bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of turbulence on the performance of a two-lobe journal bearing lubricated with a couple stress fluid
Authors: Chetti Boualem
Published: January 2017

Purpose

This paper presents an analysis of the static characteristics of two-lobe journal bearings lubricated with couple stress fluids operating in a turbulent regime. The modified Reynolds equation for a couple stress fluids taking into consideration the effect of turbulence is solved using finite difference method. The load-carrying capacity, attitude angle, friction coefficient and side leakage are determined for various values of the couple stress parameter and Reynolds number. It is found that the couple stress fluids affect significantly on the performance of a two-lobe journal bearing in laminar and turbulent regime.

Design/methodology/approach

The modified Reynolds equation for a couple stress fluids taking into consideration the effect of turbulence is solved using finite difference method.

Findings

It is found that the couple stress fluids affect significantly on the performance of a two-lobe journal bearing in laminar and turbulent regime.

Originality/value

A couple stress fluid is used for lubrication of a two-lobe journal bearing in turbulent regime and laminar.
Simulation studies on static thermal behaviour of true elliptical and orthogonally displaced non-circular journal bearing
Authors: Singla Amit , Chauhan Amit
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The current trend of modern industry is to use machineries which rotate at high speed along with the capability of carrying heavy rotor loads. This paper aims at static thermal analysis of two different profiles of non-circular journal bearings – a true elliptical bearing and orthogonal bearing.

Design/methodology/approach

The Reynolds equation has been solved through finite difference method to compute the oil film pressure. Parabolic temperature profile approximation technique has been used to solve the energy equation and thus used for computation of various bearing performance characteristics such as thermo-hydrodynamic oil film pressure, temperature, load capacity, Sommerfeld number and power loss characteristics across the bearing. The effect of ellipticity ratio on the bearing performance characteristics has also been obtained for both the elliptical and vertical offset bearing using three different commercially available grades of oil (Hydrol 32, 68 and 100).

Findings

It has been observed that the thermo-hydrodynamic pressure and temperature rise of the oil film is less in orthogonal bearing as compared to the true elliptical bearing for same operating conditions. The effect of ellipticity ratio of non-circularity on bearing performance parameters have been observed to be less in case of elliptical bearing as compared to orthogonal bearing. It has been concluded that though the rise in oil film temperature is high for true elliptical bearing, but still it should be preferred over orthogonal profile under study, as it has comparably good load-carrying capacity.

Originality/value

The performance parametric analysis will help the designers to select such kind of non-circular journal bearing for various applications.
Analyzing Hertzian contact stress developed in a double row spherical roller bearing and its effect on fatigue life
Authors: Shah Dhaval B. , Patel Kaushik M. , Trivedi Ruchik D.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a method permitting the creation of a realistic model of spherical roller bearing with the aim of determining contact stress and fatigue life based on dynamic loading conditions. The paper also aims to recognize the effect of tolerance values on contact stress and fatigue life. Motion and load transmission in spherical roller bearing occurs within the assembly by elliptical curved contacting surfaces. The stress produced by the transmitted load would be very high because of least contacting area between these surfaces.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes a methodology to determine contact stress using analytically as well as finite element method for spherical roller bearing. The comparison for the both each approach for contact stress at different loading condition is carried out. Prediction of fatigue life based on dynamic loading conditions for bearing is also determined using finite element model. The effect on induced contact stress and fatigue life by varying tolerances on inner race dimensions have been found out.

Findings

The paper suggests that the maximum stress produces at the start or end of the contacting arc under static loading condition in spherical roller bearing. The analytical and finite element approach is in good agreement. The fatigue life prediction is useful for selecting loading conditions for various applications of double row spherical roller bearing. Tolerance level at inner ring raceway radius is kept high because of manufacturing constrain of complex curvature geometric shape.

Research limitations/implications

The present approach does not consider dynamic loading conditions for contact stress analysis. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to analyze the effect of wear, lubrication and other tribological aspects on bearing life.

Originality/value

The paper includes determination of contact stress and prediction of fatigue life for spherical roller bearing using analytical as well as finite element approach. The tolerance values at inner race are identified as per manufacturing constraint based on contact stress and fatigue life.
Factors influence the lubrication characteristics investigation and optimization of bearing based on neural network
Authors: He Zhenpeng , Gong Wenqin
Published: January 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to give the guidance for the design of the bearing.

Design/methodology/approach

The finite element method, the multi-body dynamics method, the finite difference method and the tribology are combined to analyze the lubrication.

Findings

The performance parameters of crankshaft-bearing system such as the misalignment, the oil filling ratio and the oil groove are also investigated. Misalignment causes the pressure to incline on one side and the pressure increases obviously. Filling ratio has great relationship with pressure distribution; the factors influencing the filling ratio are also analyzed. Different oil groove models are investigated, as it can provide the theory for oil groove design, and three factors above are always combined to influence the lubrication characteristics.

