bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Selection Error in Single- and Mixed Mode Surveys of the Dutch General Population
Authors: Klausch Thomas , Hox Joop , Schouten Barry 
Published: January 2015

SummaryThis study compares the extent of selection error (non-response and coverage error) evoked by the four major contemporary modes of data collection (face to face, telephone, mail and Web) and three sequential mixed mode designs (telephone, mail and Web with face-to-face follow-up) for the case of the Dutch Crime Victimization Survey. Sociodemographic characteristics and target variables from the survey serve as benchmark variables. A special two-wave experimental design allows studying design differences in selection error on Crime Victimization Survey variables independently from differences in measurement error. Despite large differences in response rates, only small or no differences in selection error between the four single-mode designs are found on both types of variable. We observe cases when the error is enlarged or mitigated in the mixed mode designs despite the fact that the designs yielded large response increases. Our results question the use of response rates to motivate the choice of mode and use of mixed mode surveys.
Bayesian Hierarchical Models for Smoothing in Two-Phase Studies, with Application to Small Area Estimation
Authors: Ross Michelle , Wakefield Jon 
Published: January 2015

SummaryTwo-phase study designs are appealing since they allow for the oversampling of rare subpopulations, which improves efficiency. We describe a Bayesian hierarchical model for the analysis of two-phase data. Such a model is particularly appealing in a spatial setting in which random effects are introduced to model between-area variability. In such a situation, one may be interested in estimating regression coefficients or, in the context of small area estimation, in reconstructing the population totals by strata. The gains in efficiency of the two-phase sampling scheme are compared with standard approaches by using 2011 birth data from the research triangle area of North Carolina. We show that the method proposed can overcome small sample difficulties and improve on existing techniques. We conclude that the two-phase design is an attractive approach for small area estimation.
Group home caregivers' comfort levels regarding physical resistance during oral hygiene care
Authors: Risma Kayla M. , Weber‐Gasparoni Karin , Swenson Sarah E. , Ettinger Ronald L. , Qian Fang 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to investigate perceived comfort levels, behaviors, and barriers reported by group home caregivers who provide oral hygiene measures to consumers with special health care needs (SHCN) who physically resist the care. A 24‐item survey was sent to 884 caregivers employed at six care facilities in Iowa. Bivariate analyses and logistic regression models were used to analyze the data (alpha = 0.05). The overall response rate was 52%. An analysis of the data indicated that caregivers who felt more comfortable providing oral hygiene for consumers who physically resisted the care experienced a higher frequency of consumers not opening their mouths (p = 0.0003), pushing the caregiver away (p = 0.0002), moving their heads uncontrollably (p = 0.0004), spitting at (p = 0.0099), hitting and/or kicking the caregiver (p = 0.0011). Furthermore, these caregivers provided weekly direct care for a greater number of consumers (p = 0.0044), received oral care training from their current facility (p = 0.0424), brushed the teeth of uncooperative consumers at least 75% of the time (p < 0.0001), and felt “somewhat comfortable to very comfortable” flossing their teeth (p < 0.0001). The caregivers’ comfort level in providing oral hygiene measures to those consumers with SHCN who physically resist the care appears to be significantly associated with their training and experience working with this population.
Evaluating a bereavement follow‐up intervention for grieving mothers after the death of a child
Authors: Raitio Katja , Kaunonen Marja , Aho Anna Liisa 
Published: January 2015

