bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Do We Teach Family Therapy Theory?
Authors: May Kathleen M.
Published: May 2004

A rich variety of ideas and strategies are found in the literature that addresses how family therapy theories should be taught. Differences in teaching strategies and practices are influenced by differences in the theories of family therapy. However, even within specific theoretical schools, there is more agreement among educators about what skills should be taught than there is on how to teach such skills. This column addresses the multiplicity of ideas on how to teach family therapy theories.
Restorying the Illness Experience in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Eeltink Catharina , Duffy Maureen
Published: May 2004

The authors describe multiple sclerosis (MS) and the emotional distress it induces in patients and their families. They present a framework for conceptualizing the impact of chronic illness on patients and their families and suggest approaches that could be used in counseling these clients. Several modalities for helping MS patients and their families find meaning in their chronic illness are then described. These include narrative therapy, restorying techniques, and cognitive restructuring.
Cultural Complexity Revisited
Authors: Denton Trevor
Published: May 2004

Cultural complexity has been defined in at least two different ways. First, Murdock and Provost conceptualized cultural complexity not as a single construct but rather as a set of constructs by which societies may be distinguished along the lines of known developmental sequences. Second, many anthropologists have conceptualized cultural complexity as a single construct along the lines of Spencerian differentiation/interdependence or (more loosely) as cultural heterogeneity. Chick made several criticisms of past treatments of cultural complexity but, nevertheless, assumed cultural complexity to be a single construct. In the present article, the approach of Murdock is reasserted. With this approach, Chick’s criticisms disappear. It is shown why the subject area traditionally thought of as cultural complexity has so many impacts on other parts of culture.
The Problem With Polities: Some Problems in Forecasting Global Political Integration
Authors: Roscoe Paul
Published: May 2004

This article argues the importance to humanity of understanding processes of social, political, and cultural integration and of attempting to forecast the results. It outlines the theoretical grounds for expecting future global trends to be integrative rather than disintegrative. It summarizes past empirical efforts to forecast their ultimate consequence—global unification—and it introduces some methodological cautions about such forecasts. There are underexamined implications to what is meant by unification, what is defined as a polity, and what are taken as units in constructing the empirical trends used in forecasting. Finally, the article points out that different types of resources can be used to construct power relations (and hence integration) and that therefore there is probably no single global unification but only different types of global unification.
The Political Unification of the World: Whether, When, and How—Some Speculations
Authors: Carneiro Robert L.
Published: May 2004

That the world will some day be ruled by a single government has been foreseen by visionary thinkers for well more than a century, and this article quotes a number of these predictions. However, there has been less agreement as to how a world state would be achieved. Some have held that it would occur through peaceful and voluntary means. Others have argued that it could only result—as have all other political coalescences in the past—through military means. This article sides with the latter view and cites the war in Iraq as perhaps a small step in that direction. Finally, several projections are discussed that attempt to predict when the political unification of the world will occur.
Imbalance of Glial-Neuronal Interaction in Synapses: A Possible Mechanism of the Pathophysiology of Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Mitterauer Bernhard
Published: May 2004

There is a wave of new information suggesting that glia, especially astrocytes, are intimately involved in the active control of neuronal activity and synaptic transmission. Synaptically associated astrocytes should be viewed as integral modulatory elements of tripartite synapses consisting of the presynapse, the postsynapse, and the glial element (astrocytes). Smit and coworkers proposed a model of a cholinergic tripartite synapse based on the identification of a glial-derived binding protein (BP) that is secreted into the synapse and binds free acetylcholine (ACh), thus reducing the levels of ACh available for stimulating the postsynapse. Here the author proposes an explanatory model of the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder focusing on the possible dynamics in cholinergic tripartite synapses. The hypothesis is that an imbalance between neurotransmitters and glial BPs in the synaptic cleft is determined by glia. If glial BPs are overexpressed, synaptic transmission is suppressed because of reduced levels of bioavailable neurotransmitters. This state could cause a depression on the behavioral level. In contrast, if glial BPs are underexpressed, the excess of neurotransmitters in the cleft leads to an overbalanced state of synaptic information transmission. This state could cause manic behavior. Under certain conditions, underbalanced and overbalanced synapses at different locations in the same brain could disturb brain function in parallel causing a mixed episode of bipolar disorder. If glial BPs and mutations in genes expressing glial BPs in the various synapses of the brain are identified, this hypothesis can be experimentally tested.
Animal Models of Cerebral Neglect and Its Cancellation
Authors: Payne Bertram R. , Rushmore R. Jarrett
Published: May 2004