Originality/value

The optimization of bearing system is conducted by orthogonal test and neural network, unlike the linear optimization theory. Neural network uses the nonlinear theory to optimize crankshaft-bearing system.
Effect of restaurant reward programs on customers’ loyalty: evidence from Iran
Authors: Heidarzadeh Hanzaee Kambiz , Esmaeilpour Fariba
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the moderating effect of restaurant type (fast food versus casual dining) affects the Generation Y’s customers’ reaction to reward time redemption (immediate versus delayed) and reward type (economic versus social).

Design/methodology/approach

A 2 × 2 × 2 full-factorial, randomized, between-subject experimental design is conducted to test the research framework. The treatment groups are different from each other by manipulating reward type, reward timing and restaurant type through eight different scenario exposures.

Findings

The findings of the study reveal that the loyalty is significantly higher for immediate than delayed rewards in the both examined restaurant segments. In the casual dining restaurant segment, the effect of rewards increases for social rewards more than economic ones. On the other hand, for fast food restaurant context, there is no difference in the effect of reward type, whether they are economic or social.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the limitations of fine dining restaurants in Iran, the present study consists of only two types of restaurants (fast food vs casual dining).

Originality/value

This study aims to contribute towards the understanding how restaurant type (fast food versus casual dining) affects the impact of restaurant reward programs on the loyalty of Generation Y’s customers.
Substitute or complement? The use of trade credit as a financing source among SMEs
Authors: Yazdanfar Darush , Öhman Peter
Published: January 2017

Purpose

This study aims to investigate trade credit as a financing source among small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly the influence of short-term debt, long-term debt and profitability on the use of such credit.

Design/methodology/approach

Ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed-effects and generalized method of moments (GMM) system models were used to analyze a large cross-sectional panel data set of 15,897 Swedish SMEs in five industry sectors for the 2009-2012 period.

Findings

The study provides empirical evidence that long-term debt and profitability each significantly and negatively influence trade credit (i.e. accounts payable) and that short-term debt positively influences trade credit. Notably, while trade credit seems to complement other short-term debt, it replaces long-term debt. Moreover, firm size in terms of sales is positively related and firm age is negatively related to accounts payable. Industry affiliation is another significant explanatory variable.

Practical implications

The results provide debt holders, potential investors, policymakers and academic researchers with insights into the relationship between trade credit demand, on the one hand, and external financing (i.e. short- and long-term debt) and internal retained earnings (i.e. profit), on the other. From a manager’s perspective, the findings may be important for decision-making regarding trade credit use.

Originality/value

When investigating trade credit determinants, the literature has seldom distinguished between short- and long-term debt and considered that they may influence the use of trade credit in different ways. The present study adds to the literature by using OLS, fixed-effects and GMM system models to analyze a large cross-sectoral sample in a high-tax country where both bank loans and trade credit are considered important financing instruments.
Theory of planned behavior and women in senior-level athletic administration
Authors: Veraldo Cynthia Miller , Ruihley Brody J.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Women continue to be underrepresented in the athletic director (AD) position across all divisions of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the USA (Acosta and Carpenter, 2014). The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of personal aspirations in pursing the AD position.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative examination focuses on the experiences of nine women who occupy senior associate AD positions and applies the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to examine how attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control influence their aspirations to pursue the AD role.

Findings

The authors suggest a combination of negative attitudes, subjective norms, and lack of perceived behavioral control negatively influencing a woman’s aspirations to pursue the AD position. These conclusions indicate women’s experiences of career advancement are constraining with regard to advancing to the AD position.

Research limitations/implications

Although this study lacks generalizability, TPB is helpful in understanding underrepresentation of women in the AD position.

Practical implications

Furthermore, the authors suggest organizational strategies that cultivate and value women’s experiences. These can equalize the hegemonic male environment of intercollegiate athletics and decrease underrepresentation of women in the most senior-level position in athletic administration.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to apply TPB to explain career advancement of women in senior management positions in athletic administration.
Outsourcing sports sponsorship activities: a multi-theoretical approach
Authors: Dietl Helmut M. , Özdemir Anil , Schweizer Nicolas
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand and explain why some professional sports organizations outsource their sponsorship-related activities to sports marketing agencies, whereas others purposely retain these activities in-house.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies transaction cost economics (TCE) and the resource-based view (RBV) to outsourcing of sports sponsorship activities. It examines the extent determinants descending from these theories influence the sourcing choice of professional sports organizations.

