all random information is tractable and saddlepoint equations are easy to be solved. However, the above requirements cannot always be met in complex multidisciplinary systems. Random variables sometimes are intractable, or saddlepoint equations are highly nonlinear. To tackle these problems, in this study, an efficient reliability-based multidisciplinary design optimization using the combination method of saddlepoint approximation and third-moment is given. A simplified alternative cumulant generating function can be constructed by saddlepoint approximation and third-moment with the first, second and third moments of a random variable effectively. Then, this cumulant generating function can be utilized to calculate the cumulative distribution function and the probability density function of this random variable approximately. Moreover, to obtain better efficiency, the framework of sequential optimization and reliability analysis is introduced in this study. The corresponding formula of the proposed reliability-based multidisciplinary design optimization is given in detail. Two test problems are solved to show the application of the proposed method.