The purpose of this perspective is twofold: 1) to alert and inform the neurospychology and neurology communities on how animal models can improve our understanding of spatial neglect in humans, and 2) to serve as a guide to rehabilitation strategies. Spatial neglect is a neurological syndrome that is inextricably linked to the ability to overtly or covertly reorient attention to new loci. Literature describing variants of neglect leads to the perception of lesion-induced neglect as a uniquely human syndrome for which there are limited treatment options. To the contrary, neglect has been reversed in laboratory animals, and results show that adequate neural representations and motor mechanisms for reversal are present despite damaged or deactivated cerebral cortex. These results and conclusions provoke thought on strategies that can be employed on humans to cancel neglect, and they suggest that long-term amelioration of neglect can be induced by training of specific bypass circuits.
Erythropoietin as a Tissue-Protective Cytokine in Brain Injury: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go?
Authors: Grasso Giovanni , Sfacteria Alessandra , Cerami Anthony , Brines Michael
Published: May 2004

In the 10 years since neurotrophic activity was first reported for erythropoietin (EPO), a broad understanding of its multiple paracrine/autocrine functions has emerged. Recent studies firmly establish EPO as a multifunctional molecule, typical of the pliotrophic cytokine superfamily of which it is a member. The realization that EPO activates neuroprotection by multiple mechanisms has identified a generalized system of local tissue protection with EPO as a critical component. Here, the authors characterize the biology of the local tissue-protective system, review data that support this concept, and suggest why non-hematopoietic analogues of EPO may be better choices as therapeutics.
Rett Syndrome: A Prototypical Neurodevelopmental Disorder
Authors: Neul Jeffrey L. , Zoghbi Huda Y.
Published: May 2004

Rett syndrome, one of the leading causes of mental retardation and developmental regression in girls, is the first pervasive developmental disorder with a known genetic cause. The majority of cases of sporadic Rett syndrome are caused by mutations in the gene encoding methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2). MeCP2 binds methylated DNA and likely regulates gene expression and chromatin structure. Genotype/phenotype analysis revealed that the phenotypic spectrum of MECP2 mutations in humans is broader than initially suspected: Mutations have been discovered in Rett syndrome variants, mentally retarded males, and autistic children. A variety of in vivo and in vitro models has been developed that allow analysis of MeCP2 function and pathogenic studies of Rett syndrome. Because the neuropathology of Rett syndrome shares certain features with other neurodevelopmental disorders, a common pathogenic process may underlie these disorders. Thus, Rett syndrome is a prototype for the genetic, molecular, and neurobiological analysis of neurodevelopmental disorders.
The Amygdala and Persistent Pain
Authors: Neugebauer Volker , Li Weidong , Bird Gary C. , Han Jeong S.
Published: May 2004

A reciprocal relationship exists between persistent pain and negative affective states such as fear, anxiety, and depression. Accumulating evidence points to the amygdala as an important site of such interaction. Whereas a key role of the amygdala in the neuronal mechanisms of emotionality and affective disorders has been well established, the concept of the amygdala as an important contributor to pain and its emotional component is still emerging. This article will review and discuss evidence from anatomical, neuroimaging, behavioral, electrophysiological, pharmacological, and biochemical data that implicate the amygdala in pain modulation and emotional responses to pain. The latero-capsular division of the central nucleus of the amygdala is now defined as the “nociceptive amygdala” and integrates nociceptive information with poly-modal information about the internal and external bodily environment. Dependent on environmental conditions and affective states, the amygdala appears to play a dual facilitatory and inhibitory role in the modulation of pain behavior and nociceptive processing at different levels of the pain neuraxis. Only recently, electrophysiological, pharmacological, and biochemical neuroplastic changes were shown in the nociceptive amygdala in persistent pain. It is conceivable, however, that amygdala plasticity plays an important role in emotional pain behavior and its modulation by affective state.
Nitric Oxide and Memory
Authors: Susswein Abraham J. , Katzoff Ayelet , Miller Nimrod , Hurwitz Itay
Published: May 2004

Nitric oxide (NO) is widely used in neural circuits giving rise to learning and memory. NO is an unusual neurotransmitter in its modes of release and action. Is its association with learning and memory related to its unusual properties? Reviewing the literature might allow the formulation of a general principle on how NO and memory are related. However, other than confirming that there is indeed a strong association between NO and memory, no simple rules emerge on the role of NO in learning and memory. The effects of NO are not associated with a particular stage or form of memory and are highly dependent on species, strain, and behavior or training paradigm. Nonetheless, a review does provide hints on why NO is associated with learning and memory. Unlike transmitters acting via receptors expressed only in neurons designed to respond to the transmitter, NO is a promiscuous signal that can affect a wide variety of neurons, via many molecular mechanisms. In circuits giving rise to learning and memory, it may be useful to signal some events via a promiscuous messenger having widespread effects. However, each circuit will use the promiscuous signal in a different way, to achieve different ends.
The Neural Substrates of Reward Processing in Humans: The Modern Role of fMRI
Authors: McClure Samuel M. , York Michele K. , Montague P. Read
Published: May 2004