Findings

This paper argues that determinants derived from TCE and the RBV are useful to understand the factors likely to influence an outsourcing decision and to analyze which sponsorship-related activities are more or less likely to be outsourced. However, these determinants are insufficient to shed light on why sports organizations arrive at different conclusions about their internal and external environments. With recourse to contingency theory, the authors propose two additional contingencies that affect the sourcing decision: a sport organization’s size and its degree of professionalism. This integrative conceptual framework improves the understanding of sports sponsorship outsourcing, makes several propositions, and paves the way for future empirical research in sports sponsorship.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to apply classical theoretical concepts to outsourcing sports sponsorship activities. As a conceptual paper, it hopes to stimulate further research on outsourcing in sports sponsorship and on the relationship between sports organizations and sports marketing agencies.
The long‐term population dynamics of common wasps in their native and invaded range
Authors: Lester Philip J. , Haywood John , Archer Michael E. , Shortall Chris R.
Published: January 2017

Populations of introduced species are often thought to perform differently, or experience different population dynamics, in their introduced range compared to their native habitat. Differences between habitats in climate, competition or natural enemies may result in populations with varying density dependence and population dynamics.

We examined the long‐term population dynamics of the invasive common wasp, Vespula vulgaris, in its native range in England and its invaded range in New Zealand. We used 39 years of wasp density data from four sites in England, and 23 years of data from six sites in New Zealand. Wasp population time series was examined using partial rate correlation functions. Gompertz population models and multivariate autoregressive state‐space (MARSS) models were fitted, incorporating climatic variation.

Gompertz models successfully explained 59–66% of the variation in wasp abundance between years. Density dependence in wasp populations appeared to act similarly in both the native and invaded range, with wasp abundance in the previous year as the most important variable in predicting intrinsic rate of increase (r). No evidence of cyclic population dynamics was observed.

Both the Gompertz and MARSS models highlighted the role of weather conditions in each country as significant predictors of annual wasp abundance. The temporal evolution of wasp populations at all sites was best modelled jointly using a single latent dynamic factor for local trends, with the inclusion of a latent spring weather covariate. That same parsimonious multivariate model structure was optimal in both the native and invaded range.

Density dependence is overwhelmingly important in predicting wasp densities and ‘wasp years’ in both the native and invaded range. Spring weather conditions in both countries have a major influence, probably through their impact on wasp colony initiation and early development. The population dynamics in the native range and invaded range show no evidence of cyclic boom‐and‐bust dynamics. Invasive species may not exhibit different population dynamics despite considerable variation in abundances throughout their distribution.
Size structuring and allometric scaling relationships in coral reef fishes
Authors: Dunic Jillian C. , Baum Julia K.
Published: January 2017

Temperate marine fish communities are often size‐structured, with predators consuming increasingly larger prey and feeding at higher trophic levels as they grow. Gape limitation and ontogenetic diet shifts are key mechanisms by which size structuring arises in these communities. Little is known, however, about size structuring in coral reef fishes.

Here, we aimed to advance understanding of size structuring in coral reef food webs by examining the evidence for these mechanisms in two groups of reef predators. Given the diversity of feeding modes amongst coral reef fishes, we also compared gape size–body size allometric relationships across functional groups to determine whether they are reliable indicators of size structuring.

We used gut content analysis and quantile regressions of predator size–prey size relationships to test for evidence of gape limitation and ontogenetic niche shifts in reef piscivores (n = 13 species) and benthic invertivores (n = 3 species). We then estimated gape size–body size allometric scaling coefficients for 21 different species from four functional groups, including herbivores/detritivores, which are not expected to be gape‐limited.

We found evidence of both mechanisms for size structuring in coral reef piscivores, with maximum prey size scaling positively with predator body size, and ontogenetic diet shifts including prey type and expansion of prey size. There was, however, little evidence of size structuring in benthic invertivores. Across species and functional groups, absolute and relative gape sizes were largest in piscivores as expected, but gape size–body size scaling relationships were not indicative of size structuring. Instead, relative gape sizes and mouth morphologies may be better indicators.

Our results provide evidence that coral reef piscivores are size‐structured and that gape limitation and ontogenetic niche shifts are the mechanisms from which this structure arises. Although gape allometry was not indicative of size structuring, it may have implications for ecosystem function: positively allometric gape size–body size scaling relationships in herbivores/detritivores suggests that loss of large‐bodied individuals of these species will have a disproportionately negative impact on reef grazing pressure.
Best use for milk – A review.II– Effect of physiological, husbandry and seasonal factors on the physicochemical properties of bovine milk
Authors: Chen Biye , Grandison Alistair S , Lewis Michael J
Published: January 2017

Part two of this review evaluates the impact of physiological, husbandry and seasonal factors on the physicochemical properties of raw bovine milk and on products manufactured from it. For producers of dairy products, there are opportunities to select the most appropriate feeding regimes for producing raw milk which is optimal for their products, as well as understanding what are the best products to be made from milk produced at different times of the year. For these reasons, the concept of ‘best use’ for milk will become an exciting and profitable area for study.
Easy classification of traditional Minas cheeses using artificial neural networks and discriminant analysis
Authors: Santos Leandro S , Cardozo Roberta M D , Nunes Natália Moreiria , Inácio Andréia B , Pires Ana Clarissa dos S , Pinto Maximiliano S
Published: January 2017

