bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptive fuzzy sliding mode control for redundant manipulators with varying payload
Authors: He Jun , Luo Minzhou , Zhang Xinglong , Ceccarelli Marco , Fang Jian , Zhao Jianghai
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to present an adaptive fuzzy sliding mode controller with nonlinear observer (AFSMCO) for the redundant robotic manipulator handling a varying payload to achieve a precise trajectory tracking in the task space. This approach could be applied to solve the problems caused by the dynamic effect of the varying payload to robotic system caused by model uncertainties.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a suitable observer using the recursive algorithm is presented for an accurate estimation of external disturbances caused by a variable payload. Second, the adaptive fuzzy logic is designed to approximate the parameters of the sliding mode controller combined with nonlinear observer (SMCO) to avoid chattering in real time. Moreover, Lyapunov theory is applied to guarantee the stability of the proposed closed-loop robotic system. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control approach and theoretical discussion are proved by simulation results on a seven-link robot and demonstrated by a humanoid robot platform.

Findings

The varying payload leads to large variations in the dynamics of the manipulator and the tracking error. To achieve high-precision position tracking, nonlinear observer was introduced to feed into the sliding mode control (SMC) which had improved the ability to resist the external disturbance. In addition, the chattering caused by the SMC was eliminated by recursively approximating the switching gain with the usage of adaptive fuzzy logic. Therefore, a distributed control strategy solves the problems of an SMC implementation in improving its tracking performance and eliminating the chattering of the system control.

Originality/value

The AFSMCO is proposed for the first time and used to control the redundant robotic manipulator that handles the varying payload. The proposed control algorithm possesses better robustness and higher precision for the trajectory tracking than classical SMC.
Performance improvement of visual-inertial navigation system by using polarized light compass
Authors: Kong Xianglong , Wu Wenqi , Zhang Lilian , He Xiaofeng , Wang Yujie
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to present a method for improving the performance of the visual-inertial navigation system (VINS) by using a bio-inspired polarized light compass.

Design/methodology/approach

The measurement model of each sensor module is derived, and a robust stochastic cloning extended Kalman filter (RSC-EKF) is implemented for data fusion. This fusion framework can not only handle multiple relative and absolute measurements, but can also deal with outliers, sensor outages of each measurement module.

Findings

The paper tests the approach on data sets acquired by a land vehicle moving in different environments and compares its performance against other methods. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for reducing the error growth of the VINS in the long run.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper lies in the design/implementation of the RSC-EKF for incorporating the homemade polarized light compass into visual-inertial navigation pipeline. The real-world tests in different environments demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed approach.
Space curved fillet weld joints tracking by robots based on rotational arc sensors in gas metal arc welding
Authors: Le Jian , Zhang Hua , Li Jin-wen
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This study aims to improve the welding quality and efficiency, and an algorithm should be designed to realize tracking space-curved fillet weld joints.

Design/methodology/approach

Fillet weld joints tracking based on the two wheels and the horizontal slider coordinated movement has been studied. The method of pattern recognition is used to identify the height deviation, and the analysis of the accuracy corresponding to recognizing height deviations has been researched. The proportional control algorithm is used to control the vertical and horizontal sliders movement, so fillet weld joints tracking in the height direction has been achieved. Based on wheels and vertical and horizontal sliders coordinated movement, the algorithm of space-curved fillet weld joints tracking has been researched.

Findings

Some experiments have been done, and experimental results show that the welding robot can track space-curved fillet weld joints with high accuracy and good reliability.

Research limitations/implications

The welding robot can improve the welding quality and efficiency.

Practical implications

The welding robot can track fillet weld joints in ship panels, and it was shown that the welding robot could track space-curved fillet weld joints with high accuracy and good reliability.

Social implications

The welding robot has many industrial and social applications.

Originality/value

There are various forms of fillet weld joints in the industry, and the fillet weld is curved in the space. Experimental results show that the welding robot can track space-curved fillet weld joints with good stability and high precision.
Seeker optimization algorithm for optimal control of manipulator
Authors: Chen Chunchao , Li Jinsong , Luo Jun , Xie Shaorong , Li Hengyu
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to improve the adaptability and control performance of the controller, a proposed seeker optimization algorithm (SOA) is introduced to optimize the controller parameters of a robot manipulator.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a traditional proportional integral derivative (PID) controller and a fuzzy logic controller are integrated to form a fuzzy PID (FPID) controller. The SOA, as a novel algorithm, is used for optimizing the controller parameters offline. There is a performance comparison in terms of FPID optimization about the SOA, the genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO) and ant colony optimization (ACO). The DC motor model and the experimental platform are used to test the performance of the optimized controller.

