bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
‘Participatory consociationalism? No, but South Tyrol's Autonomy Convention is evidence that power‐sharing can transform conflicts’
Authors: Larin Stephen J. , Röggla Marc 
Published: January 2019

AbstractSouth Tyrol is an autonomous, predominantly German‐speaking province in Italy, and one of the most successful cases of power‐sharing in the world. Nevertheless, the Province recently conducted a participatory‐democratic process known as the ‘Autonomy Convention’ to debate and draft a proposal for revising the 1972 Autonomy Statute. It is the first such process with the stated intent of amending a power‐sharing arrangement, and our research questions are whether this represents a new type of consociational negotiation, and what made it possible. The answer to the first question is ‘no’, and the Convention is best seen as a ‘participatory‐ish consultation’ which had no formal power. But the problems that it faced, and the fact that it occurred at all, are evidence of consociational democracy's potential to transform conflicts. The Convention, we argue, is the result of ‘normal’, not ‘ethnic’ politics, and two generations of successful power‐sharing made that possible by desecuritising the relationship between South Tyrol's three official linguistic groups.
Functional anal canal length measurement using high‐resolution anorectal manometry to investigate anal sphincter dysfunction in patients with fecal incontinence or constipation
Authors: Vollebregt Paul F. , Rasijeff Annika M. P. , Pares David , Grossi Ugo , Carrington Emma V. , Knowles Charles H. , Scott S. Mark 
Published: January 2019

AbstractBackgroundUsing high‐resolution anorectal manometry, we aimed to evaluate the: (a) optimal threshold to measure functional anal canal length (FACL) with intra‐ and inter‐observer variability; (b) relationship between abnormal FACL and other phenotypic findings; and (c) utility of FACL measurement to discriminate between healthy volunteers (HV) and patients with fecal incontinence (FI) or chronic constipation (CC).MethodsConsecutive patients referred for investigation of FI or CC in isolation were included. FACL was calculated at 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50 mm Hg above rectal pressure. 5th‐95th percentile in HV defined limits of normality.Key ResultsFACL was analyzed in 192 patients with FI (154 females), 204 patients with CC (175 females), and 134 HV (101 females). The optimal threshold for measurement of FACL was 20 mm Hg. Using this threshold, observer reproducibility was very high (ICC 0.99, P < 0.0001). FACL was shorter in females with FI and longer in females with CC compared to HV (2.3 vs 2.9 cm; and 3.4 cm vs 2.9 cm; both P < 0.0001). Twenty percent of females and 13% males with FI had a short FACL, associated with older age, anal hypotonia or hypocontractility, and a atrophic internal anal sphincter. However, abnormal FACL in isolation was only found in 1/190 FI (0.5%) and 2/201 CC (1%) patients; all other patients had other abnormal manometric findings.Conclusions and InferencesConsidering overlap with other routinely evaluated manometric parameters, FACL measurement does not provide additional information in the diagnostic assessment of FI or CC.
Social psychology and citizenship: A critical perspective
Authors: Andreouli Eleni 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe paper advances a critical social psychological approach to the study of citizenship. It builds upon recent social psychological work on the subject, particularly in discursive and rhetorical psychology but also other critical approaches such as social representations theory. The paper also borrows insights from the interdisciplinary field of citizenship studies in order to conceptualise citizenship in both its conventional (enacting well‐established scripts of political action) and its transformative aspects (making rights claims that are disruptive of established scripts). The paper is divided in five sections. The first section considers the relationship between social psychology and citizenship; the second section offers a conceptualisation of citizenship that takes under consideration citizens' practices from the ground up and constraints posed by existing norms and laws; the third section considers the value of adding citizenship into the social psychological conceptual toolkit. The fourth more substantive section advances a critical social psychological approach to citizenship which focuses on the study of the different ways that “ordinary” political actors engage with political matters in the mundane practices of everyday life. The last section concludes the paper and makes some suggestions for future directions, such as the study of emerging forms of citizenship through a more nuanced examination of intersecting political affiliations.
Is fiscal revenue concentration ratio in China too high?
Authors: Fang Hongsheng , Shuai Wenjun , Yu Linhui , Zhang Jun 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThis paper challenges the viewpoint that fiscal revenue concentration ratio in China is too high. First, this paper estimates China's nominal and real fiscal revenue concentration ratios at both budgetary and full‐calibre levels, and makes an international comparison using all available data of the IMF's GFS database for both developed and developing countries, revealing five stylised facts that expresses serious doubts about the statement that fiscal revenue concentration ratio in China is too high. Second, the paper proposes four indicators to measure asymmetric degree of China's central fiscal revenue concentration ratio and expenditure concentration ratio to identify whether fiscal revenue concentration ratio in China is too high. The results show that: (i) central fiscal revenue concentration ratio is lower and (ii) compared with asymmetric degree of China's central budgetary fiscal revenue concentration ratio and expenditure concentration ratio, asymmetric degree of China's central full‐calibre fiscal revenue concentration ratio and expenditure concentration ratio is more serious, indicating that the central full‐calibre revenue concentration ratio is much lower. Therefore, this paper not only disproves the view that China's fiscal revenue concentration ratio is too high, but also shows that China's fiscal revenue concentration ratio, especially at a full‐calibre level, is much lower. Further international comparison shows that asymmetric degree of China's central fiscal revenue concentration ratio and expenditure concentration ratio is ranked third in the world, and Chinese central government has the lowest ability to undertake full‐calibre fiscal expenditure among the world's countries. Finally, following the State Council's guidance on properly increasing central authority, the paper argues that it is necessary for the central government to improve central fiscal revenue concentration ratio, especially at the full‐calibre level.
Early Success for Pipeline Safety Research With Universities
Authors: Merritt James , Smith Robert 
Published: January 2019