The classification of traditional Minas cheese (TMC) from different regions is important to ensure authenticity. Different chemometric approaches were used to discriminate TMCs from three different regions (Serro, Canastra and Araxá) of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The data obtained from the literature were used to develop an artificial neural network and to obtain linear discriminant functions, which were able to classify 100% of cheeses from different regions as a function of physico‐chemical composition. Both chemometric methods can be very useful tools to discriminate TMC from different regions based on physico‐chemical data which are obtained in a very quick and simple way.
Public Trust in Health Information Sharing: A Measure of System Trust
Authors: Platt Jodyn E. , Jacobson Peter D. , Kardia Sharon L. R.
Published: January 2017

Objective

To measure public trust in a health information sharing in a broadly defined health system (system trust), inclusive of health care, public health, and research; to identify individual characteristics that predict system trust; and to consider these findings in the context of national health initiatives (e.g., learning health systems and precision medicine) that will expand the scope of data sharing.

Data Sources

Survey data (n = 1,011) were collected in February 2014.

Study Design

We constructed a composite index of four dimensions of system trust—competency, fidelity, integrity, and trustworthiness. The index was used in linear regression evaluating demographic and psychosocial predictors of system trust.

Data Collection

Data were collected by GfK Custom using a nationally representative sample and analyzed in Stata 13.0.

Principal Findings

Our findings suggest the public's trust may not meet the needs of health systems as they enter an era of expanded data sharing. We found that a majority of the U.S. public does not trust the organizations that have health information and share it (i.e., the health system) in one or more dimensions. Together, demographic and psychosocial factors accounted for ~18 percent of the observed variability in system trust. Future research should consider additional predictors of system trust such as knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs to inform policies and practices for health data sharing.
Effect of temperature and colonization of Legionella pneumophila and Vermamoeba vermiformis on bacterial community composition of copper drinking water biofilms
Authors: Buse Helen Y. , Ji Pan , Gomez‐Alvarez Vicente , Pruden Amy , Edwards Marc A. , Ashbolt Nicholas J.
Published: January 2017

It is unclear how the water‐based pathogen, Legionella pneumophila (Lp), and associated free‐living amoeba (FLA) hosts change or are changed by the microbial composition of drinking water (DW) biofilm communities. Thus, this study characterized the bacterial community structure over a 7‐month period within mature (> 600‐day‐old) copper DW biofilms in reactors simulating premise plumbing and assessed the impact of temperature and introduction of Lp and its FLA host, Vermamoeba vermiformis (Vv), co‐cultures (LpVv). Sequence and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses indicated a correlation between LpVv introduction and increases in Legionella spp. levels at room temperature (RT), while at 37°C, Lp became the dominant Legionella spp. qPCR analysis suggested Vv presence may not be directly associated with Lp biofilm growth at RT and 37°C, but may contribute to or be associated with non‐Lp legionellae persistence at RT. Two‐way PERMANOVA and PCoA revealed that temperature was a major driver of microbiome diversity. Biofilm community composition also changed over the seven‐month period and could be associated with significant shifts in dissolved oxygen, alkalinity and various metals in the influent DW. Hence, temperature, biofilm age, DW quality and transient intrusions/amplification of pathogens and FLA hosts may significantly impact biofilm microbiomes and modulate pathogen levels over extended periods.
Urinary bisphenol A concentration and the risk of central obesity in Chinese adults: A prospective study
Authors: Hao Mingli , Ding Lin , Xuan Liping , Wang Tiange , Li Mian , Zhao Zhiyun , Lu Jieli , Xu Yu , Chen Yuhong , Wang Weiqing , Bi Yufang , Xu Min , Ning Guang
Published: January 2017

Background

Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure has been associated with diabetes and related metabolic disorders, such as obesity, but studies of the association of urinary BPA concentrations with central obesity risk are limited. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate the association between urinary BPA and incident central obesity in a Chinese population aged ≥40 years.

Methods

The study followed 888 participants from Shanghai, China, who did not have central obesity at baseline (in 2009) for 4 years. Concentrations of BPA were measured in baseline morning spot urine samples. Central obesity was defined as waist circumference ≥90 cm in men and ≥80 cm in women.