Findings

Compared with GA, PSO and ACO, this novel optimization algorithm can enhance the control accuracy of the system. The optimized parameters ensure a system with faster response speed and better robustness.

Originality/value

A simplified FPID controller structure is constructed and a novel SOA method for FPID controller is presented. In this paper, the SOA is applied on the controller of 5-DOF manipulator, and the validation of controllers is tested by experiments.
New public management and budgeting practices in Tanzanian Central Government
Authors: Goddard Andrew , Mkasiwa Tausi Ally
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the budgeting practices in the Tanzanian Central Government. New budgeting reforms were introduced following exhortations from the bodies such as the UN, the World Bank and the IMF and reflect the new public management (NPM).

Design/methodology/approach

A grounded theory methodology was used. This methodology is inductive, allowing phenomena to emerge from the participants rather than from prior theory. This ensures both relevance and depth of understanding.

Findings

The principal research findings from the data concern the central phenomenon of “struggling for conformance”. Tanzanian Central Government adopted innovations in order to ensure donor funding by demonstrating its ability to implement imposed budgetary changes. Organizational actors were committed to these reforms through necessity and struggled to implement them, rather than more overtly resisting them.

Research limitations/implications

The research is subject to the usual limitations of case study, inductive research.

Practical implications

This research has several implications for policy-makers of NPM and budgetary reforms. These include the recognition that the establishment of the rules and regulations alone is not adequate for the successful implementation of budgetary and NPM reforms and should involve a comprehensive view of the nature of the internal and external environment.

Originality/value

There are few empirical papers of NPM accounting practices being implemented in the public sector of developing countries and none at all based in Tanzania. The paper identifies the existence of struggling to conform to reforms rather than resistance identified in prior research.
Political costs and earnings management: evidence from Tunisia
Authors: Ben Rejeb Attia Mouna , Lassoued Naima , Attia Anis
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the political costs hypothesis in emerging economies characterized by interventionist governments and weak protection of property rights. The paper uses executives’ political connection and state control to measure firms’ political costs.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a sample of Tunisian firms, univariate and multivariate analyses are used to test whether firms’ political costs have any impact on earnings management.

Findings

The empirical analysis indicates that the executives’ political connection is not directly related to earnings management. However, the interaction between executives’ political connection and the state control affects the firm’s sensitivity to political pressure and its earnings management practices. More specifically, this study provides evidence that non-connected firms and state-controlled firms attempt to use accounting policies to decrease their earnings especially during periods of the former government when they had to face high political costs. This finding is robust to comparing means of political cost indicators between different groups. Indeed, private firms with political connection enjoy a significantly lower insurance right, tax and donations and grants compared to other firms.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides empirical evidence for the specific application of accounting theory in emerging economies.

Practical implications

Political influence may be an important criterion that will be used by auditors and investors to appreciate and detect specific manipulations of accounting earnings. Similarly, regulators should be aware of the political factors effect on discretionary behavior of managers to provide appropriate rules and standards.

Originality/value

The study is a pioneer in proving that a firm’s size is not always a suitable measure of its political cost. It extends the accounting literature on the role of political economy in the application of the political costs hypothesis. This hypothesis is confirmed in emerging economies by providing new and significantly measure of firms’ political costs
The role of monitoring mechanisms towards company’s performance
Authors: Jaffar Romlah , Abdul-Shukor Zaleha
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Past studies show that companies’ connection with the government (or politically connected companies (PCCs)) contributed negatively to their financial performance. The grabbing hand theory suggests that political connection demand companies to serve political and social obligation that exhaust companies’ financial resources. The purpose of this paper is to extend the previous studies by examining the role of monitoring mechanisms, specifically corporate governance mechanism and institutional ownership (IO), whether they weaken or strengthen the financial performance of PCCs in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consists of all companies listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia (previously known as Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange) for the year of 2004-2007. The time periods were chosen because there were no significant economic and political events that could possibly distorted the financial and non-financial data.

Findings

The findings show that companies’ political connection (the presence of political figure or government representative as members of board of director) has consistently showing negative relationship with performance. The result is consistent with the grabbing hand theory that argues that companies’ connection with government would actually destroy companies’ value. The monitoring role of corporate governance as measured by the percentage of independent board members does not have any significant effect on firm’s performance. The monitoring role of corporate governance as measured by the composition of independent board members have shown a positive significant effect on the company’s performance. However the second monitoring mechanism, the percentage of institutional investors, have a tendency to weaken the company’s performance.