In 2013, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) implemented a new cooperative agreement program entitled the Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP). The CAAP initially was modeled after similar existing private and public sector based university programs where students themselves competed to participate in a limited number of publicized student intern programs. After just three years, CAAP is breathing further innovation into PHMSA’s pipeline safety research endeavors.
One difference between CAAP and the traditional university student research model is that the professors directing students under CAAP have control over the number and educational level of the students entering into the program. This promotes a “Team Approach,” which today’s pipeline industry sees as an added value when interviewing potential job applicants.
The CAAP is intended to spur innovation through enabling an academic research focus on high risk and high payoff solutions for wide ranging pipeline safety challenges. The CAAP is different in focus, execution and reporting than PHMSA’s core program on Pipeline Safety Research. It is intended to potentially deliver desired technical or scientific/quantitative solutions that can be “handed-off” for further investigations in future year CAAP applications or used in PHMSA’s core Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) program, which employs partnerships with a variety of public/private organizations.
Another goal for CAAP is to expose undergraduate, MS and PhD research students to subject matter related to their educational area of focus, while addressing pipeline safety challenges. This approach is illustrating how their engineering or technical discipline is highly desired and needed across the pipeline field. The pipeline industry and federal/state regulators are all experiencing low numbers of entry level applications to positions that are engineering or technically focused. Public conferences, meetings and journals have identified similar shortfalls.
This paper will describe the level of CAAP investment and focus areas to date; illustrate how efforts to expose student research to industry enhances employment opportunities; and comment on where promising innovations are coming from due to these research endeavors.
The Reliability Estimation of Simplified Natural Gas Pipeline Compressor Stations Based on Statistics Principles
Authors: Fan Muwei , Wu Yang , Kong Wenhui , Gong Jing 
Published: January 2019

