bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of parents and children, participating in a school‐based feeding programme in disadvantaged areas in Greece: a qualitative study
Authors: Dalma A. , Kastorini C. M. , Zota D. , Veloudaki A. , Petralias A. , Yannakoulia M. , Linos A.
Published: January 2016

Aim

The aim of this work was to explore parents' and children's attitudes towards healthy eating and the free provision of a daily school meal in underprivileged areas of Greece.

Methods

Twenty focus groups were conducted in 14 schools. Eligible participants were children/adolescents and their parents, who were recipients of a food aid, healthy nutrition school‐based programme. Their perceptions towards healthy eating and related barriers, experience of a school feeding programme, other nutrition intervention initiatives were qualitatively evaluated.

Results

Most of the parents referred to the Mediterranean diet as a healthy dietary pattern. Nearly all parents were aware of their effect as role models and commented on the benefits of eating together as a family, as well as on the importance of improving their own dietary habits. Parents reported using various methods to promote a healthy diet, as part of their parenting role. They perceived their role as difficult, as they have to deal with children's resistance, financial constraints arising from the current economic crisis in Greece and busy work schedules. All students perceived the school feeding programme as health‐promoting, reflecting their parents' perceptions.

Conclusion

The present findings indicate that although the traditional Mediterranean diet was perceived by the majority of the adults as a health and traditional dietary pattern, parents reported several barriers related to its adoption. In particular, the most common barriers included financial difficulties, limited time for food preparation and children's resistance to consume healthy foods.
The ecological and evolutionary stability of interspecific territoriality
Authors: Losin Neil , Drury Jonathan P. , Peiman Kathryn S. , Storch Chaya , Grether Gregory F.
Published: January 2016

Interspecific territoriality may play an important role in structuring ecological communities, but the causes of this widespread form of interference competition remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the phenotypic, ecological and phylogenetic correlates of interspecific territoriality in wood warblers (Parulidae). Interspecifically territorial species have more recent common ancestors and are more similar phenotypically, and are more likely to hybridise, than sympatric, non‐interspecifically territorial species. After phylogenetic corrections, however, similarity in plumage and territorial song are the only significant predictors of interspecific territoriality besides syntopy (fine‐scale geographic overlap). Our results do not support the long‐standing hypothesis that interspecific territoriality occurs only under circumstances in which niche divergence is restricted, which combined with the high incidence of interspecific territoriality in wood warblers (39% of species), suggests that this interspecific interaction is more stable, ecologically and evolutionarily, than commonly assumed.
Invasive plants have different effects on trophic structure of green and brown food webs in terrestrial ecosystems: a meta‐analysis
Authors: McCary Matthew A. , Mores Robin , Farfan Monica A. , Wise David H.
Published: January 2016

Although invasive plants are a major source of terrestrial ecosystem degradation worldwide, it remains unclear which trophic levels above the base of the food web are most vulnerable to plant invasions. We performed a meta‐analysis of 38 independent studies from 32 papers to examine how invasive plants alter major groupings of primary and secondary consumers in three globally distributed ecosystems: wetlands, woodlands and grasslands. Within each ecosystem we examined if green (grazing) food webs are more sensitive to plant invasions compared to brown (detrital) food webs. Invasive plants have strong negative effects on primary consumers (detritivores, bacterivores, fungivores, and/or herbivores) in woodlands and wetlands, which become less abundant in both green and brown food webs in woodlands and green webs in wetlands. Plant invasions increased abundances of secondary consumers (predators and/or parasitoids) only in woodland brown food webs and green webs in wetlands. Effects of invasive plants on grazing and detrital food webs clearly differed between ecosystems. Overall, invasive plants had the most pronounced effects on the trophic structure of wetlands and woodlands, but caused no detectable changes to grassland trophic structure.
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy genetics: Molecular diagnostics and prevention
Authors: Goldman Alica M. , Behr Elijah R. , Semsarian Christopher , Bagnall Richard D. , Sisodiya Sanjay , Cooper Paul N.
Published: January 2016

Epidemiologic studies clearly document the public health burden of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Clinical and experimental studies have uncovered dynamic cardiorespiratory dysfunction, both interictally and at the time of sudden death due to epilepsy. Genetic analyses in humans and in model systems have facilitated our current molecular understanding of SUDEP. Many discoveries have been informed by progress in the field of sudden cardiac death and sudden infant death syndrome. It is becoming apparent that SUDEP genomic complexity parallels that of sudden cardiac death, and that there is a pauci1ty of analytically useful postmortem material. Because many challenges remain, future progress in SUDEP research, molecular diagnostics, and prevention rests in international, collaborative, and transdisciplinary dialogue in human and experimental translational research of sudden death.
After sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: Lessons learned and the road forward
Authors: Donner Elizabeth J. , Waddell Briony , Osland Karen , Leach John P. , Duncan Susan , Nashef Lina , Picot Marie Christine
Published: January 2016