Originality/value

The findings of this study provide an additional understanding of the consequence of government intervention on companies’ performance. This study also highlights the role of monitoring mechanism (independence board members and IO) in strengthening or weakening the performance. The findings suggest that the proper appointment criteria for board members should be seriously considered to ensure better corporate governance structure. Therefore, the formation of the nomination committee as suggested by the current Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance play an important contribution to ensure candidates nominated as board members have proper credentials and qualifications to carry out responsibilities as board members.
Suicide ideation amongst people referred for mental health assessment in police custody
Authors: Forrester Andrew , Samele Chiara , Slade Karen , Craig Tom , Valmaggia Lucia
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the prevalence of suicide ideation amongst a group of people who had been arrested and taken into police custody, and were then referred to a mental health service operating in the police stations.

Design/methodology/approach

A referred sample of 888 cases were collected over an 18-month period during 2012/2013. Clinical assessments were conducted using a template in which background information was collected (including information about their previous clinical history, substance misuse, alleged offence, any pre-identified diagnoses, and the response of the service) as part of the standard operating procedure of the service. Data were analysed using a statistical software package.

Findings

In total, 16.2 per cent (n=144) reported suicide ideation, with women being more likely to report than men. In total, 82.6 per cent of the suicide ideation sample reported a history of self-harm or a suicide attempt. Suicide ideation was also associated with certain diagnostic categories (depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and personality disorder), a history of contact with mental health services, and recent (within 24 hours) consumption of alcohol or drugs.

Originality/value

This evaluation adds to the limited literature in this area by describing a large sample from a real clinical service. It provides information that can assist with future service designs and it offers support for calls for a standardised health screening process, better safety arrangements for those who have recently used alcohol or drugs (within 24 hours) and integrated service delivery across healthcare domains (i.e. physical healthcare, substance use, and mental health).
Non-suicidal self-harm amongst incarcerated men: a qualitative study
Authors: Marzano Lisa , Ciclitira Karen , Adler Joanna R.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the needs and motivations of incarcerated men who self-harm with no apparent suicidal intent. These have received little attention in research and policy, despite men accounting for a high and increasing proportion of self-harm in prisons.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 adult male prisoners with a recent history or thoughts of non-suicidal self-harm. The interviews were analysed drawing on principles of thematic analysis and discourse analysis.

Findings

Against a backdrop of early traumatic experiences and more recent adverse events (including prison-related ones), self-harm was described by many as a desperate – but meaningful – coping strategy; both a means of releasing tension, sadness and frustration, and of being heard in an unresponsive system.

Originality/value

These findings echo those of research conducted with women (including women prisoners) who self-harm, but challenge some of the more negative ways in which non-suicidal male prisoner self-harm has been portrayed in the (scant) previous literature. As well as pointing to the need for greater awareness of the complex needs of men in prisons, they underscore the importance of (also) exploring – and perhaps addressing – the issue of self-harm separately from suicide, and of striving to make prisons, as well as prisoners, “healthier” and better able to cope with pressure.
Corporate social responsibility and reputation: some empirical perspectives
Authors: Famiyeh Samuel , Kwarteng Amoako , Dadzie Samuel Ato
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm’s reputation in terms of product and service quality, management performance and attractiveness as well as reputation on overall performance from a developing country’s environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The partial lest squares structural equation modeling was used to study the relationship between CSR and firm’s reputation as well as the overall organizational performance using a survey of informants from Ghana.

Findings

Using data from firms in Ghana, the study demonstrates that CSR initiative by firms will have a positive relationship with firm’s reputation in terms of product and service quality, management performance and attractiveness as well as overall performance. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that enhanced reputation by firms through social responsibility initiatives will lead to firms’ overall performance from the Ghanaian business environment.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of this work is the source of the data originating from only executives from Ghana where managers are sometimes skeptical giving out such information; this might have some influence on the results. In addition, there could be potential endogeneity and unobserved heterogeneity issues. It is therefore recommended that future studies should consider these issues to check as to whether the same results could be achieved. Specifically, results indicate that when organizations invest in CSR initiatives, they are likely to achieve product quality, improved management performance and an attractiveness as well as overall performance.

Practical implications

The research shows how CSR initiatives can enhance firm’s reputation and overall performance of a firm.

Originality/value

The work illustrates and provides some insights and builds on the literature in the area CSR and reputation from a developing country’s environment.
From surface to deep corporate social responsibility
Authors: Richards Cameron , Zen Irina Safitri
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and explore the policy concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a focus for sustainable development. To this end, it develops and explores the implications of a distinction between CSR as a marketing strategy and a more sustainable long-term commitment to changes in organizational culture and also society.

Design/methodology/approach

This a conceptual paper which develops a policy research framework for examining the CSR rationale as well as general concept as applied to the “plastic bags” public awareness campaign in the Malaysian case study. On this basis, its central inquiry approach is to develop and explore the distinction between surface and deep modes of CSR policy implementation as also related modes of social learning.