Results

During a mean follow‐up of 4 years, 124 (14.0%) participants developed central obesity. Each 1‐unit increase in log [BPA] was positively associated with a 2.30‐fold risk of incident central obesity (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39–3.78;
P
 < 0.001) after adjustment for confounders. Compared with the lowest tertile of urinary BPA concentration, Tertiles 2 and 3 were associated with a higher risk of incident central obesity (odds ratios 1.73 [95% CI 1.04–2.88] and 1.81 [95% CI 1.08–3.05], respectively). Stratified analysis showed significant associations of BPA with incident central obesity in women and individuals <60 years of age, with normal weight, non‐smokers, non‐drinkers, or non‐hypertensives.

Conclusions

The results indicate that higher urinary BPA concentrations may be associated with a greater risk of incident central obesity in Chinese adults. The study emphasizes the effects of BPA exposure on metabolic risk from a public health perspective.
Did the 1998 Merger of Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand Increase Audit Quality?
Authors: Choi Jong‐Hag , Kim Seil , Raman K. K.
Published: January 2017

We examine the effects of the 1998 merger of Price Waterhouse (PW) and Coopers & Lybrand (CL) on the audit quality of the merged firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) at both the firm and office levels, where audit quality is surrogated by the auditor's propensity to issue a going‐concern opinion, clients’ likelihood of meeting or beating analysts’ earnings forecasts, and clients’ accrual quality. At the firm level, we find that the merger increased audit quality for PwC relative to the audit quality of the other Big N firms. At the office level, our findings, albeit mixed, collectively suggest that the improvement in firm‐level audit quality was likely driven by the improvement in audit quality at PwC's overlapping offices, that is, offices in cities where both PW and CL had separate offices prior to the merger. Further, our findings suggest that although the PW/CL merger increased auditor concentration in local audit markets with PwC overlapping offices, the merger improved (rather than hurt) audit quality in those markets. Overall, our study contributes to the extant sparse literature on the effect of Big N mergers on audit quality, and is of potential interest to regulators.
The Effect of Reference Group Classification and Change in Alcohol Consumption on the Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Park Ji‐Eun , Ryu Yeonhee , Cho Sung‐Il
Published: January 2017

Background

Many studies suggest that mild alcohol consumption can help avert cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study investigated the association between alcohol consumption and CVD incidence, and assessed whether this differed by reference group classification. As alcohol consumption amounts may change over time, the results of simple and time‐dependent analyses were compared.

Methods

Data were from a community‐based cohort study on 40‐ to 69‐year‐old Koreans recruited in 2001 to 2002. A total of 8,330 participants were followed up for 10 years and classed as nondrinkers (0 g/d), drinker group 1 (<15 g/d), and drinker group 2 (≥15 g/d). The risk of CVD, including myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, was compared among groups using simple and time‐dependent Cox analysis. Occasional drinkers (<2.5 g/d), nondrinkers, and lifetime abstainers were used as comparison reference groups.

Results

Simple Cox analysis indicated that drinker group 1 exhibited a significantly lower risk of myocardial infarction (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21, 0.92) and coronary artery disease (HR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.4, 0.94) than nondrinkers. Time‐dependent analysis based on alcohol consumption change showed that the beneficial effects of drinker group 1 were significant only for myocardial infarction, not for coronary artery disease. The benefits did not change significantly when either nondrinkers or lifetime abstainers were the reference group. However, when occasional drinkers were included in the reference group, the benefits of drinker group 1 were not significant for myocardial infarction (HR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.29, 1.45) or coronary artery disease (HR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.42, 1.19). Occasional drinkers and drinkers had more similar sociodemographic characteristics than did nondrinkers and drinkers.

Conclusions

Further studies on alcohol consumption and its effects on health must use repeated measurement to define drinking status, as simple and time‐dependent analyses can show different alcohol consumption risks. These findings do not indicate a beneficial effect of drinking <15 g/d when occasional drinkers and nondrinkers are included in the reference group.
Constitutional Confusion: Slavery, Abortion, and Substantive Constitutional Analysis
Authors: Dyer Justin Buckley
Published: January 2017

A comparison of two U.S. Supreme Court cases about fundamental rights, one on slavery, the other on abortion, sheds light on constitutional law and the principles undergirding liberal constitutional democracy. The Dred Scott case in 1857 denied constitutional rights to enslaved Africans and their descendants living in the United States. The Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 created a constitutional right to abortion that denied constitutional personhood to human beings prior to birth. Both cases involved applications of what legal scholars call “substantive due process”—that is, a substantive interpretation of the constitutional requirement that governments provide persons with “due process of law” that moves beyond procedural formalism. Although many constitutional scholars deny the legitimacy of substantive due process as a legal doctrine, this article proposes that the judicial system cannot ultimately avoid substantive moral questions in constitutional interpretation. In both cases examined here, the crucial question was about who counts as part of the people whom the Constitution protects, and that question could not be answered in purely formal terms. Both Dred Scott and Roe v. Wade erred not by engaging substantive moral questions but rather by denying, in different ways, the natural rights of human persons.
A Social History of Christian Thought on Abortion: Ambiguity vs. Certainty in Moral Debate
Authors: Castuera Ignacio
Published: January 2017