Experimental work in animals has identified numerous neural structures involved in reward processing and reward-dependent learning. Until recently, this work provided the primary basis for speculations about the neural substrates of human reward processing. The widespread use of neuroimaging technology has changed this situation dramatically over the past decade through the use of PET and fMRI. Here, the authors focus on the role played by fMRI studies, where recent work has replicated the animal results in human subjects and has extended the view of putative reward-processing neural structures. In particular, fMRI work has identified a set of reward-related brain structures including the orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, ventral striatum, and medial prefrontal cortex. Moreover, the human experiments have probed the dependence of human reward responses on learned expectations, context, timing, and the reward dimension. Current experiments aim to assess the function of human reward-processing structures to determine how they allow us to predict, assess, and act in response to rewards. The authors review current accomplishments in the study of human reward processing and focus their discussion on explanations directed particularly at the role played by the ventral striatum. They discuss how these findings may contribute to a better understanding of deficits associated with Parkinson’s disease.
A Constructivist Evaluation of Family Systems Nursing Interventions with Families Experiencing Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Illness
Authors: Duhamel Fabie , Talbot Lise R.
Published: May 2004

The purpose of this study was to evaluate Family Systems Nursing interventions using a methodological approach based on Guba and Lincoln’s fourth generation evaluation. The project involved five families in which one member had suffered either a myocardial infarction or a stroke. In this participatory study, family members, patients, nurses, and investigators were considered coresearchers in the research process. Thus, families collaborated with investigators and nurses to develop and evaluate Family Systems Nursing interventions based on the Calgary Family Assessment and Intervention Models. This article presents the research methodology and results that offer practical nursing interventions to help families during the patient’s rehabilitation process.
Daughters Giving Care to Mothers Who Have Dementia: Mastering the 3 R’s of (Re)Calling, (Re)Learning, and (Re)Adjusting
Authors: Perry JoAnn
Published: May 2004

Using the process of constant comparative analysis to examine interview data, the current study explored the process of taking on and continuing to give care to mothers with dementia. The sample consisted of 19 daughters and 1 daughter-in-law; all but one were living with the mother. The core phenomenon of mastery captured the processes of (re)calling, through (re) learning how to be with the mother to (re)adjusting as the daughters try to take care of themselves and consider placing their mother in a nursing home. Through these processes, the daughters essentially deconstruct their images of their mother and rebuild the image to include the impact of the disease process. The inclusion of the cognitive work adds an additional focus for potential intervention with daughters who, in providing care for their mothers, form such a vital part of current health care systems.
Family Rituals That Provide Meaning for Single-Parent Families
Authors: Moriarty Patricia Hale , Wagner Linda D.
Published: May 2004

The number of single-parent families has increased dramatically in the United States. The purpose of this study was to explore the types of family rituals present in single-parent families and their meaning within the family context. Little is known about family rituals in single-parent families, and therefore grounded theory was the qualitative research method used for this study. Unstructured face-to-face interviews were used to obtain data from a theoretical sample of seven single parents. Data analysis appropriate to the grounded theory method was utilized to identify a core variable and an emerging theory. Six types of rituals: connection, spiritual, love, recreation, celebration, and evolving were found to be used by these single-parent families as a way to facilitate family cohesion and instill family values. Applicability of the findings of this study are beneficial for nurses working with clients with diverse, changing, and complex social situations such as the single-parent family.
Family Nursing Research with Asian Families
Authors: Willgerodt Mayumi A. , Killien Marcia G.
Published: May 2004

The purpose of this article is to review nursing research with Asian families over the past decade to understand the state of the science and recommend future directions for nursing research. Between 1992 and 2002, 68 databased articles published in English and authored by a nurse were examined for study settings, populations, methods, and findings. The current body of literature is limited by focusing on understanding individual phenomena in a family context. Research that aims to (a) understand the salient family variables that affect health, (b) identify the unique and specific role of culture on health, and (c) include multiple sources of data is needed to expand the current knowledge base of Asian families.
Mother’s Friendship Quality, Parental Support, Quality of Life, and Family Health Work in Families Led by Adolescent Mothers with Preschool Children
Authors: Sgarbossa Diana , Ford-Gilboe Marilyn
Published: May 2004