The devastating effects of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) can be difficult to navigate, even for experienced clinicians. Mounting evidence supports full disclosure of the risks of epilepsy to those affected and their caregivers, and recommendations from regulatory and professional groups encourage the same. Following a death, families are faced with tragedy, guilt, and sometimes anger. Clinicians are often called upon to provide information and support. The development of a comprehensive approach to SUDEP education requires careful consideration of the people living with epilepsy, facts about SUDEP and known risk factors, as well as experiences of families and care providers. In this article, we share the experiences of those working in SUDEP education and epilepsy care, including the voluntary sector. We explore the experience of bereaved families and clinicians, derive lessons from published research, highlight areas where more research is needed, and report on preliminary data from a nationwide study from France.
From unwitnessed fatality to witnessed rescue: Pharmacologic intervention in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy
Authors: Richerson George B. , Boison Detlev , Faingold Carl L. , Ryvlin Philippe
Published: January 2016

The mechanisms of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) have been difficult to define, as most cases occur unwitnessed, and physiologic recordings have been obtained in only a handful of cases. However, recent data obtained from human cases and experimental studies in animal models have brought us closer to identifying potential mechanisms. Theories of SUDEP should be able to explain how a seizure starting in the forebrain can sometimes lead to changes in brainstem cardiorespiratory control mechanisms. Herein we focus on three major themes of work on the causes of SUDEP. First, evidence is reviewed identifying postictal hypoventilation as a major contributor to the cause of death. Second, data are discussed that brainstem serotonin and adenosine pathways may be involved, as well as how they may contribute. Finally, parallels are drawn between SIDS and SUDEP, and we highlight similarities pointing to the possibility of shared pathophysiology involving combined failure of respiratory and cardiovascular control mechanisms. Knowledge about the causes of SUDEP may lead to potential pharmacologic approaches for prevention. We end by describing how translation of this work may result in future applications to clinical care.
Asymmetric Volatility, Skewness, and Downside Risk in Different Asset Classes: Evidence from Futures Markets
Authors: Tse Yiuman
Published: January 2016

This study examines the cross‐sectional variation of futures returns from different asset classes. The monthly returns are positively correlated with downside risk and negatively correlated with coskewness. The asymmetric volatility effect generates negatively skewed returns. Assets with high coskewness and low downside betas provide hedges against market downside risk and offer low returns. The high returns offered by assets with low coskewness and high downside betas are a risk premium for bearing downside risk. The asset pricing model that incorporates downside risk partially explains the futures returns. The results indicate a unified risk perspective to jointly price different asset classes.
The Debt Trap: Wealth Transfers and Debt‐Equity Choices of Junk‐Grade Firms
Authors: Kadapakkam Palani‐Rajan , Meisami Alex , Wald John K.
Published: January 2016

If outstanding debt is risky, issuing equity transfers wealth from equity holders to debt holders. If existing leverage is high and bankruptcy costs are small, this wealth transfer effect outweighs the gains to stockholders from optimizing firm value. Empirically, we find that for investment‐grade firms, higher leverage implies a greater likelihood of issuing equity, as expected in a standard tradeoff model. However, consistent with the impact of wealth transfer effects, for junk‐grade firms, higher leverage implies a greater likelihood of issuing debt. The analysis implies an additional route through which historical shocks determine firms’ financing choices.
The Epstein–Zin Model with Liquidity Extension
Authors: Liu Weimin , Luo Di , Zhao Huainan
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we extend the Epstein–Zin model with liquidity risk and assess the extended model's performance against the traditional consumption pricing models. We show that liquidity is a significant risk factor, and it adds considerable explanatory power to the model. The liquidity‐extended model produces both a higher cross‐sectional R2 and a smaller Hansen and Jagannathan distance than the traditional consumption‐based capital‐asset pricing model and the original Epstein–Zin model. Overall, we show that liquidity is both a priced factor and a key contributor to the extended Epstein–Zin model's goodness‐of‐fit.
A Semi‐Structured MODFLOW‐USG Model to Evaluate Local Water Sources to Wells for Decision Support
Authors: Feinstein Daniel T. , Fienen Michael N. , Reeves Howard W. , Langevin Christian D.
Published: January 2016

In order to better represent the configuration of the stream network and simulate local groundwater‐surface water interactions, a version of MODFLOW with refined spacing in the topmost layer was applied to a Lake Michigan Basin (LMB) regional groundwater‐flow model developed by the U.S. Geological. Regional MODFLOW models commonly use coarse grids over large areas; this coarse spacing precludes model application to local management issues (e.g., surface‐water depletion by wells) without recourse to labor‐intensive inset models. Implementation of an unstructured formulation within the MODFLOW framework (MODFLOW‐USG) allows application of regional models to address local problems. A “semi‐structured” approach (uniform lateral spacing within layers, different lateral spacing among layers) was tested using the LMB regional model. The parent 20‐layer model with uniform 5000‐foot (1524‐m) lateral spacing was converted to 4 layers with 500‐foot (152‐m) spacing in the top glacial (Quaternary) layer, where surface water features are located, overlying coarser resolution layers representing deeper deposits. This semi‐structured version of the LMB model reproduces regional flow conditions, whereas the finer resolution in the top layer improves the accuracy of the simulated response of surface water to shallow wells. One application of the semi‐structured LMB model is to provide statistical measures of the correlation between modeled inputs and the simulated amount of water that wells derive from local surface water. The relations identified in this paper serve as the basis for metamodels to predict (with uncertainty) surface‐water depletion in response to shallow pumping within and potentially beyond the modeled area, see Fienen et al. (2015a).
Unusual primary syphilis: Presentation of a likely case with a review of the stages of acquired syphilis, its differential diagnoses, management, and current recommendations
Authors: Watts Paula J. , Greenberg Harry L. , Khachemoune Amor
Published: January 2016