Findings

The findings from the conceptual inquiry recognize that corporations which fail to apply a deep rather than a surface commitment to their own CSR polices will sooner or later be judged on that basis by their customers as well as external stakeholders. Although CSR policies will always involve a corporate marketing focus, this is sustainable only if framed by a long-term organizational commitment to accountable change.

Originality/value

The paper makes, develops and further explores a basic accountability distinction between surface and deep modes of CSR as a management commitment, corporate policy implementation and related processes of corporate cultural change. This links to the paper’s associated innovation of linking CSR as both internal organizational learning and a larger sustainable development process of social learning.
Do green policies build green reputations?
Authors: Abdelzaher Dina , Newburry William
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Today, we are witnessing a wave of multinational corporations who seek to be recognized for being environmentally conscious, which can become a source of competitive advantage. But how many of them actually have the policies in place to achieve this? Drawing from the strategy literature, this paper aims to argue that firms who seek to achieve green reputation must align their policies in a way to achieve this goal.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a framework that discusses the key elements of the corporate environmental management process, and then empirically examines the impact of green policy on green reputation among Fortune 500 US firms.

Findings

The findings support a positive significant relationship between green policy and green reputation, with environmental performance to partially mediate this relationship. Insights from this study highlight the importance of focusing on company-level green policy for building green reputation as well as for discriminating across the flux of corporations that all claim to be environmentally conscious or green.

Research limitations/implications

First, the study is limited by the unavailability of environmental performance data at the subsidiary level, which, if incorporated, would yield a better specified model. Second, to strengthen the causal relationships examined in the models, time-series analyses would likely be useful. Third, other informal measures that could be incorporated can include other forms of corporate verbal communications, which include 10K reports as well as shareholder letters.

Practical implications

Given the increased flux of firms that are racing to be known as environmentally conscious firms, one can benefit from the use of an internal mechanism that can discriminate between rhetoric and action. Therefore, when differentiating between firms’ environmental consciousness, investors and key stakeholders should investigate more internal environmental firm policies, because they are likely to be more indicative of their actions.

Originality/value

This study uses a quantified assessment of companies’ actual environmental footprints, drawing from a cross-sector sample within the manufacturing industry. The secondary data used in this study are combined from a number of prominent data sources in corporate social responsibility/environmental management literature.
Blood cultures and bacteraemia in an Australian emergency department: Evaluating a predictive rule to guide collection and their clinical impact
Authors: Brown Jeremy D , Chapman Scott , Ferguson Patricia E
Published: October 2016

Objective

The objective of the present study is to determine whether a predictive rule could safely reduce the number of negative blood cultures collected in an Australian ED and to assess the clinical impact of positive results from blood cultures taken in the ED.

Methods

All positive blood cultures taken in the ED at a single facility were retrospectively identified for the calendar year 2012. Clinically significant bacteraemia episodes were assessed against a predictive rule using major and minor clinical and laboratory criteria gathered from medical records and pathology databases, and compared with a randomly generated sample of ED patient episode with negative blood cultures. The ED and final diagnoses and blood culture impact on clinical management were also collected.

Results

The predictive rule has a high sensitivity (98.8%) and modest specificity (48.7%), and if applied stringently would have prevented almost half of all blood cultures in our ED but missed two positives. Blood cultures altered the clinical management of 94.3% bacteraemic patients, representing 3.4% of all ED patients with blood cultures performed. High discordance (54%) between ED diagnosis and discharge diagnosis of bacteraemic patients was noted.

Conclusions

Bacteraemia detected in the ED alters subsequent patient management. The predictive rule can be safely applied in the ED to determine need for blood culture collection. Blood cultures should not be omitted in the ED based entirely on preliminary diagnosis given the high discordance seen between ED and discharge diagnosis.
A unified measure of linear and nonlinear selection on quantitative traits
Authors: Henshaw Jonathan M. , Zemel Yoav
Published: October 2016

Lande and Arnold's approach to quantifying natural selection has become a standard tool in evolutionary biology due to its simplicity and generality. It treats linear and nonlinear selection in two separate frameworks, generating coefficients of selection (e.g. linear and quadratic selection gradients) that are not directly comparable. Due to this somewhat artificial division, the Lande–Arnold approach lacks an integrated measure of the strength of selection that applies across qualitatively different selection regimes (e.g. directional, stabilizing or disruptive selection).

We define a unified measure of selection, the distributional selection differential (DSD), which includes both linear and nonlinear selection. The DSD quantifies total selection on a trait, regardless of the underlying selection regime.