Based on the developmental model of health and nursing, hypothesized relationships between mothers’ friendship quality, parental support, quality of life (QOL), and family health work (health-related problem solving) were tested in a community sample of 58 families led by adolescent mothers during structured interviews in which measures of the study variables were administered. Contrary to theoretical expectations, no relationship was found between mothers’ friendship quality and health work. However, moderate positive relationships were found between parental support and health work and between health work and mothers’ QOL. Using path analysis, mothers’ friendship quality, parental support, and family health work predicted 49% of the variance in mothers’ QOL. Although the initial theory was not supported by the data, the addition of a path between parental support and QOL resulted in a model that was an excellent fit with the data. Parental support had the strongest direct effect on mothers’ QOL.
The National Media and Things Genetic
Authors: Eyck Toby A. Ten , Williment Melissa
Published: May 2004

Issues related to genetics and genetic technology have gained a great deal ofattention from researchers, policy makers, the press, and even some consumers. This article focuses on how one ofthese actors—the U.S. elite press—has developed a discourse around these issues. This discussion centers on the framing of articles, the sources used by reporters, and the differences between genetics as they relate to food and to medicine. Over 2,700 articles from the New York Times (1971-2001) and theWashington Post (1977-2001) have been analyzed. It is found that scientists and medical issues were much more likely to be framed as progressive than were articles on food or ones in which government officials were quoted. In addition, a more indepth analysis ofarticles pertaining to protests and demonstrations between 2000 and 2001 is presented.
Covering Scientific Research in Dutch Newspapers
Authors: Hijmans Ellen , Pleijter Alexander , Wester Fred
Published: May 2004

A content analysis of scientific news coverage in Dutch newspapers was conducted and supplemented with interviews with ten news editors and science journalists. In a total of ninety-six editions of the newspapers, we found 624 reports about scientific research. The content analysis focuses on the actual reporting of background and methodological aspects of the research covered. Contrary to expectations, quality papers and science sections in general did not supply more or better information on these aspects. The interviews revealed that reporting on scientific research means avoidance of complex information, even in the science section. Since most social-scientific research is reported in the news part of the paper, it generally lacks a critical approach to conceptual and statistical formulations.
An Examination of Infrastructures for Health Information Dissemination in the United States
Authors: Pringle Kristine E. , Wells Rebecca , Merrill Sonya
Published: May 2004

The U.S. federal government has devoted substantial resources to health promotion and disease prevention research, yet there is currently no systematic published information about the infrastructures through which this research is disseminated to local levels. This article addresses that gapby using a common framework (Dynamic Network) developed by Miles and Snow to examine five national health information networks: the Regional Alcohol and Drug Awareness Resource (RADAR) Network, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), the Children’s Safety Network (CSN), the Office on Smoking and Health’s National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP), and the Network: Addressing Collegiate Alcohol and Other Drug Issues (the Network). All of these networks include members with areas of specialized expertise, enabling them to address complex health issues. A single, federally funded entity typically functions as a broker for the networks, facilitating member communication at the national and local levels. Four of the five networks do not fund members but instead rely on a shared commitment to health promotion goals. Finally, each network is experimenting with ways of providing broad information access to their members and thus building local capacity to support healthy behaviors.
Evidence-Based Science Communication
Authors: van der Sanden Maarten C. A. , Meijman Frans J.
Published: May 2004

Use of the literature review in scientific publications is often poorly thought out and unsystematic. The reader, therefore, has no insight into the quality of the conclusions that were drawn from the literature used. Those conclusions are often based on a coincidental, and not necessarily complete, set of articles. A set of empirical findings resulting from methodologically sound research, as well as a set of essays or editorials can be interesting and peer-reviewed, but the informational value, based on the validity and relevance of both types of literature, is different. This has consequences for which publications should weigh more heavily in the conclusions of a literature review or in the design of an educational science campaign, for example. We make a plea for a systematic literature search within the field of science communication. We will propose a system for evidence-based science communication based on the principles of evidence-based medicine.
Public Communication of Science and Technology
Authors: Winter Ekkehard
Published: May 2004

This essay describes the German initiative Science in Dialogue and its projects in the field of (1) informal science education at the interface of universities and schools, (2) science in fiction to reach a wider audience, and (3) public engagement in scientific issues. Listening to the real needs and concerns of the public is a prerequisite for this engagement. Due to the great variety of cultures and languages, a European approach to science communication is a real challenge the recently founded grassroots organization Euro Science has accepted. This essay describes the goals of the first Euro Science Open Forum to be held in Stockholm in August 2004.
Agenda Building, Source Selection, and Health News at Local Television Stations
Authors: Tanner Andrea H.
Published: May 2004