AimThe aim of this study was to produce information about parental grief intervention and its impacts on maternal grief.BackgroundThe grief after death of a child is a lifelong process. Social support is often stated as the most important factor in coping after the death of a child.DesignA single measure post‐test control group design was used to evaluate whether there are differences in the grief reactions between the mothers in the intervention program (n = 83) and the mothers in the control group (n = 53).MethodThe data were collected by using a questionnaire which included background variables and Hogan Grief Reactions Checklist 6 months after the child's death. The data were analysed by statistical methods.ResultsThere were no significant differences in the grief reactions between the intervention group and the control group. However, greater support from the healthcare professionals was associated with stronger personal growth. The mothers' age, self‐perceived health status and the age of deceased child were associated with the grief reactions. This study emphasises the importance of social support to grieving mothers.ConclusionHealth care professionals are in an important role when considering support for grieving mothers; the given support may relieve the mothers' grief reactions.
Traces of historical tropical cyclones and tsunamis in the Ashburton Delta (north‐west Australia)
Authors: May Simon Matthias , Brill Dominik , Engel Max , Scheffers Anja , Pint Anna , Opitz Stephan , Wennrich Volker , Squire Peter , Kelletat Dieter , Brückner Helmut 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAlthough the north‐western coast of Western Australia is highly vulnerable to tropical cyclones and tsunamis, little is known about the geological imprint of historic and prehistoric extreme wave events in this particular area. Despite a number of site‐specific difficulties such as post‐depositional changes and the preservation potential of event deposits, both tropical cyclones and tsunamis may be inferred from the geomorphology and the stratigraphy of beach ridge sequences, washover fans and coastal lagoons or marshes. A further challenge is the differentiation between tsunami and storm deposits in the geological record, particularly where modern deposits and/or historical reports on the event are not available. This study presents a high‐resolution sedimentary record of washover events from the Ashburton River delta (Western Australia) spanning approximately the last 150 years. A detailed characterization of event deposits is provided, and a robust chronostratigraphy for the investigated washover sequence is established based on multi‐proxy sediment analyses and optically stimulated luminescence dating. Combining sedimentological, geochemical and high‐resolution optically stimulated luminescence data, event layers are assigned to known historical events and tropical cyclone deposits are separated from tsunami deposits. For the first time, the 1883 Krakatoa and 1977 Sumba tsunamis are inferred from sedimentary records of the north‐western part of Western Australia. It is demonstrated that optically stimulated luminescence applied in coastal sedimentary archives with favourable luminescence characteristics can provide accurate chronostratigraphies even on a decadal timescale. The results contribute to the data pool of tropical cyclone and tsunami deposits in Holocene stratigraphies; however, they also demonstrate how short‐lived sediment archives may be in dynamic sedimentary environments.
Empirical Likelihood for Censored Linear Regression and Variable Selection
Authors: Wu Tong Tong , Li Gang , Tang Chengyong 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe linear regression model for right censored data, also known as the accelerated failure time model using the logarithm of survival time as the response variable, is a useful alternative to the Cox proportional hazards model. Empirical likelihood as a non‐parametric approach has been demonstrated to have many desirable merits thanks to its robustness against model misspecification. However, the linear regression model with right censored data cannot directly benefit from the empirical likelihood for inferences mainly because of dependent elements in estimating equations of the conventional approach. In this paper, we propose an empirical likelihood approach with a new estimating equation for linear regression with right censored data. A nested coordinate algorithm with majorization is used for solving the optimization problems with non‐differentiable objective function. We show that the Wilks' theorem holds for the new empirical likelihood. We also consider the variable selection problem with empirical likelihood when the number of predictors can be large. Because the new estimating equation is non‐differentiable, a quadratic approximation is applied to study the asymptotic properties of penalized empirical likelihood. We prove the oracle properties and evaluate the properties with simulated data. We apply our method to a Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results small intestine cancer dataset.
Optimization of the contour ridge system for controlling nitrogen and phosphorus losses under seepage condition
Authors: Juan A. N. , QianJin L. I. U. , YuanZhi W. U. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractContour ridging can enhance the occurrence of deep seepage because more rainwater concentrates in the low areas along furrows when soil is saturated. Greater seepage could significantly increase nonpoint source pollution. To optimize the contour ridge system to effectively control nutrient losses under seepage condition, 23 treatments with three variables (row grade, field slope and ridge height) in five levels were arranged in a quadratic orthogonal rotation combination design. Results showed that field slope and interactions between the three factors did not significantly influence NO3‐N and PO4‐P losses. The dominant factor that controlled NO3‐N loss was ridge height, followed by row grade. The smallest NO3‐N loss was obtained at a ridge height of 8.72 cm and a row grade of 7.05°. The dominant factor that controlled PO4‐P loss was ridge height. The optimal ridge height for efficiently controlling PO4‐P loss was 9.79 cm. For simultaneously maximally controlling NO3‐N and PO4‐P losses, a ridge height of 9.26 cm, a row grade of 7.05° and a field slope of 5° were optimum. This study provides guidance for implementing the contour ridge system.
Laboratory blood analysis in Strigiformes—Part I: hematologic reference intervals and agreement between manual blood cell counting techniques
Authors: Ammersbach Mélanie , Beaufrère Hugues , Gionet Rollick Annick , Tully Thomas 
Published: January 2015