Syphilis is an ancient disease that has re‐emerged in the last decade. It is prevalent among men who have sex with men and has increased in incidence with certain ethnic groups. It usually presents as primary or secondary syphilis and can progress to tertiary syphilis if not treated. Primary syphilis will classically manifest as a single, painless ulcer with smooth, clean, and raised borders on the genitals or less often on the oral mucosa. Unusual primary syphilis cases have been reported and can be easily misdiagnosed with a resulting delay of treatment. Secondary syphilis is a systemic disease, wherein the treponemes have disseminated to various organ systems, typically presenting with characteristic mucocutaneous lesions. Tertiary syphilis has a higher rate of morbidity and mortality; as such, the aim of this article is to provide the readers with tools to recognize early syphilis and prevent its progression to late stages. In this review, we present a likely case of unusual primary syphilis mimicking herpes progenitalis as well as a compilation of all atypical cases of primary syphilis from 1973 to 2015. We will also review the differential diagnosis, management, and recommendations for each stage of syphilis.
A matheuristic approach to solve the multiobjective beam angle optimization problem in intensity‐modulated radiation therapy
Authors: Cabrera G. Guillermo , Ehrgott Matthias , Mason Andrew J. , Raith Andrea
Published: January 2016

Selecting a suitable set of beam angles is an important but difficult task in intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for cancer treatment. From a single objective point of view, this problem, known as the beam angle optimization (BAO) problem, is solved by finding a beam angle configuration (BAC) that leads to the best dose distribution, according to some objective function. As there exists a trade‐off between the main goals in IMRT (to irradiate the tumor according to some prescription and to avoid surrounding healthy tissue), it makes sense to solve this problem from a multiobjective (MO) point of view. When doing so, a solution of the BAO problem is no longer a single BAC, but instead a set of BACs that lead to a set of dose distributions that, depending on both dose prescription and physician preferences, can be selected as the preferred treatment. We solve this MO problem using a two‐phase strategy. During the first phase, a deterministic local search algorithm is used for selecting a set of locally optimal BACs, according to a single‐objective function. During this search, an optimal dose distribution for each BAC, with respect to the single‐objective function, is calculated using an exact nonlinear programming algorithm. During the second phase, a set of nondominated points is generated for each promising locally optimal BAC and a dominance analysis among them is performed. The output of the procedure is a set of (approximately) efficient BACs that lead to good dose distributions. To demonstrate the viability of the method, the two‐phase strategy is applied to a prostate case.
Optimal partial discretization orders for discretizable distance geometry
Authors: Gonçalves Douglas S. , Mucherino Antonio
Published: January 2016

The distance geometry problem (DGP) studies whether a simple weighted undirected graph can be embedded in a given space so that the weights of the edges of G, when available, are the same as the distances between pairs of embedded vertices. The DGP can be discretized when some particular assumptions are satisfied, which are strongly dependent on the vertex ordering assigned to G. In this paper, we focus on the problem of identifying optimal partial discretization orders for the DGP. The solutions to this problem are in fact vertex orders that allow the discretization of the DGP. Moreover, these partial orders are optimal in the sense that they optimize, at each rank, a given set of objectives aimed to improve the structure of the search space after the discretization. This ordering problem is tackled from a theoretical point of view, and some practical experiences on sets of artificially generated instances, as well as on real‐life instances, are provided.
How can a retailer identify the dominant strategy in a newsvendor situation with a supplier take‐it‐or‐leave‐it offer?
Authors: Won Youkyung
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we investigate how a retailer facing the newsvendor situation with a supplier take‐it‐or‐leave‐it offer can identify the dominant strategy. In our newsvendor setting, (a) the supplier, as the dominant player, imposes a take‐it‐or‐leave‐it offer with quantity discounts; (b) the retailer, as the dominated player who also has her own discount scheme for customers to promote sales, should then determine whether she accepts the supplier's offer; and (c) neither player has complete information about the probability distribution of demand. By examining only the price schedules of both players, we establish the conditions under which the retailer can safely accept the take‐it‐or‐leave‐it offer such that the strategy to abandon her own discount policy in favor of the quantity discounts offered by the supplier dominates the strategy to continue her own discount policy without the quantity discounts offered by the supplier.
Dying Care Interventions in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Kisvetrová Helena , Školoudík David , Joanovič Eva , Konečná Jana , Mikšová Zdeňka
Published: January 2016

Purpose

Providing high‐quality end‐of‐life care is a challenging area in intensive care practice. The aim of the current study was to assess the practice of registered nurses (RNs) with respect to dying care and spiritual support interventions in intensive care units (ICUs) in the Czech Republic (CR) and find correlations between particular factors or conditions and the frequency of NIC interventions usage.