This nationwide study of local television news health reporters examined health and medical newsgathering from the reporters’perspective. Data from this study revealed significant insight into how these health reporters receive ideas for their health stories and what motivates a health reporter to cover a particular topic. The findings suggest a link between agenda building and health reporting, suggesting that a health reporter’s reliance on sources is exacerbated by the technical nature of health and medical news. For example, more than half of respondents received ideas for their health reports directly from a health source who personally contacted them. Sixty percent said that they must frequently find a health expert to explain technical information and agreed that health sources often affect the health content making air.
Elite Sources, Context, and News Topics
Authors: Logan Robert A. , Park Jaeyung , Shin Jae-Hwa
Published: May 2004

A content analysis of the coverage of a public health crisis in Korea from September 1999 to December 2000 explored six hypotheses about news reporting and topic selection mostly derived from qualitatively based literature. The findings suggest that two Korean daily newspapers (Chosun Ilbo andHankyoreh) emphasized governmental officials and physicians as news sources, underemphasized other news sources, and limited in-depth reporting. The study’s findings appear to support prior assertions in the international literature that critique news media performance. However,Chosun Ilbo andHankyoreh used a range of sources and provided some multidimensional news coverage during the public health crisis. While both newspapers depended on governmental officials and physicians as news sources and tended to provide less in-depth coverage, the overall findings do not reveal a pattern of journalistic neglect.
Seismic Response of Base-Isolated Liquid Storage Tanks
Authors: Shrimali M. K. , Jangid R. S.
Published: May 2004

We investigate the seismic response of liquid storage tanks isolated by lead-rubber bearings. The force-deformation behavior of the bearings is considered as bi-linear modeled by the Wen equation. The continuous liquid mass of the tank is modeled as a sloshing mass, impulsive mass and rigid mass. The corresponding stiffness associated with these masses has been worked out depending upon the properties of the tank wall and liquid mass. The governing equations of motion of the three-degrees-of-freedom model of the isolated liquid storage tank are derived. Since the force-deformation behavior of the bearings is non-linear, as a result, the seismic response is obtained using the Newmark step-by-step method under several recorded earthquake ground motions. The responses of two types of tanks, namely slender and broad, are compared with the corresponding response without an isolation system in order to investigate the effectiveness of the isolation system. A parametric study is also carried out to study the effects of important system parameters on the effectiveness of seismic isolation for liquid storage tanks. The various important parameters considered are the aspect ratio of the tank, period, damping and the yield strength of the isolation system. It has been observed that the seismic isolation of the tanks is quite effective and the response of isolated liquid storage tanks is significantly influenced by the above system parameters. There is an optimum value of isolation damping for which the base shear in the tank attains the minimum value. Therefore, increasing the bearing damping beyond a certain value decreases the bearing and sloshing displacements but it increases the base shear.
A Self-Organizing Fuzzy Controller for an Active Suspension System
Authors: Huang Shiuh-Jer , Lin Wei-Cheng
Published: May 2004

A quarter-car hydraulic suspension system has been constructed to evaluate the performance of active vehicle suspension. Since this hydraulic actuating suspension system has a nonlinear and complicated mathematical model, it is difficult to design a model-based controller. Hence, a self-organizing fuzzy controller (SOFC) is employed to control the position and acceleration oscillation amplitudes of the sprung mass due to the rough road variation. This approach has learning ability for responding to the time-varying characteristic of the oscillation coming from the tire. Its control rule bank can be established and modified continuously by on-line learning. E-modification and dead-zone concepts are introduced into the SOFC fuzzy adaptation rule to improve the oscillation feature of control law and the gradual divergence problem. The experimental results show that this intelligent controller effectively suppresses the vibration amplitude and reduces the acceleration of the sprung mass correlating to the road variation for improving the vehicle ride comfort.
Wave Propagation in Periodic Stiffened Shells: Spectral Finite Element Modeling and Experiments
Authors: Solaroli G. , Gu Z. , Baz A. , Ruzzene M.
Published: May 2004

The capability of periodic structures to act as filters for propagating waves is used to control the propagation of waves in thin shells. The shells are stiffened by periodically placed rings in order to generate periodic discontinuities in the stiffness and inertial spatial distribution along the longitudinal axes of these shells. Such discontinuities result in attenuation of the wave propagation over certain frequency bands called stop bands.

A distributed-parameter approach is used to derive a spectral finite element model of the periodically stiffened shell. The model accurately describes the dynamic behavior of the shell using a small number of elements. The stiffening rings, modeled using the curved beam theory, are considered as lumped elements whose mass and stiffness matrices are combined with those of the shell. The resulting dynamic stiffness matrix of the ring-stiffened shell element is used to predict the wave propagation dynamics in the structure. In particular, the shell propagation constants are determined by solving a polynomial eigenvalue problem, as a numerically robust alternative to the traditional transfer matrix formulation.