The DSD can be partitioned into a directional component, representing selection on the trait mean, and a non‐directional component, representing selection on the shape of the trait distribution (e.g. variance, skew or the number of modes). When multiple traits are measured, the DSD can also be separated into direct and correlated effects, analogously to linear selection gradients. As with linear selection differentials, the DSD on a standardized trait is limited in magnitude by the opportunity for selection.

The DSD is a general‐purpose measure of the total strength of selection. It is particularly valuable where traditional analyses provide limited insight, such as in comparative studies where the shape of selection is variable. Partitioning the DSD into directional and non‐directional selection allows biologists to assess whether selection acts consistently in one direction, or in opposing directions over different parts of the trait range.
MatlabHTK: a simple interface for bioacoustic analyses using hidden Markov models
Authors: Ranjard Louis , Reed Benjamin S. , Landers Todd J. , Rayner Matt J. , Friesen Megan R. , Sagar Rachel L. , Dunphy Brendon J.
Published: October 2016

Passive bioacoustic recording devices are now widely available and able to continuously record remotely located sites for extended periods, offering great potential for wildlife monitoring and management. Analysis of the huge data sets generated, in particular for specific biotic sound recognition, remains a critical bottleneck for widespread adoption of these technologies as current methods are labour intensive.

Several methods borrowed from speech processing frameworks, such as hidden Markov models, have been successful in analysing bioacoustic data, but the software implementations can be expensive and difficult to use for non‐specialists involved in wildlife conservation. To remedy this, we present a software interface to a popular speech recognition system making it possible for non‐experts to implement hidden Markov models for bioacoustic signal processing. Octave/Matlab functions are used to simplify the set‐up and the definition of a bioacoustic signal recogniser as well as the analysis of the results.

We present the different functions as a workflow. To demonstrate how the package can be used, we give the results of an analysis of a bioacoustic monitoring data set to detect the nocturnal presence and behaviour of a cryptic seabird species, the common diving petrel Pelecanoides urinatrix urinatrix, from Northern New Zealand.

We show that the package MatlabHTK can be used efficiently to reconstruct the daily patterns of colony activity in the common diving petrel.
Predicting Adverse Health Outcomes in Older Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department: The Acutely Presenting Older Patient Study
Authors: de Gelder Jelle , Lucke Jacinta A. , de Groot Bas , Fogteloo Anne J. , Anten Sander , Mesri Kanar , Steyerberg Ewout W. , Heringhaus Christian , Blauw Gerard J. , Mooijaart Simon P.
Published: October 2016

Background

Older patients experience high rates of adverse outcomes after an emergency department (ED) visit. Early identification of those at high risk could guide preventive interventions and tailored treatment decisions, but available models perform poorly in discriminating those at highest risk. This study aims to develop and validate a prediction model for functional decline and mortality in older patients presenting to our ED.

Methods

A multicenter prospective follow‐up study in EDs of the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC; derivation) and Alrijne Hospital (validation) was conducted. All presenting patients aged 70 and over were included during 12 weeks for 7 days per week. A baseline assessment shortly (<1 hour) after presentation included demographics, severity of disease indicators, and measurements of functional and cognitive impairment. The main outcomes were a composite of functional decline or mortality after 90 days and mortality separately.

Results

In total 751 patients were included in the LUMC of whom 230 patients (30.6%) experienced the composite adverse outcome and 71 patients (9.5%) died. The final model for the composite adverse outcome resulted in an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.73 (95% CI = 0.67–0.77) and was experienced in 69% of the patients at highest risk. For mortality the AUC was 0.79 (95% CI = 0.73–0.85) and 36% of the patients at highest risk died. External validation in 881 patients of the Alrijne Hospital showed an AUC of 0.71 (95% CI = 0.67–0.75) for the composite adverse outcome and 0.69 (95% CI = 0.63–0.75) for mortality.

Conclusion

We successfully developed and validated prediction models for 90‐day adverse outcomes and 90‐day mortality in older emergency patients. The benefits for patients by implementing these models with preventive interventions must be investigated.
Review: Prevalence and co‐occurrence of addictions in US ethnic/racial groups: Implications for genetic research
Authors: Luczak Susan E. , Khoddam Rubin , Yu Sheila , Wall Tamara L. , Schwartz Anna , Sussman Steve
Published: October 2016

Background and Objectives

We conducted a review of the prevalence and co‐occurrence of 12 types of addictions in US ethnic/racial groups and discuss the implications of the results for genetic research on addictions.

Methods

We utilized MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases to review the literature on alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, illicit drugs, gambling, eating/food, internet, sex, love, exercise, work, and shopping. We present results for each addiction based on total US prevalence, prevalence within ethnic groups, and co‐occurrence of addictions among ethnic groups when available.