Design and Methods

A cross‐sectional, descriptive study was designed. A questionnaire with Likert scales included the particular activities of dying care and spiritual support interventions and an evaluation of the factors influencing the implementation of the interventions in the ICU. The group of respondents consisted of 277 RNs working in 29 ICUs in four CR regions. The Mann–Whitney U test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for statistical evaluation.

Findings

The most and least frequently reported RN activities were “treat individuals with dignity and respect” and “facilitate discussion of funeral arrangements,” respectively. The frequencies of the activities in the biological, social, psychological, and spiritual dimensions were negatively correlated with the frequency of providing care to dying patients. A larger number of activities were related to longer lengths of stay in the ICU, higher staffing, more positive opinions of the RNs regarding the importance of education in a palliative care setting, and attending a palliative care education course.

Conclusions

The psychosocial and spiritual activities in the care of dying patients are used infrequently by RNs in CR ICUs. The factors limiting the implementation of palliative care interventions and strategies improving implementation warrant further study.

Clinical Relevance

Assessment of nursing activities implemented in the care of dying patients in the ICU may help identify issues specific to nursing practice.
LEADERS, FOLLOWERS, AND ASYMMETRIC LOCAL TAX POLICY DIFFUSION
Authors: Burge Gregory S. , Rogers Cynthia L.
Published: January 2016

Complementing recent theoretical models of tax competition with endogenous leadership, we empirically model local policy diffusion as a dynamic asymmetric process. Using a setting where local option sales taxes rapidly transitioned from nonexistence to ubiquity, we construct a policy leadership index to classify jurisdictions as leaders or followers. Using models that control for vertical tax competition effects, we show how asymmetric leader–follower dynamics characterize horizontal tax competition over the three decades that follow. A placebo test further supports our main conclusions. This methodological approach could be adapted to other settings where policies exhibit both extensive and intensive margins.
First finding of impact melt in the IIE Netschaëvo meteorite
Authors: van Roosbroek N. , Pittarello L. , Greshake A. , Debaille V. , Claeys P.
Published: January 2016

About half of the IIE nonmagmatic iron meteorites contain silicate inclusions with a primitive to differentiated nature. The presence of preserved chondrules has been reported for two IIE meteorites so far, Netschaëvo and Mont Dieu, which represent the most primitive silicate material within this group. In this study, silicate inclusions from two samples of Netschaëvo were examined. Both silicate inclusions are characterized by a porphyritic texture dominated by clusters of coarse‐grained olivine and pyroxene, set in a fine‐grained groundmass that consists of new crystals of olivine and a glassy appearing matrix. This texture does not correspond to the description of the previously examined pieces of Netschaëvo, which consist of primitive chondrule‐bearing angular clasts. Detailed petrographic observations and geochemical analyses suggest that the investigated samples of Netschaëvo consist of quenched impact melt. This implies that Netschaëvo is a breccia containing metamorphosed and impact‐melt rock (IMR) clasts and that collisions played a major role in the formation of the IIE group.
A Modified Iterative Closest Point Algorithm for 3D Point Cloud Registration
Authors: Marani Roberto , Renò Vito , Nitti Massimiliano , D'Orazio Tiziana , Stella Ettore
Published: January 2016

In this article, an accurate method for the registration of point clouds returned by a 3D rangefinder is presented. The method modifies the well‐known iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm by introducing the concept of deletion mask. This term is defined starting from virtual scans of the reconstructed surfaces and using inconsistencies between measurements. In this way, spatial regions of implicit ambiguities, due to edge effects or systematical errors of the rangefinder, are automatically found. Several experiments are performed to compare the proposed method with three ICP variants. Results prove the capability of deletion masks to aid the point cloud registration, lowering the errors of the other ICP variants, regardless the presence of artifacts caused by small changes of the sensor view‐point and changes of the environment.
Rituximab for recurrent IgA nephropathy in kidney transplantation: A report of three cases and proposed mechanisms
Authors: Chancharoenthana Wiwat , Townamchai Natavudh , Leelahavanichkul Asada , Wattanatorn Salin , Kanjanabuch Talerngsak , Avihingsanon Yingyos , Praditpornsilpa Kearkiat , Eiam‐Ong Somchai
Published: January 2016

Aim

Recurrent IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a common recurrent glomerular disease after kidney transplantation. Recurrent IgAN, in particular, with crescent formation or endocapillary proliferation might result in kidney allograft loss. However, the current treatment options of recurrent IgAN are conflicting.