The study of the propagation constants shows that the discontinuity introduced by the stiffeners generates the typical stop/pass band pattern of periodic structures. The location and width of the stop bands depend on the spacing and geometrical parameters of the rings. The existence of the stop bands, as predicted from the analysis of the propagation constants, is verified experimentally. Excellent agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results is achieved.

The presented theoretical and experimental techniques provide viable means for designing periodically stiffened shells with desired attenuation and filtering characteristics.
Modeling of a Beam and a Rotor with an Edge Crack Using Dissimilar Elements
Authors: Nandi A. , Neogy S.
Published: May 2004

Vibration-based diagnostic methods are used for the detection of the presence of cracks in beams and other structures. To simulate such a beam with an edge crack, it is necessary to model the beam using finite elements. Cracked beam finite elements, being one-dimensional, cannot model the stress field near the crack tip, which is not one-dimensional. The change in neutral axis is also not modeled properly by cracked beam elements. Modeling of such beams using two-dimensional plane elements is a better approximation. The best alternative would be to use three-dimensional solid finite elements. At a sufficient distance away from the crack, the stress field again becomes more or less one-dimensional. Therefore, two-dimensional plane elements or three-dimensional solid elements can be used near the crack and one-dimensional beam elements can be used away from the crack. This considerably reduces the required computational effort. In the present work, such a coupling of dissimilar elements is proposed and the required transition element is formulated. A guideline is proposed for selecting the proper dimensions of the transition element so that accurate results are obtained. Elastic deformation, natural frequency and dynamic response of beams are computed using dissimilar elements. The finite element analysis of cracked rotating shafts is complicated because of the fact that elastic deformations are superposed on the rigid-body motion (rotation about an axis). A combination of three-dimensional solid elements and beam elements in a rotating reference is proposed here to model such rotors.
Optimization of Engine Mount Characteristics Using Experimental/Numerical Analysis
Authors: Foumani Mahmoud S. , Khajepour Amir , Durali Mohammad
Published: May 2004

In this paper an experimental/numerical technique is developed for engine mount optimization. The method is general and can be applied to optimize active and passive vibration isolators or absorbers in any mechanical systems or civil structures. Engine mount optimization techniques mostly rely on an accurate mathematical model of the whole vehicle, which in most cases is not available or is too difficult to develop. As a result, the current approach for selecting engine mounts for a vehicle is based upon trial and error which is very time-consuming and expensive. The proposed technique counts upon experimental data for optimization and does not require any mathematical model of the vehicle or its components. The required experiments are similar to the current trial-and-error based experiments performed on a vehicle for mounts selection. The method is evaluated experimentally using a quarter car model and the results corroborate the proposed optimization method.
Feasible Analytical Solutions for Electrostatic Parallel-Plate Actuator or Sensor
Authors: Vinokur R. Y.
Published: May 2004

This paper presents several analytical solutions for the conventional electrostatic parallel-plate model and explains the effect of the quality factor decrease with the voltage applied. Such a model is of importance in the development of electrostatic (capacitive) sensors and actuators including acoustical transducers and loudspeakers, and micro/nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS). It serves to reveal and interpret the basic phenomena (in particular, the “pull-in” instability and “negative spring” effect) but there is still some room for new effects and analytical results, although the model is nonlinear and provides rather computational than comprehensible close-form relationships as “negative quality factor effect” described in this paper. The new results obtained can be supportive to analyze, test, and design electrostatic sensors and actuators.
Vibration of Homogeneous and Composite Thick Barrel Shells
Authors: Qatu Mohamad S.
Published: May 2004

This paper presents a vibration analysis for homogeneous and laminated composite deep, thick barrel shells using recently derived equations of elastic deformation. Assuming a first-order linear displacement field, the equations include accurate force and moment resultants, in which the stresses over the thickness of the shell are integrated exactly on a trapezoidal-like cross-section of a shell element. Exact solutions were obtained for thick barrel, open and closed, shells having shear diaphragm boundary conditions and cross-ply lamination sequence. The results were compared with previously obtained results where various other thick shell theories were used. The effects of various parameters including radii of curvature on shell frequencies are studied.
Newtonian and Variational Formulations of the Dynamics of Plates with Active Constrained Layer Damping Treatments
Authors: Park Chul H. , Baz A.
Published: May 2004

In this paper we present Newtonian and variational formulations of the dynamics of plates treated fully with active constrained layer damping (ACLD). The governing equations of the plate/ACLD system are derived to describe the interaction between the dynamics of the plates, the viscoelastic damping layer and the active piezoelectric constraining layers. The developed equations of the plate/ACLD system provide analytical models for predicting the dynamics of laminated plates subjected to passive and active vibration damping controls. Numerical solutions of the analytical models are presented for simply-supported plates in order to study the performance of the plate/ACLD system for different control strategies. The developed models present invaluable means for designing and predicting the performance of the smart laminated plates that can be used in many critical engineering applications.
On the Nonlinear Behavior of Piezoelectric Actuators
Authors: Arafa M. , Baz A.
Published: May 2004