With the rapid economic and rigorous requirement of environmental governance, natural gas serves as important energy source in industry consumption. In 2015, the total consumption of natural gas in China is approximately 142 billion m3. As the primary mode of natural gas transport, early pipeline operated for more than 20 years in China, and its reliability also attracts abundant concerns by the increasing potential risks. However, the process of pipeline reliability evaluating and estimation in China is still located under development. To solve the problem, a simplified reliability estimation method is introduced in this article. To begin with the main equipment of a compressing station, the filter, air cooler and compressors are three research objectives. Because of redundant design for enhancing reliability, the major equipment usually operates with a same spare unit. Thus, the simplified station is consisted by 3 main sections with multiple units as filter section, compressing section and cooling section. By assuming their reliability following normal distribution, the multivariate normal distribution model is available. Each unit is characterized by one dimension of the multivariate normal distribution. This article considers both relevant and irrelevant processes while the equipment is operating simultaneously and illustrates the results via two and three dimensions normal distribution calculation. Due to the model being singular function because of be established based on multivariate normal distribution and parameter estimation principles, the analytical solution is not available. Therefore, numerical computation is the compulsory solution. However, the reliability analysis of pipe is different from equipment and it has been studied for years in details from theory to experiments. Consequently, the reliability of pipe is analyzed by statistics method from collected operating data.
A pipeline with 25-years operating data in China is applied in the case study chapter for reliability estimation and analysis. According to the operating data collected by China National Petroleum Corporation, the failure rate of major equipment is estimated by determining the parameters of each distribution and fitted a curve like bathtub curve. Similarly, the failure rate of pipe is indicated as failures per 103 km • year. For comparing, the operating data is also fitted a curve to validate the result of the model with the purpose of reasonably estimating the whole period reliability. The result demonstrates that the model is available in practice if the parameters are determined properly.
Standardization of SENT (or SE(T)) Fracture Toughness Measurement: Results of a Round Robin on a Draft Test Procedure
Authors: Tiku Sanjay , Pussegoda Nick , Ghovanlou Morvarid , Tyson W. R. , Dinovitzer Aaron 
Published: January 2019

Fracture toughness of steels is conventionally measured using bend specimens and provides a conservative estimate of toughness when the actual loading is in tension. There has been widespread interest in characterizing the toughness that occurs with reduced constraint to better reflect constraint conditions typical of a relatively shallow girth weld flaw. There is currently a standardized approach to measure fracture toughness in tension loaded specimens, however, it requires testing of multiple specimens to generate a resistance curve. Recent developments in fracture toughness testing and analysis of tension loaded specimens have led to publications by CANMET and Exxon Mobil Upstream Research Company toward development of a single-specimen procedure.
As part of an initiative to enhance the state of the art in strain based design and assessment methods, with the intent of providing support for the standardization of appropriate weld testing methods, BMT under a Pipeline research Council International (PRCI) project has combined the two single-specimen approaches and developed a recommended practice for fracture toughness testing using single-edge-notched tension SENT (or SE(T)) samples with fixed grip loading. The procedure has been assessed by means of a round robin test program involving laboratories from around the world. Girth welds were fabricated and base metal, heat affected zone and weld center line specimens were prepared and sent to round robin participants. For the round robin program all the participants used a double clip gauge arrangement for direct CTOD measurement and electric potential drop measurement or unloading compliance method for crack growth measurement. In this paper, the results of the round robin test program including comparison of J and CTOD resistance curves will be presented and discussed.
Analyzing the Effectiveness of Prevention Measures for Third-Party Damage to Underground Pipelines Using a Hierarchical Fault Tree Model
Authors: Lu Dongliang , Stephens Mark 
Published: January 2019

This paper presents a hierarchical fault tree model for analyzing the effectiveness of measures for the prevention of third-party mechanical damage to underground pipelines. The model consists of a high level failure model that provides an overall indication of the effectiveness of a damage prevention program; and lower level fault tree models that detail the effectiveness of individual damage prevention measures. The model developed in this paper is consistent with current damage prevention and data collection practices, and it presents information in a simple and intuitive format that facilitates analysis and interpretation.
The hierarchical fault tree approach developed in this paper is shown to be a useful tool for evaluating the effectiveness of various measures to prevent third-party damage and for identifying weak links in current damage management practices. It can also serve to inform the development of new damage prevention techniques and to identify information priorities relevant for future data collection and interpretation efforts aimed at reducing the frequency of third-party damage events.
Association of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations With Glucose Profiles in Male Collegiate Football Athletes
Authors: Sun Xiaomin , Cao Zhen-Bo , Tanisawa Kumpei , Oshima Satomi , Higuchi Mitsuru 
Published: January 2019

Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations are associated with a high risk of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults. However, it is unknown whether this is the case for American collegiate football and rugby football athletes. This study investigated the associations between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and glucose profiles in male collegiate football athletes. Thirty-four collegiate athletes (13 American football players and 21 rugby football players) aged 21 years were recruited. Their body fat percent and visceral fat area were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. The participants completed an oral glucose tolerance test (75 g glucose) with venous blood samples obtained at time points 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min for the determination of plasma glucose and serum insulin concentrations. Fasting serum 25(OH)D concentrations were also measured. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was 17.6% and 58.8%, respectively. The serum 25(OH)D concentrations were negatively associated with the increments in the areas under the curve (iAUC) for glucose (r = −.429, p = .011) and were borderline significantly correlated with the Matsuda index (r = −.303, p = .082). No relationships were observed between the serum 25(OH)D concentrations and other glucose profiles. Multiple stepwise regression analysis of glucose iAUC concentrations as the dependent variable indicated that the serum 25(OH)D concentrations, but not body fat indicators, were independently associated with glucose iAUC (β = −0.390, p = .025). The serum 25(OH)D concentrations were only an independent predictor for glucose iAUC in male collegiate football athletes, suggesting that increased 25(OH)D concentrations would be helpful for maintaining glucose homeostasis.
Retrospective analysis of complications associated with dorsal root ganglion stimulation for pain relief in the FDA MAUDE database
Authors: Sivanesan Eellan , Bicket Mark C , Cohen Steven P 
Published: January 2019

Background and objectivesDorsal root ganglion stimulation is an emerging therapy in the treatment of chronic pain. Compared with traditional spinal cord stimulation, it allows a discretely targeted stimulation profile and may act via differing mechanisms of action. Despite these advantages, little is known about the complications associated with this new modality.MethodsWe queried the MAUDE (Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience) database for all entries named ‘Dorsal root ganglion stimulator for pain relief’ reported between May 1, 2016 and December 31, 2017. We verified these data through the Office of the Freedom of Information Act at the US Food and Drug Administration. We then eliminated duplicate entries and categorized each complication based on the event description. A secondary analysis was performed to characterize the serious adverse events and the severity of new neurologic symptoms and infections.ResultsWe identified 979 unique episodes following our process of deduplication. Almost half (47%) of entries were categorized as device-related complications, a quarter (28%) as procedural complications, with the remainder as patient complaints (12%), serious adverse events (2.4%), and ‘other’ complications (4.6%). The majority of complications were managed surgically with revision (n = 488; 49.8%) rather than explant (n = 161; 16.4%) events, respectively.ConclusionsThe ‘Dorsal root ganglion stimulator for pain relief’ device has been publicized as a breakthrough in neuromodulation technologies. As with any new technology, we must proceed with caution and re-evaluate effectiveness as information becomes available. The MAUDE database has provided safety data unique for this device that will aid in informed consent and further refinement of this innovative therapy.
Self-reported cumulative medical opioid exposure and subjective responses on first use of opioids predict analgesic and subjective responses to placebo-controlled opioid administration
Authors: Bruehl Stephen , Stone Amanda L , Palmer Cassandra , Edwards David A , Buvanendran Asokumar , Gupta Rajnish , Chont Melissa , Kennedy Mary , Burns John W 
Published: January 2019

Background and objectivesTo expand the evidence base needed to enable personalized pain medicine, we evaluated whether self-reported cumulative exposure to medical opioids and subjective responses on first opioid use predicted responses to placebo-controlled opioid administration.MethodsIn study 1, a survey assessing cumulative medical opioid exposure and subjective responses on first opioid use was created (History of Opioid Medical Exposure (HOME)) and psychometric features documented in a general sample of 307 working adults. In study 2, 49 patients with chronic low back pain completed the HOME and subsequently rated back pain intensity and subjective opioid effects four times after receiving saline placebo or intravenous morphine (four incremental doses) in two separate double-blinded laboratory sessions. Placebo-controlled morphine effects were derived for all outcomes.ResultsTwo HOME subscales were supported: cumulative opioid exposure and euphoric response, both demonstrating high test–retest reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficients > 0.93) and adequate internal consistency (Revelle’s Omega Total = 0.73–0.77). In study 2, higher cumulative opioid exposure scores were associated with significantly greater morphine-related reductions in back pain intensity (p=0.02), but not with subjective drug effects. Higher euphoric response subscale scores were associated with significantly lower overall perceived morphine effect (p=0.003), less sedation (p=0.04), greater euphoria (p=0.03) and greater desire to take morphine again (p=0.02).DiscussionSelf-reports of past exposure and responses to medical opioid analgesics may have utility for predicting subsequent analgesic responses and subjective effects. Further research is needed to establish the potential clinical and research utility of the HOME.Trial registration numberNCT02469077.