Methods

We have reported three kidney‐transplanted recipients with biopsy‐proven recurrent IgAN treated with four consecutive months of rituximab at the dose of 375 mg/1.73m2 without corticosteroids.

Results

At median follow‐up 20 months following rituximab administration, all three recipients demonstrated decrease in proteinuria severity, slow disease progression with a well‐tolerated condition. This therapeutic effect is most probably mediated by the B cell depletion.

Conclusion

Our three case reports suggest that the disease severity of recurrent IgAN with endocapillary proliferation regardless of crescent formation can be minimized by the four doses of monthly rituximab regimen.
Drought and flooding have distinct effects on herbivore‐induced responses and resistance inSolanum dulcamara
Authors: Nguyen Duy , D'Agostino Nunzio , Tytgat Tom O. G. , Sun Pulu , Lortzing Tobias , Visser Eric J. W. , Cristescu Simona M. , Steppuhn Anke , Mariani Celestina , van Dam Nicole M. , Rieu Ivo
Published: January 2016

In the field, biotic and abiotic stresses frequently co‐occur. As a consequence, common molecular signalling pathways governing adaptive responses to individual stresses can interact, resulting in compromised phenotypes. How plant signalling pathways interact under combined stresses is poorly understood. To assess this, we studied the consequence of drought and soil flooding on resistance ofSolanum dulcamaratoSpodoptera exiguaand their effects on hormonal and transcriptomic profiles. The results showed thatS. exigualarvae performed less well on drought‐stressed plants than on well‐watered and flooded plants. Both drought and insect feeding increased abscisic acid and jasmonic acid (JA) levels, whereas flooding did not induce JA accumulation. RNA sequencing analyses corroborated this pattern: drought and herbivory induced many biological processes that were repressed by flooding. When applied in combination, drought and herbivory had an additive effect on specific processes involved in secondary metabolism and defence responses, including protease inhibitor activity. In conclusion, drought and flooding have distinct effects on herbivore‐induced responses and resistance. Especially, the interaction between abscisic acid and JA signalling may be important to optimize plant responses to combined drought and insect herbivory, making drought‐stressed plants more resistant to insects than well‐watered and flooded plants.
Childhood Pemphigus Foliaceus with Exclusive Immunoglobulin G Autoantibodies to Desmocollins
Authors: Geller Shamir , Gat Andrea , Harel Avikam , Mashiah Jacob , Zeeli Tal , Eming Rüdiger , Ishii Norito , Hertl Michael , Hashimoto Takashi , Sprecher Eli
Published: January 2016

Pemphigus refers to a group of potentially fatal blistering skin diseases that are often due to the deleterious effects of autoantibodies directed against desmosomal antigens. Although desmogleins have been mainly implicated as autoantigens in pemphigus, a steadily growing body of evidence suggests that other desmosomal proteins may be causally involved as well. Antibodies directed against desmocollin‐3 have been shown to play a direct role in the pathogenesis of several types of pemphigus. Here we describe the case of a child with localized pemphigus foliaceus and immunoglobulin G (IgG) reactivity exclusively directed to desmocollins. The present report suggests that autoantibodies against nondesmoglein antigens may play a role in the pathogenesis of superficial pemphigus, in addition to pemphigus vulgaris, paraneoplastic pemphigus, and IgA pemphigus.
Rhabdomyomatous Mesenchymal Hamartoma: A Deep Subcutaneous Lesion in the Sternoclavicular Area
Authors: Orozco‐Covarrubias Luz , Carrasco‐Daza Daniel , Diaz‐Noriega Ana , Lara‐Mendoza Leticia , Ruiz‐Maldonado Ramon
Published: January 2016

Cutaneous rhabdomyomatous mesenchymal hamartoma (RMH) is a rare benign tumor composed of two or more types of mesenchymal‐derived cells. RMHs are generally sporadic and independent, but they can be associated with congenital abnormalities. We report a subcutaneous case of RMH in the sternoclavicular area with two recurrences after complete surgical excision. The course is variable and can range from spontaneous resolution to repeated recurrences.
That “Every Man for Himself” Thing: The Rationales of Individualism Among the Urban Poor
Authors: Bryerton Will
Published: January 2016

Individualism is a frequently referenced but seldom inspected topic within urban poverty literature. Residents of low‐income communities may internalize their social immobility by perceiving status to be determined by choices, behaviors, and psychological or moral shortcomings, but scholars generally depict such individualistic outlooks as only a byproduct of more predominant community dysfunctions. As a result, individualism—an ambiguous and confounding concept at all social strata—can assume an especially disapproving tenor when applied to the urban poor, often connoting qualities of defensiveness, ignorance, and quixotic hope. In this article, I draw from ethnographic fieldwork in Houston's Fifth Ward community to explore individualism's meanings and utility within a context of compromised prospects for positive self‐determination. I explain how defensiveness against vulnerability, violence, and volatile relationships is just one rationale for individualism that is exercised alongside other, still structurally framed rationales (i.e., expressive and meritocratic) on the viability of social mobility.
Self‐Regulation and Power: How Self‐Regulatory Failures Can Enhance Social Power
Authors: McIntyre Jason C. , von Hippel William , Barlow Fiona Kate
Published: January 2016