In this paper we present a theoretical and experimental study of the nonlinear behavior of piezoelectric actuators. The nonlinearities are introduced as quadratic terms in the piezoelectric constitutive relations. These relations are employed, together with supporting experimental results, to establish an engineering description of the nonlinearities present in piezoelectric materials. We present a lumped-parameter representation of a system consisting of a piezoactuator driving a mass. The representation is valid in the vicinity of the primary resonance. The resulting nonlinear differential equation of motion is analyzed by the method of harmonic balance to study the effects of nonlinearities on the dynamics of forced vibrations. Experimental measurements of the steady-state mechanical response to harmonic electrical excitation over a range of excitation frequencies and amplitudes quantify the nature and level of nonlinear behavior. The nonlinear behavior, which is mainly evident around the resonant frequency, is shown to be of the softening type and becomes more pronounced at higher drive voltage levels. Numerical simulations based on the developed nonlinear model have shown significant improvement over previous linear models in predicting the experimental behavior of piezoelectric materials at the vicinity of primary resonance.
A Two-Stage Vibration Isolation System Featuring an Electrorheological Damper via the Semi-Active Static Output Feedback Variable Structure Control Method
Authors: Liangbin Cai , Dayue Chen
Published: May 2004

In this paper, we present a semi-active static output feedback variable structure control (VSC) strategy for vibration isolation. The control concept is based on the fact that, for a practical vibration isolation system subject to external disturbances, all state variables are hard to measure on-line and variations of system parameters frequently exist. A bypass electrorheological (ER) damper is designed and manufactured by incorporating a Bingham model of ER fluids. After the voltage-dependent damping characteristics of the ER damper are evaluated, the dynamic model of a two-stage vibration isolation system with one ER damper is derived. Using only the measured information from sensors installed at strategic locations, continuous output feedback VSC controllers are presented, which do not have possible chattering effects. The continuous control law is decoupled from external disturbances by combining controller design under a meeting sliding mode reachable condition with the choice of sliding surface gradient parameters under a guarantee of the Routh-Hurwitz stability of reduced-order sliding mode dynamics. The saturation of the actuator is also incorporated into the controller, showing no adverse effect. The self-adaptability of the vibration isolation system with respect to external disturbances, the robustness of the control method with respect to parameter variations and the effectiveness of vibration isolation are demonstrated by numerical simulation results in the frequency and time domains. It is illustrated that the performance of the presented semi-active static output feedback VSC system is superior to those of optimally passive damping and maximum damping variety even if system parameter uncertainties exist.
Instability and Imbalance Response of Large Induction Motor Rotor by Unbalanced Magnetic Pull
Authors: Yang Bo-Suk , Kim Yong-Han , Son Byung-Gu
Published: May 2004

This paper deals with a general analytical method for analyzing the instability and mechanical imbalance response of induction motors considering unbalanced electromagnetic forces produced in the induction motors with rotor eccentricity and phase unbalance. The equations to be solved are a set of second-order differential equations that give matrices with periodic coefficients that are a function of time due to the unbalanced electromagnetic force. The evaluation method of rotor instability zones is presented by a time transfer matrix method. The Newmark β method is adapted to solve for an imbalance response. A practical application is given for a large induction motor. The results show that the proposed method is satisfactory.
Fuzzy Logic Control for an Integrated System of a Micro-Manipulator with a Single Flexible Beam
Authors: Chalhoub N. G. , Bazzi B. A.
Published: May 2004

The use of lightweight robotic manipulators in advanced assembly and manufacturing applications is hindered by the end-effector positional inaccuracies induced by the structural deformations of the arm. To address this problem, a macro- and micro-manipulator system is considered herein. Three rigid and flexible motion controllers, consisting of an integral plus state feedback controller (ISFC), linear quadratic regulator with an integral action (LQI) and a fuzzy logic controller (FLC), have been implemented in this study. The performances of these controllers are compared based on achieving zero steady-state error in the rigid body angular displacement of the beam, damping out the unwanted vibrations, rendering the end-effector insensitive to the vibrations of the arm, and avoiding excessive control torque requirements. The digital simulation results demonstrate the superiority of the FLC over the ISFC and LQI in damping out the vibrations of the beam and reducing the gripper positional inaccuracies while requiring relatively smaller control torques. Furthermore, the results clearly demonstrate the robustness of the FLC to significant variations in the payload mass.
Does Consumer Satisfaction Information Matter? Evidence on Member Retention in FEHBP Plans
Authors: Tai-Seale Ming
Published: May 2004