The authority of Christian thought is based in scripture, tradition, reason, and experience, with the Bible and church history as the major sources. The abortion debate in the USA has been closely tied to claims that rely on Christian authority. However, Christians have never held uniform views about abortion. The almost complete silence on abortion in the Bible and by the two most important Christian theologians—St. Augustine in the 5th century and St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century—undermine sweeping claims about a definitive Christian position. Dogmatism and ethical certainty on abortion were rare in the past and only became dominant themes in the 19th century. This article examines both intellectual debates in the Church and social conditions that influenced thinking on sexuality, the role of women, and the internal politics of the Catholic Church. In the 19th century, the mostly Protestant medical profession played a pivotal role, not only by creating anti‐abortion politics on a national scale, but by taking the place of the patriarchal family in supervising the behavior of women. Protestant churches in the 20th century became politicized and divided into liberal and conservative factions, in part over questions of contraception and abortion. Evangelical Protestants were not deeply troubled by the prospect of liberal abortion laws until they became politicized for extraneous reasons. Christian attitudes on abortion continue to form a maze, never a straight line, just as in the past.
Punishing Abortion: Duty, Morality, and Practicality in Early 20th‐Century France
Authors: Huber Karen E.
Published: January 2017

Debates over the legality and morality of abortion in Europe, especially France, were quite different in the early 20thcentury than they became in Europe and America after widespread legalization. Instead of focusing on the potential rights of the unborn, politically powerful pro‐natalist activists and their less influential neo‐Malthusian adversaries debated the need for larger populations, the role of abortion in facilitating sexual immorality, and the economics of single motherhood. The fetus was largely ignored as most French people continued to hold pre‐modern views of abortion prior to fetal movement as the morally neutral act of restoring delayed menstruation. French juries often showed leniency to women who aborted, although they more frequently voted to convict abortionists, especially midwives.
Differential Registration Bias in Voter File Data: A Sensitivity Analysis Approach
Authors: Nyhan Brendan , Skovron Christopher , Titiunik Rocío
Published: January 2017

The widespread availability of voter files has improved the study of participation in American politics, but the lack of comprehensive data on nonregistrants creates difficult inferential issues. Most notably, observational studies that examine turnout rates among registrants often implicitly condition on registration, a posttreatment variable that can induce bias if the treatment of interest also affects the likelihood of registration. We introduce a sensitivity analysis to assess the potential bias induced by this problem, which we call differential registration bias. Our approach is most helpful for studies that estimate turnout among registrants using posttreatment registration data, but it is also valuable for studies that estimate turnout among the voting‐eligible population using secondary sources. We illustrate our approach with two studies of voting eligibility effects on subsequent turnout among young voters. In both cases, eligibility appears to decrease turnout, but these effects are found to be highly sensitive to differential registration bias.
U.S. Children's Stereotypes and Prejudicial Attitudes toward Arab Muslims
Authors: Brown Christia Spears , Ali Hadeel , Stone Ellen A. , Jewell Jennifer A.
Published: January 2017

The current study examined whether children in elementary school in the United States held stereotypes and prejudicial attitudes about Arab Muslims relative to other groups. Children (n = 136), ages 6–11 (55 boys, 81 girls), were read three counterbalanced vignettes about different immigrant families who moved to the United States: one family from the Middle East with clothing markers indicating they are Muslim (e.g., hijab), one family from the Middle East without clothing markers indicating religion, and one White family from Ireland. Children's responses indicated stereotypes associating the Arab Muslim male target as more anti‐American and hostile and the Arab Muslim female target as more oppressed than others, both consistent with prevalent media stereotypes. Children's positive and negative affective intergroup attitudes were also measured, along with their attitudes about who can be an “American,” with children showing both a positivity and negativity bias against Arab Muslims. Children who had some contact with Muslims or were familiar with Islam felt more positively toward Arab Muslims than less informed children. In addition, if children perceived Arab Muslims to be prototypical “Americans,” and identified as very American themselves, they also held positive attitudes toward Arab Muslims. Implications for prejudice reduction interventions are discussed.
Shrub facilitation drives tree establishment in a semiarid fog‐dependent ecosystem
Authors: Macek Petr , Schöb Christian , Núñez‐Ávila Mariela , Hernández Gentina Iván R. , Pugnaire Francisco I. , Armesto Juan J.
Published: January 2017

Questions

The exceptional occurrence of tall rain forest patches on foggy coastal mountaintops, surrounded by extensive xerophytic shrublands, suggests an important role of plant–plant interactions in the origin and persistence of these patches in semi‐arid Chile. We asked whether facilitation by shrubs can explain the growth and survival of rain forest tree species, and whether shrub effects depend on the identity of the shrub species itself, the drought tolerance of the tree species and the position of shrubs in regard to wind direction.