Low self‐control is often associated with poor life outcomes. Here, we propose that self‐control failures may also provide social benefits by signaling and maintaining power. We identify several pathways by which reduced self‐control can assist in ascending social hierarchies. First, the self‐enhancing tendencies adopted by people with low self‐control may contribute to making positive first impressions and advertising power to new acquaintances. The direct and disinhibited communication styles that stem from self‐control failures may also enhance power and lubricate difficult social interactions. Disinhibited aggression can help people maintain and acquire material resources and establish dominance over rivals. Finally, the parallels between the behavior of people with low self‐control and people with power (e.g., self‐enhancement, disinhibition, approach‐orientation, aggression) suggest that people with impaired self‐control will be perceived as more powerful than people with intact self‐control. Evidence for these propositions and directions for future research are discussed.
Exploring the Toolkit of Emotion: What Do Sadness and Anger Do for Us?
Authors: Lench Heather C. , Tibbett Thomas P. , Bench Shane W.
Published: January 2016

What do negative emotions do for people? We present a framework that defines the function of emotions as the degree to which discrete emotions result in better outcomes in particular types of situations. Focusing on sadness and anger, we review evidence related to the situations that elicit these emotions; the cognitive, physiological, and behavioral changes associated with the emotions; and the extent to which these changes result in demonstrably better outcomes in the type of situation that elicits the emotion. Sadness is elicited by perceived goal loss without possibility of restoration given current abilities and is associated with deliberative reasoning, reduced physiological activity, and behavioral expression. There is preliminary evidence suggesting that sadness can permit coping with loss, and that expression of sadness can recruit others to assist in goal attainment. Anger is elicited by perceived goal loss that can be prevented if an obstacle is overcome and is associated with heuristic reasoning, increased physiological activity, and behavioral expression. There is evidence that expression of anger prompts others to remove themselves as obstacles, and preliminary evidence that anger can promote overcoming obstacles and goal attainment. Like precision tools, specific emotions are best utilized to resolve particular problems.
Toward the Desegregation of Thought and Affect in Psychological Theorizing
Authors: Falmagne Rachel Joffe
Published: January 2016

This article interrogates the historical segregation of thought and affect in psychological theorizing. I note how, across a range of theoretical approaches to the study of thinking, the relations between thought and affect have been either negated or ignored or underemphasized. In the context of the recent ‘turn to affect’ in the social sciences, which has been seen as offering a new paradigm for conceptualizing social and psychological phenomena, this elision is all the more striking, and a selective overview of current writings illustrative of this literature is presented. Yet, reciprocally, it is noteworthy that the ‘turn to affect’ literature has not addressed the relation between affect and thought, and hence that it contributes to the theoretical segregation that I argue is problematic. I then discuss some recent proposals within psychology that, in each of their specific ways, dissolve the theoretical dualism between thinking and affect, and offer an integrative reformulation that synthesizes the affective, intellectual, and psychosocial constituents of thought, as well as some works outside of psychology that can be viewed as illustrating the fusion of thought and affect. I argue for an approach that recognizes the biographical intertwining of the affective and intellectual life of the epistemic agent and the way in which both are shaped by processes of social constitution and by transgenerational influences.
An Animal Just Like Me: The Importance of Preserving the Identities of Companion‐Animal Owners in Disaster Contexts
Authors: Trigg Joshua , Thompson Kirrilly , Smith Bradley , Bennett Pauleen
Published: January 2016

The widespread tendency of modern‐day pet owners to self‐identify with their companion animals psychologically, symbolically and relationally demonstrates how the constructed identities of animal and owner are strongly linked. This becomes particularly apparent during natural disasters. In this review, the new concept of the pet‐owning self is discussed in relation to three self‐psychology perspectives: self‐extension, symbolic interactionism and selfobject relations. We purposefully depart from the realm of attachment theory to argue that these three epistemological approaches to self‐identity, although related, warrant closer examination. Although we discuss them in relation to disaster contexts, the concept of the pet‐owning self remains widely applicable. We argue for the importance of acknowledging the powerful intersubjectivity inherent to pet keeping, the inseparability of perceived pet identity from owners' experiences of the self and that preserving the cohesion of the two is an essential consideration for owners' psychological wellbeing when managing the integrated pet/owner in the face of risks posed by disaster and other hazards. Future research opportunities and implications are then discussed in the context of social identity theory.
Molecular detection of Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in ticks collected from infested livestock populations in a New Endemic Area, South of Iran
Authors: Farhadpour F. , Telmadarraiy Z. , Chinikar S. , Akbarzadeh K. , Moemenbellah‐Fard M. D. , Faghihi F. , Fakoorziba M. R. , Jalali T. , Mostafavi E. , Shahhosseini N. , Mohammadian M.
Published: January 2016

Objective

Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral zoonotic disease with potentially fatal systemic effects on man. We aimed to determine the presence of CCHF virus among collected ticks from domestic livestock from October 2012 to September 2013.