Taking advantage of a natural experiment, this study explores the crucial link between consumer satisfaction, distribution of consumer satisfaction information, and member retention at open enrollment. Multiple data sources, panel data regression analysis, and instrumental variable techniques inform how retention is affected by consumer satisfaction, before and after free distribution of report card information, controlling for market structure, consumer characteristics, premiums, benefits, and other plan attributes in about 250 Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (FEHBP) plans nationwide. Study results suggest that consumer satisfaction boosts member retention. Free distribution of consumer satisfaction information to federal employees during open enrollment is associated with lower member retention, which may suggest that consumers might have used this newly distributed information and then decided to withdraw from their previous plans.
The Effect of Insurance Status on Travel Time for Rural Medicare Patients
Authors: O’Neill Liam
Published: May 2004

Managed care has been hypothesized to increase patient travel by directing patients toward network providers. The purpose of this study is to measure the effect of Medicare HMO enrollment on hospital travel time in rural areas. Hospital travel times were determined for 85,586 inpatient discharges among rural Pennsylvania residents admitted to Pennsylvania hospitals in 1998. Medicare HMO enrollees traveled up to 10.2 minutes further for acute care than Medicare fee-for-service patients (39 versus 29 minutes). Medicare HMO enrollees were 50 percent more likely to travel outside their own counties and 70 percent more likely to travel to urban areas for acute care. The distance premium associated with HMO enrollment was largest in counties with the lowest managed care penetration.
The Rate and Cost of Hospital Readmissions for Preventable Conditions
Authors: Friedman Bernard , Basu Jayasree
Published: May 2004

The study estimates the rate and cost of preventable readmissions within 6 months after a first preventable admission, by age-group, and by payer and race within age-group. The descriptive results are contrasted with several hypotheses. The hospital discharge data are for residents of New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin in 1999, from files of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. About 19 percent of persons with an initial preventable admission had at least one preventable readmission rate within 6 months. Hospital cost for preventable readmissions during 6 months was about $730 million. There were substantial differences in readmission rates by payer group and by race. Some evidence suggests that preventable readmissions may partly reflect complexity of underlying problems. Interventions to reduce cost might focus on identifying high-risk patients before discharge and devising new approaches to follow-up.
Disclosure, Reactions, and Social Support: Findings from a Sample of Adult Victims of Child Sexual Abuse
Authors: Jonzon Eva , Lindblad Frank
Published: May 2004

Information about abuse characteristics, disclosure, and current social support was collected through semistructured interviews and questionnaires from 122 adult women reporting exposure to child sexual abuse by someone close. Women who used an active disclosure strategy in childhood reported more physical and violent abuse. Moreover, women who reported more severe abuse had more often received negative reactions from the social network. Furthermore, a relation was found between current social support and positive—but not negative—reactions.
Retrospective Measurement of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Review of Instruments
Authors: Hulme Polly A.
Published: May 2004

In this comprehensive review of retrospective childhood sexual abuse (CSA) instruments, instruments from studies published between 1986 and 2001 are examined according to administration method, number and specificity of questions, CSA operational definitions, psychometric properties, and the use of scales. It was found that both self-administered and interview instruments range from the vagueness of a single question to the preciseness of multiple, specific questions. Furthermore, the review demonstrated that CSA instruments generally lack standardization. Many are developed for one-time use and others modified when reused. Descriptive CSA instruments have been preferred by researchers and primarily used to measure CSA dichotomously. However, little consensus exists as to how to operationally define CSA. One positive trend is the development of scales that measure CSA as an interval-level variable, allowing for more extensive psychometric data to be collected.
Recognizing and Treating Uncommon Behavioral and Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents Who Have Been Severely Maltreated: Introduction
Authors: Haugaard Jeffrey J.
Published: May 2004

To provide more effective clinical services for children and adolescents who have been severely maltreated, the New York State Office of Mental Health sponsored the development of several guides to assist clinicians providing services to these children and adolescents. This article introduces the six other articles in this special section, articles that are adapted from those clinical guides. It also provides basic guidelines for services to severely maltreated children, adolescents, and their families and introduces several concepts that should be considered when reading the other articles in this special section.
Recognizing and Treating Uncommon Behavioral and Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents Who have been Severely Maltreated: Bipolar Disorders
Authors: Haugaard Jeffrey J.
Published: May 2004

Although it was assumed for many years that children do not experience bipolar disorder, it has been recently recognized that some children do. Those who have been severely mal-treated may be at an increased risk for developing a bipolar disorder. This article explores the symptoms of the bipolar disorder as well as strategies for distinguishing these symptoms from those of children experiencing more common disorders. Treatment strategies, including the use of medication, for children experiencing bipolar disorder and their families are examined.