Results

This review indicates very little research has examined the interrelationships of addictive behaviors among US ethnic groups. The studies that exist have focused nearly exclusively on comorbidity of substances and gambling behaviors. Overall findings suggest differences among US ethnic groups in prevalence of addictions and in prevalence of addiction among those who use substances or engage in gambling. Almost no ethnic group comparisons of other addictive behaviors including eating/food, internet, love, sex, exercise, work, and shopping were identified in the literature.

Conclusions

Despite large‐scale research efforts to examine alcohol and substance use disorders in the United States, few studies have been published that examine these addictive behaviors among ethnic groups, and even fewer examine co‐occurrence and comorbidity with other addictions.

Scientific Significance

Even with the limited studies, these findings have implications for genetic research on addictive behaviors. We include a discussion of these implications, including issues of population stratification, disaggregation, admixture, and the interplay between genetic and environmental factors in understanding the etiology and treatment of addictions. (Am J Addict 2017;26:424–436)
Too Depleted to Try? Testing the Process Model of Ego Depletion in the Context of Unhealthy Snack Consumption
Authors: Haynes Ashleigh , Kemps Eva , Moffitt Robyn
Published: October 2016

Background

The process model proposes that the ego depletion effect is due to (a) an increase in motivation toward indulgence, and (b) a decrease in motivation to control behaviour following an initial act of self‐control. In contrast, the reflective‐impulsive model predicts that ego depletion results in behaviour that is more consistent with desires, and less consistent with motivations, rather than influencing the strength of desires and motivations. The current study sought to test these alternative accounts of the relationships between ego depletion, motivation, desire, and self‐control.

Methods

One hundred and fifty‐six undergraduate women were randomised to complete a depleting e‐crossing task or a non‐depleting task, followed by a lab‐based measure of snack intake, and self‐report measures of motivation and desire strength.

Results and Conclusions

In partial support of the process model, ego depletion was related to higher intake, but only indirectly via the influence of lowered motivation. Motivation was more strongly predictive of intake for those in the non‐depletion condition, providing partial support for the reflective‐impulsive model. Ego depletion did not affect desire, nor did depletion moderate the effect of desire on intake, indicating that desire may be an appropriate target for reducing unhealthy behaviour across situations where self‐control resources vary.
Prescribing patterns of psychotropic medications and clinical features in patients with major depressive disorder with and without comorbid dysthymia in China
Authors: Feng Yuan , Sha Sha , Hu Chen , Wang Gang , Ungvari Gabor S. , Chiu Helen F.K. , Ng Chee H. , Si Tian‐Mei , Chen Da‐Fang , Fang Yi‐Ru , Lu Zheng , Yang Hai‐Chen , Hu Jian , Chen Zhi‐Yu , Huang Yi , Sun Jing , Wang Xiao‐Ping , Li Hui‐Chun , Zhang Jin‐Bei , Xiang Yu‐Tao
Published: October 2016

Introduction

Little has been reported about the demographic and clinical features of major depressive disorder (MDD) with comorbid dysthymia in Chinese patients. This study examined the frequency of comorbid dysthymia in Chinese MDD patients together with the demographic and clinical correlates and prescribing patterns of psychotropic drugs.

Methods

Consecutively collected sample of 1178 patients with MDD were examined in 13 major psychiatric hospitals in China. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics and psychotropic drugs prescriptions were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. The diagnosis of dysthymia was established using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Medications ascertained included antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and mood stabilizers.

Results

One hundred and three (8.7%) patients fulfilled criteria for dysthymia. In multiple logistic regression analyses, compared to non‐dysthymia counterparts, MDD patients with dysthymia had more depressive episodes with atypical features including increased appetite, sleep, and weight gain, more frequent lifetime depressive episodes, and less likelihood of family history of psychiatric disorders. There was no significant difference in the pattern of psychotropic prescription between the 2 groups.

Conclusions

There are important differences in the demographic and clinical features of comorbid dysthymia in Chinese MDD patients compared with previous reports. The clinical profile found in this study has implications for treatment decisions.
Effect of Forsythia suspensa extract and chito‐oligosaccharide alone or in combination on performance, intestinal barrier function, antioxidant capacity and immune characteristics of weaned piglets
Authors: Zhao Panfeng , Piao Xiangshu , Zeng Zhikai , Li Ping , Xu Xiao , Wang Hongliang
Published: October 2016