Methods

A total of 1245 hard and soft ticks were collected from naturally infested ruminants in Marvdasht County, Fars Province, south of Iran. Nine tick species and one unidentified species in four disparate genera were detected. A total of 200 ticks were randomly selected and analysed by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) for the presence of CCHF virus genome.

Results

The viral genome was detected in 4.5% (9 samples) of the studied tick population. The infected ticks belonged to the species of Hyalomma marginatum‚ Hyalomma anatolicum and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The viruses detected in these three tick species were clustered in the same lineage as Matin and SR3 strains in Pakistan and some other Iranian strains. These results indicate that the ticks were wildly infected with a genetically closely related CCHF virus in the region.

Conclusion

Regular controls and monitoring of livestock to reduce the dispersion of ticks and providing information to those involved in high‐risk occupations are urgently required.
A Continuous Robust Antiswing Tracking Control Scheme for Underactuated Crane Systems With Experimental Verification
Authors: Sun Ning , Fang Yongchun , Chen He
Published: January 2016

Disturbances and uncertainties are unfavorable elements that always accompany industrial mechatronic systems including cranes. If not fully considered or properly dealt with, they would badly influence the control system performance and degrade the working efficiency. Though traditional sliding mode control (SMC) methods are powerful to address these issues, they are discontinuous and might bring potential damages to the actuating devices. In addition, most existing methods cannot involve such practical constraints as permitted swing amplitudes, maximum velocity, etc. To resolve these problems, we suggest a novel composite antiswing crane control scheme, which involves time-suboptimal analytical trajectory planning and continuous robust tracking control. More precisely, a new analytical suboptimal trajectory planning algorithm is presented, which can generate analytical swing-free smooth trajectories guaranteeing practical constraints. Then, we design a new nonlinear control law to make the crane follow the planned trajectories with continuous control efforts, ensuring stable asymptotic tracking in the presence of perturbations/uncertainties. As far as we know, this is the first crane control scheme that simultaneously achieves state-constrained time-suboptimal trajectory planning and robust control with continuous control efforts. We implement experiments to examine its practical control performance and robustness as well.
Design Optimization of Solenoid Actuated Butterfly Valves Dynamically Coupled in Series
Authors: Naseradinmousavi Peiman , Nataraj C.
Published: January 2016

In this effort, we present novel nonlinear modeling of two solenoid actuated butterfly valves operating in series and then develop an optimal configuration in the presence of highly coupled nonlinear dynamics. The valves are used in the so-called “Smart Systems” to be employed in a wide range of applications including bioengineering, medicine, and engineering fields. Typically, tens of the actuated valves are instantaneously operating to regulate the amount of flow and also to avoid probable catastrophic disasters which have been observed in the practice. We focus on minimizing the amount of energy used in the system as one of the most critical design criteria to yield an efficient operation. We optimize the actuation subsystems interacting with the highly nonlinear flow loads in order to minimize a lumped amount of energy consumed. The contribution of this work is to include coupled nonlinearities of electromechanical valve systems to optimize the actuation units. Stochastic, heuristic, and gradient based algorithms are utilized in seeking the optimal design of two sets. The results indicate that substantial amount of energy can be saved by an intelligent design that helps select parameters carefully but also uses flow torques to augment the closing efforts.
Dynamic Characteristics and Stability Analysis of Two-Dimensional (2D) Electro-Hydraulic Proportional Directional Valve
Authors: Li S. , Ruan J. , Meng B. , Jia W. A. , Xie H. Y.
Published: January 2016

A 2D electrohydraulic proportional directional valve is proposed, which integrates both direct and pilot operation of the valve. In this valve, the output magnetic force of the proportional solenoid is converted to rotate the spool through a thrust-torsion coupling and thus the pressure in the valve sensitive chamber is varied. The varied pressure exerted on the areas of the spool end produces a hydrostatic force to move the spool linearly, which will rotate the spool reversely. Theoretical analysis is carried to the proposed valve and the effects of the key geometric parameters on the dynamic characteristics of the 2D valve and stability are investigated. Experiments are also designed to access to the characteristics of the valve working under direct and pilot operation. The 2D electrohydraulic valve can work properly for both direct operation and pilot operation. The hysteresis and frequency response are measured and the results are within the acceptable range in practical engineering application required of the directional proportional valve.
Validation of Fingertip Force in the ACT Hand Index Finger and Bond Graph Tendon Model
Authors: King Raymond J. , Niehues Taylor D. , Rao Prashant , Deshpande Ashish D. , Mascaro Stephen A.
Published: January 2016