Location

Open area–shrubland–forest matrix, Fray Jorge Forest National Park, Chile.

Methods

We recorded survival after 12 years of a ~3600 tree saplings plantation (originally ~30‐cm tall individuals) of Aextoxicon punctatum, Myrceugenia correifolia and Drimys winteri placed outside forests, beneath the shrub Baccharis vernalis, and in open (shrub‐free) areas. We assessed the effects of neighbouring shrubs and soil humidity on survival and growth along a gradient related to the direction of fog movement.

Results

B. vernalis had a clear facilitative effect on tree establishment and survival since, after ~12 years, saplings only survived beneath the shrub canopy. Long‐term survival strongly depended on tree species identity, drought tolerance and position along the soil moisture gradient, with higher survival of A. punctatum (>35%) and M. correifolia (>14%) at sites on wind‐ and fog‐exposed shrubland areas. Sites occupied by the shrub Aristeguietia salvia were unsuitable for trees, presumably due to drier conditions than under B. vernalis.

Conclusions

Interactions between shrubs and fog‐dependent tree species in dry areas revealed a strong, long‐lasting facilitation effect on planted tree's survival and growth. Shrubs acted as benefactors, providing sites suitable for tree growth. Sapling mortality in the shrubland interior was caused by lower soil moisture, the consequence of lower fog loads in the air and thus insufficient facilitation. While B. vernalis was a key ecosystem engineer (nurse) and intercepted fog water that dripped to trees planted underneath, drier sites with A. salvia were unsuitable for trees. Consequently, nurse effects related to water input are strongly site and species specific, with facilitation by shrubs providing a plausible explanation for the initiation of forest patches in this semi‐arid landscape.
Identification of cellular targets involved in cardiac failure caused by PKI in oncology: an approach combining pharmacovigilance and pharmacodynamics
Authors: Patras de Campaigno Emilie , Bondon‐Guitton Emmanuelle , Laurent Guy , Montastruc Francois , Montastruc Jean‐Louis , Lapeyre‐Mestre Maryse , Despas Fabien
Published: January 2017

Aims

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the risk of cardiac failure (CF) associated with 15 anticancer protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs) through a case/noncase analysis and to identify which PK(s) and pathways are involved in PKI‐induced CF.

Methods

In order to evaluate the risk of CF, adjusted reporting odds ratios (aRORs) were calculated for the 15 anticancer PKIs in the World Health Organization safety report database (VigiBase®). We realised a literature review to identify 21 protein kinases (PKs) that were possibly involved in CF caused by PKIs. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) between aRORs and affinity data of the 15 PKIs for the 21 PKs were calculated to identify the cellular target most likely to be involved in PKI‐induced CF.

Results

A total of 141 601 individual case safety reports (ICSRs) were extracted from VigiBase® for the following PKIs: afatinib, axitinib, bosutinib, crizotinib, dasatinib, erlotinib, gefitinib, imatinib, lapatinib, nilotinib, pazopanib, ruxolitinib, sorafenib, sunitinib and vandetanib. Among them, 2594 ICSRs concerned CF. The disproportionality analysis revealed that, for dasatinib, imatinib, bosutinib, sunitinib and nilotinib, disproportionality for CF was significantly higher than for other PKIs, with aRORs of 2.52 [95% CI 2.26, 2.82], 1.79 (95% CI 1.57, 2.03), 1.73 (95% CI 1.18, 2.54), 1.67 (95% CI 1.51, 1.84) and 1.38 (95% CI 1.18, 1.61), respectively. Significant values for correlation coefficients between the product of dissociation constant (pKd) and aROR were observed for two non‐receptor protein kinases: ABL1 (non‐phosphorylated and phosphorylated forms) and ABL2 protein kinases, with values of r = 0.83 (P = 0.0001), r = 0.75 (P = 0.0014) and r = 0.78 (P = 0.0006), respectively.

Conclusion

We observed a higher disproportionality for CF with dasatinib, imatinib, bosutinib, sunitinib and nilotinib than with other PKIs. In addition, the study highlighted the role of ABL tyrosine kinases in CF caused by anticancer PKIs.
Collective resistance despite complicity: High identifiers rise above the legitimization of disadvantage by the in‐group
Authors: Jiménez‐Moya Gloria , Rodríguez‐Bailón Rosa , Spears Russell , de Lemus Soledad
Published: January 2017