We investigated the effects of Forsythia suspensa extract (FSE) and chito‐oligosaccharide (COS), alone or together, on performance and health status of weaned piglets. The treatments included a basal diet and three diets with 160 mg/kg COS, 100 mg/kg FSE, or 100 mg/kg FSE and 160 mg/kg COS. Supplementation with COS or FSE alone improved (P < 0.01) average daily gain and feed conversion ratio compared with the basal diet in the first 2 weeks. On day 14, COS or FSE supplementation separately produced stronger (P < 0.01) serum total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase activities and lower serum endotoxin (P < 0.05) and malondialdehyde (P < 0.01) concentrations, generated higher (P < 0.01) serum complement 4 concentration, peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation and serum‐specific ovalbumin antibody level than the basal diet. No differences in oxidative injury and immunity indices were detected on day 28. The combined FSE and COS produced similar results compared with FSE or COS when given alone. These data indicate FSE or COS can increase performance by modulating intestinal permeability, antioxidant status and immune function in younger pigs. There appears to be similar advantage in feeding the additives in combination over those obtained from feeding them separately.
Grazing exclusion unleashes competitive plant responses in Iberian Atlantic mountain grasslands
Authors: Odriozola Iñaki , García‐Baquero Gonzalo , Fortin Marie‐Josée , Laskurain Nere Amaia , Aldezabal Arantza
Published: October 2016

Questions

Does the absence of equalizing mechanisms after cessation of grazing unleash strong above‐ground competitors to create large patches in the community? Do these competitive intraspecific aggregations displace and exclude other species, thereby reducing species diversity?

Location

Atlantic grasslands, Aralar Natural Park, Basque Country, Northern Iberian Peninsula.

Methods

Large herbivores were experimentally excluded from three sites (50 m × 50 m exclusion fences) during 9 yr in a productive semi‐natural grassland system with a long history of grazing, using adjacent grazed plots as experimental controls. Sampling was carried out by systematically placing 100 quadrats (0.5 m × 0.5 m) in each of the six plots. Floristic composition and abundance, as well as eight hydrological and chemical soil properties, were measured in each quadrat. The spatial structures created by competitive species were analysed usingRDAin conjunction with Moran's eigenvector maps, and soil variables were simultaneously included in the analyses, thus disentangling the structures likely created by niche effects. Competitive exclusion was further determined using linear regressions between species richness and abundance of competitive species.

Results

Grazing exclusion unleashed competitive species such asFestuca microphyllaandAgrostis capillaris, which became dominant in the exclusion plots and created large spatial patches. Furthermore, a negative linear relationship, consistent across exclusion plots, was observed between species richness and abundance of competitive species, indicating that strong above‐ground competitors outcompeted other species when herbivores were excluded. However, the outcome of grazing exclusion across sites depended to some extent on local environmental conditions (niche effects).

Conclusions

This work confirms that the powerful equalizing mechanism of disturbance by herbivores is crucial for species co‐existence in productive grasslands. However, important differences observed in environmental effects across sites suggest that, even in highly productive grasslands, plant traits and local environmental characteristics (niche effects) do matter for species co‐existence.
Adverse events associated with interactions with dietary and herbal supplements among inpatients
Authors: Levy Ilana , Attias Samuel , Ben‐Arye Eran , Goldstein Lee , Schiff Elad
Published: October 2016

Aims

Dietary and herbal supplements (DHS) are commonly used among inpatients and may cause interactions with drugs or other DHS. This study explored whether adverse events were actually associated with such interactions and examined specific characteristics among inpatient DHS users prone to such adverse events.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional study of 947 patients hospitalized in 12 departments of a tertiary academic medical centre in Haifa, Israel. It evaluated the rate of DHS use among inpatients, the potential for interactions, and actual adverse events during hospitalization associated with DHS use. It also assessed whether DHS consumption was documented in patients' medical files. Statistical analysis was used to delineate DHS users at risk for adverse events associated with interactions with conventional drugs or other DHS.

Results

In 17 (3.7%) of the 458 DHS users, an adverse event may have been caused by DHS–drug–DHS interactions. According to the Drug Interaction Probability Scale, 14 interactions ‘probably’ caused the adverse events, and 11 ‘possibly’ caused them. Interactions occurred more frequently in older patients (P = 0.025, 95% CI: 2.26–19.7), patients born outside Israel (P = 0.025, 95% CI: 0.03–0.42), those with ophthalmologic (P = 0.032, 95% CI: 0.02–0.37) or gastrointestinal (P = 0.008, 95% CI: 0.05–0.46) comorbidities, and those using higher numbers of DHS (P < 0.0001, 95% CI: 0.52–2.48) or drugs (P = 0.027, 95% CI: 0.23–3.77).