The Anatomically Correct Testbed (ACT) Hand was designed to allow researchers to explore the properties of the human hand without the need for cadaver specimens. Previous experiments to validate the anatomical accuracy of the ACT Hand have been performed to comparing the moment arms, the mechanical advantage of the tendons on each joint, to cadaver studies. Here, an experiment involving the individual tendon loading of the ACT index finger was performed as additional anatomical validation of the ACT Hand. These experiments were used to compare the ACT index finger to an index finger cadaver study and validate a bond graph model of the index finger tendon system. The results showed agreement (less than two standard deviations) between the fingertip forces of the ACT index finger and cadaver studies. The results also showed agreement (less than one standard deviation) between the fingertip forces of the ACT index finger and the presented bond graph tendon model.
Dynamic Model of Launching Process for Novel Gas Gun and its Validation
Authors: Feng Li , Yunshan Bai , Yongqing Zhu
Published: January 2016

Launching process of gas gun involves valve opening, gas flowing, and bullet moving, etc, which is complex and difficult to describe clearly, and establishing an accurate dynamic model of the process is meaningful to gas gun design and analysis. The dynamic model of launching process for a novel gas gun is originally posted in this paper, which is described with a series of equations according to mass conservation equations, gas equation of state, Newton’s second law, relationship of movement and space. And the key parameters such as muzzle velocity, gas pressure, and time taken to open valve are calculated based on the dynamic model above-mentioned. Then, the bullet launching experiment was designed and implemented, and muzzle velocity of the bullet was measured. The deviation of the muzzle velocity calculated based on the dynamic model and the velocity measured in the experiment is less than 3 percents, which shows that the dynamic model established could describe the launching process of the gas gun accurately.
Compensating Flexibility in Servo Systems Using Iterative Learning Control
Authors: Wang Cong , Wang Zining , Peng Cheng , Zhao Yu , Tomizuka Masayoshi
Published: January 2016

Industrial servo systems usually have high gear ratio reducers, which introduce flexibility and transmission errors. The consequential vibrations and compliance bring difficulties to many demanding applications. For applications in which the servos move repetitively, iterative learning control (ILC) is a powerful tool to improve performance. An intuitive implementation of ILC for flexibility compensation involves combining a torque ILC with a motor reference ILC. This paper explains why such a direct combination does not work well. A systematic synthesis method is introduced to address the coupling between torque learning and reference learning. In addition, a robust control method is proposed to address system uncertainties. The proposed method is demonstrated using a servo control example.
A Non-Conservative Approach for the Estimation of the Region of Operation of Uncertain Adaptive Control Systems
Authors: Fravolini Mario Luca , Yucelen Tansel , Moschitta Antonio , Gruenwald Benjamin
Published: January 2016

A challenging problem for Model Reference Adaptive Control Systems is the accurate characterization of the transient response in the presence of large uncertainties. Early prior research by the authors has demonstrated that using a projection mechanism for parameters adaptation the tracking error dynamics behaves as a linear system perturbed by bounded uncertainties. This brings the benefit that the stability analysis can be cast in terms of a convex optimization problem with LMI constraints so that efficient numerical tools can be used for the adaptive controller design. A possible limitation of the approach is that the design is restricted to quadratic control Lyapunov functions that could produce a conservative estimation of the regions of operation for the actual uncertain adaptive system. In this paper this approach is extended to arbitrary high degree polynomial Lyapunov functions by translating the design and performance requirements in terms of Sum of Square (SOS) inequalities and then using SOS optimization tools for the design. In this effort the new SOS approach is introduced and compared with the previous one. A numerical example based on the short period longitudinal dynamics of the F16 aircraft is used to demonstrate the efficacy of the novel method.
Modeling of Flexible Structures by Means of Least Square Support Vector Machine
Authors: Tamimi Hammam , Söffker Dirk
Published: January 2016

This paper investigates modeling of flexible structures by means of the least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) algorithm. Modeling is the first step to obtain a suitable model-based controller for any given system. Accurate modeling of a flexible structure based on experimental data using LS-SVM algorithm requires less knowledge about the physical system. Least squares support vector machine algorithm can achieve global and unique solution when compared with other soft computing algorithms. Also, LS-SVM algorithm requires less training time. In this paper, the successful use of support vector machine algorithm to model the flexible cantilever is demonstrated. The acquired model is able to provide accurate prediction of the system output under different operating conditions. Experimental results demonstrate the efficiency and high precision of the proposed approach.
Extended State Observer Based Controller Design for the Green Bank Telescope Servo System
Authors: Ranka Trupti , Garcia-Sanz Mario , Ford John M.
Published: January 2016

The Green Bank Telescope is a large flexible structure, requiring rms tracking error ≤ 3 arcseconds against internal and external disturbances. We design an extended state observer (ESO) based controller in various configurations to improve tracking performance and increase disturbance rejection. The controllers are simulated with an experimentally validated model of the GBT. Through the simulations, the response of ESO based controllers and legacy PID controller are compared using time and frequency domain responses. We show that the ESO based controller when implemented in both position and velocity loop can give significant improvement in tracking performance and better disturbance rejection without increase in controller output.