How do individuals deal with group disadvantage when their fellow in‐group members conceive it as legitimate? Integrating research on the normative conflict model (Packer, 2008, Pers. Soc. Psychol. Rev., 12, 50) and collective action, we expect high identifiers to reject the in‐group norm of legitimacy that justifies the inequality, and to assert that the group is actually able and willing to contest the disadvantage by collective means. In Study 1 and Study 2, we tested this hypothesis in different intergroup contexts. The results confirmed our predictions and also showed one boundary condition for high identifiers, namely that the content of the social identity supports resistance. In Study 3, we found support for our hypothesis using artificial groups and manipulating identification experimentally. These results show that even when a disadvantaged group appears to accept its situation, high identified in‐group members will still contest this and, moreover, expect other in‐group members to support them in this endeavour.
Novel putative pharmacological therapies to protect the right ventricle in pulmonary hypertension: a review of current literature
Authors: Maarman Gerald J , Schulz Rainer , Sliwa Karen , Schermuly Ralph Theo , Lecour Sandrine
Published: January 2017

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined by elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure following the pathological remodelling of small pulmonary arteries. An increase in right ventricular (RV) afterload results in RV hypertrophy and RV failure. The pathophysiology of PH, and RV remodelling in particular, is not well understood, thus explaining, at least in part, why current PH therapies have a limited effect. Existing therapies mostly target the pulmonary circulation. Because the remodelled RV fails to support normal cardiac function, patients eventually succumb from RV failure. Developing novel therapies that directly target the function of the RV may therefore benefit patients with PH. In the past decade, several promising studies have investigated novel cardioprotective strategies in experimental models of PH. This review aims to comprehensively discuss and highlight these novel experimental approaches to confer, in the long‐term, greater health benefit in patients with PH.
Transplantation tolerance: don't forget about the B cells
Authors: Chong A S , Khiew S H
Published: January 2017

Establishing a state of transplantation tolerance that leads to indefinite graft survival without the need for lifelong immunosuppression has been achieved successfully in limited numbers of transplant recipients in the clinic. These successes led to studies aimed at identifying potential biomarkers that diagnose allograft tolerance and identify the patients most amenable to drug minimization, and implicated an enriched B cell signature of tolerance. The emergence of a specialized subset of regulatory B cell (Bregs), that possess immune-modulatory function in inflammation and autoimmune disease, raised the possibility that Bregs play critical roles in the promotion of transplantation tolerance and that Bregs are the underlying explanation for the B cell signature of tolerance. However, B cells are best known to play a key role in humoral immunity, and excessive production of donor specific antibodies has clear deleterious effects in transplantation. Thus, for tolerance to be persistent, alloantibody responses must also be curtailed, either through the suppression of T cell help or the induction of B cell-intrinsic dysfunction. Recent findings indicate a unique subset of follicular regulatory T cells (Tfr) that can suppress B cell function and induce epigenetic modifications that result in sustained defects in B cell differentiation and function. In this review, we summarize studies in animals and humans that suggest roles for Bregs and dysfunctional B cells in transplantation tolerance, and discuss how these insights may provide a roadmap for new approaches to diagnose, and new therapies to induce allograft tolerance.
Investigation of the variability of anterior chamber scan protocol with Cirrus high definition optical coherence tomography
Authors: Tun Tin A , Tan Shayne S , Atalay Eray , Verma Sushma , Nongpiur Monisha E , Baskaran Mani , Aung Tin , Husain Rahat
Published: January 2017

Importance

The evaluation of anterior chamber scan of Cirrus optical coherence tomography for routine clinical use.

Background

To assess the variability of anterior chamber angle measurements.

Design

This was a cross‐sectional study.

Participants

Forty subjects aged 40–80 years were included.

Methods

One randomly selected eye from 40 subjects was imaged with Cirrus optical coherence tomography (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) by two different operators (expert vs. non‐expert) with a 15‐min interval for inter‐observer and intra‐observer variability of image acquisition. For image grading, the angle opening distance (AOD750) and the trabecular iris space area (TISA750) of nasal and temporal quadrants were measured with a customized algorithm (ImageJ, NIH, Bethesda, MD) by two different graders in a masked and random fashion. Bland Altman analysis and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated.

Main Outcome Measures

ICC and limit of agreements (LOA).

Results

There were 15 (37.5%) eyes with closed angles. For inter‐observer variability, the mean difference (95% LOA) of AOD750 for image acquisition and grading were −0.0039 mm (−0.0486, 0.0408) and 0.0011 mm (−0.0228, 0.025), respectively. The mean difference (95% LOA) of AOD750 for intra‐observer variability for image acquisition and grading were 0.0013 mm (−0.0362, 0.0389) and −0.0013 mm (−0.0482, 0.0457), respectively. The ICCs were all ≥0.9. There was no significant difference in measurement variability between open and closed angles (P > 0.05).

Conclusions and Relevance

Anterior chamber scan had low inter‐observer and intra‐observer variability in quantitative evaluation that was not affected by the angle status or the experience of an operator.