Conclusions

Approximately one in 55 hospitalizations in this study may have been caused by adverse events associated with DHS–drug–DHS interactions. To minimize the actual occurrence of adverse events, medical staff education regarding DHS should be improved.
Neuroprogression and episode recurrence in bipolar I disorder: A study of gray matter volume changes in first‐episode mania and association with clinical outcome
Authors: Kozicky Jan‐Marie , McGirr Alexander , Bond David J , Gonzalez Marjorie , Silveira Leonardo E , Keramatian Kamyar , Torres Ivan J , Lam Raymond W , Yatham Lakshmi N
Published: October 2016

Objectives

Bipolar I disorder (BD‐I) is associated with gray matter volume (GMV) alterations in neural regions important for emotional regulation. Reductions found in patients with multiple episodes are not seen at illness onset, suggesting that changes occur with illness progression, although no prospective studies to date have examined this. In the present study, we assessed GMV at baseline and one year following a first manic episode, examining the impact of episode recurrence on the trajectory of change.

Methods

A total of 41 recently remitted first manic episode patients with BD‐I and 25 healthy subjects (HS) underwent 3T magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and one year later. Using voxel‐based morphometry, we compared GMV change between HS, patients who experienced a recurrence of a mood episode (BDrecurr), and patients in sustained remission (BDwell).

Results

The GMV change from baseline to one year did not differ significantly between HS and the full BD‐I group or BDwell and HS. However, the BDrecurr group had greater GMV loss than HS in left frontal and bilateral temporal regions, and BDwell patients involving bilateral frontal, temporal and left parietal regions.

Conclusions

GMV change early in the course of BD‐I is associated with clinical outcome, such that neuroprogression found in patients who experience a recurrence of a mood episode is not seen in those with sustained remission. These findings have important implications for the treatment of BD‐I as they suggest that prevention of recurrence might minimize neuroprogression of the disease, possibly requiring a multipronged early intervention approach to achieve this goal.
Early report on brain arousal regulation in manic vs depressive episodes in bipolar disorder
Authors: Wittekind Dirk Alexander , Spada Janek , Gross Alexander , Hensch Tilman , Jawinski Philippe , Ulke Christine , Sander Christian , Hegerl Ulrich
Published: October 2016

Objectives

The arousal regulation model of affective disorders attributes an important role in the pathophysiology of affective disorders to dysregulation of brain arousal regulation. According to this model, sensation avoidance and withdrawal in depression and sensation seeking and hyperactivity in mania can be explained as auto‐regulatory attempts to counteract a tonically high (depression) or unstable (mania) arousal. The aim of this study was to compare brain arousal regulation between manic and depressive bipolar patients and healthy controls. We hypothesized that currently depressed patients with bipolar disorder show hyperstable arousal regulation, while currently manic patients show unstable arousal regulation.

Methods

Twenty‐eight patients with bipolar disorder received a 15‐min resting electroencephalogram (EEG) during a depressive episode and 19 patients received the same during a manic/hypomanic episode. Twenty‐eight healthy control subjects were matched for age and sex. The Vigilance Algorithm Leipzig (VIGALL), which classifies 1‐s EEG segments as one of seven EEG‐vigilance substages, was used to measure brain arousal regulation.

Results

Manic patients showed more unstable EEG‐vigilance regulation as compared to the control sample (P = .004) and to patients with a depressive episode (P ≤ .001). Depressive patients had significantly higher mean vigilance levels (P = .045) than controls.

Conclusions

A clear difference was found in the regulation of brain arousal of manic patients vs depressive patients and controls. These data suggest that brain arousal might depend on the current mood state, which would support the arousal regulation model of affective disorders.
US HEALTH AND AGGREGATE FLUCTUATIONS
Authors: Vasilev Aleksandar
Published: October 2016

This paper aims to shed light on the importance of health considerations for business cycle fluctuations and the effect of health status on labour productivity and availability of labour input for productive use. To this end, Grossman's (2000) partial‐equilibrium framework with endogenous health is incorporated in an otherwise standard Real‐Business‐Cycle (RBC) model. Health status in this setup is modelled as a utility‐enhancing, intangible, and non‐transferrable capital stock, which depreciates over time. The household can improve their health (‘produce health') through investment using a health‐recovery technology. The main results are: (i) overall, the model compares well vis‐a‐vis data; (ii) the behaviour of the price of healthcare is adequately approximated by the shadow price of health in the model; (iii) the model‐generated health variable exhibits moderate‐ to high correlation with a large number of empirical health indicators.
À propos du rôle de la taille dans la croissance urbaine : Une analyse pour 135 agglomérations canadiennes entre 1971 et 2011
Authors: Dubé Jean , Polèse Mario
Published: October 2016

Faits saillants

L'incidence de la taille initiale de la ville sur la croissance se manifeste de façon indirecte par l'intermédiaire d'autres variables.

La décroissance / croissance est principalement associée, respectivement, au degré de spécialisation dans les industries de première transformation et au taux d'emploi, un indicateur de la vigueur du marché du travail.

Le rôle (positif) du capital humain dans la croissance joue surtout pour les grandes agglomérations urbaines.