BackgroundWhile hematologic reference intervals (RI) are available for multiple raptorial species of the order Accipitriformes and Falconiformes, there is a lack of valuable hematologic information in Strigiformes that can be used for diagnostic and health monitoring purposes.ObjectivesThe objective was to report RI in Strigiformes for hematologic variables and to assess agreement between manual cell counting techniques.MethodsA multi‐center prospective study was designed to assess hematologic RI and blood cell morphology in owl species. Samples were collected from individuals representing 13 Strigiformes species, including Great Horned Owl, Snowy Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Barred Owl, Great Gray Owl, Ural Owl, Northern Saw‐Whet Owls, Northern Hawk Owl, Spectacled Owl, Barn Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, Long‐Eared Owl, and Short‐Eared Owl. Red blood cell count was determined manually using a hemocytometer. White blood cell count was determined using 3 manual counting techniques: (1) phloxine B technique, (2) Natt and Herrick technique, and (3) estimation from the smear. Differential counts and blood cell morphology were determined on smears. Reference intervals were determined and agreement between methods was calculated.ResultsImportant species‐specific differences were observed in blood cell counts and granulocyte morphology. Differences in WBC count between species did not appear to be predictable based on phylogenetic relationships. Overall, most boreal owl species exhibited a lower WBC count than other species. Important disagreements were found between different manual WBC counting techniques.ConclusionsDisagreements observed between manual counting techniques suggest that technique‐specific RI should be used in Strigiformes.
Unilateral persistent hyperplastic tunica vasculosa lentis and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous in a rabbit
Authors: Boillot Thomas , Graille Mélanie , Williams David , Rosolen Serge G. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractA 3‐month wild rabbit was presented for examination of ocular opacities in the left eye. A complete bilateral ocular examination including slit‐lamp examination, indirect ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, and ultrasound biomicroscopy was performed. Biomicroscopy of the lens of the left eye showed a retrolental fibrovascular membrane causing leukocoria. The opacity prevented biomicroscopy of the vitreous and funduscopyOS. No other disorder was present in either eye. Ultrasound examination did not show any difference between the right and left eye. Histopathological examination showed a 50‐μm thick, preretinal, retrolental, nonpigmented, fibrovascular tissue. Posterior synechiae were present, but no other lesion of the posterior segment was found in this eye. These ocular abnormalities are consistent with a persistent hyperplastic tunica vasculosa lentis and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHTVL/PHPV), similar to those described in other species.
Central corneal thickness measurements and ultrasonographic study of the growing equine eye
Authors: Herbig Lena E. , Eule J. Corinna 
Published: January 2015

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the central corneal thickness (CCT) of healthy equine eyes with high‐frequency ultrasound (HF) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and to measure the axial dimensions with B‐mode ultrasound. Additionally, the influence of the age on the measured dimensions of the globe was analyzed.Animals studiedFifty warm blood horses (mean age 23.0 ± 21.12 months) were divided into 3 age groups (group 1: 0–6 months; group 2: ≥7–30 months; and group 3: ≥31–78 months).ProcedureCorneal measurements were performed with a 22‐MHz and a 50‐MHz transducer. Crystalline lens thickness (CLT), vitreous chamber depth (VCD), and axial globe length (AGL) were measured at a frequency of 10MHz. Anterior chamber depth (ACD) was calculated. The eyes were measured under general anesthesia nonrelated to this study.ResultsThe meanCCTof 50 eyes was 818 ± 41 μm. The mean values ± SDin mm for axial dimensions wereAGL34.7 ± 2.7,ACD3.4 ± 0.7,CLT10.0 ± 0.9, andVCDof 20.4 ± 1.5. A positive correlation with increasing age was found for all dimensions. No significant differences were found between the gender and the left or right eye.ConclusionHFandUBMare valuable high‐resolution imaging tools forCCTmeasurements in horses. The here‐obtained values support previous findings that a positive correlation with increasing age exists forCCT,ACD,CLT,VCD, andAGLin horse.
Molecular phylogeny of the genus Helix (Pulmonata: Helicidae)
Authors: Korábek Ondřej , Petrusek Adam , Neubert Eike , Juřičková Lucie 
Published: January 2015

The vast diversity of land snail forms is insufficiently understood even in seemingly familiar taxa. This holds for Helix Linnaeus, 1758, a genus with several common edible species which comprises the largest Western Palearctic snails. The taxonomy of this genus, which has a centre of diversity in the eastern Mediterranean, has recently undergone significant changes, in both the delimitation of the genus itself and its species‐level systematics. Here, we compare the lineage diversity of Helix, as revealed by two mitochondrial markers, with the conclusions of the recently published morphology‐based taxonomic revision. For the molecular analysis, we assembled a representative data set covering almost all species of the genus as recognized by the mentioned revision. We obtained sequences not only from fresh and preserved soft tissues but also from dried tissue remains (some of them decades old) from shell collections. Our results show that the genus Helix, in the narrow sense proposed by recent studies, is paraphyletic because the genus Tacheopsis was unambiguously revealed as one of the tip branches of Helix. The monophyly of several species, as presently recognized, was not supported; partly, this may be attributed to a lineage diversity overlooked so far. This holds also for the type species of the genus, H. pomatia, which comprises at least one additional lineage. Greece, the Aegean and western Turkey is the core area for the diversity of Helix and its relatives, and the region is probably a major long‐term refuge for large Helicidae. The highest species diversity is found along the Alpide belt from the western Balkans to southern Turkey. The diversity of Helix in Europe, north of Greece and the Apennines, is a result of a single European radiation. Our data also suggest that past human activities likely influenced the present‐day distributions of some species.
Corticosterone alters materno‐fetal glucose partitioning and insulin signalling in pregnant mice
Authors: Vaughan O. R. , Fisher H. M. , Dionelis K. N. , Jefferies E. C. , Higgins J. S. , Musial B. , Sferruzzi‐Perri A. N. , Fowden A. L. 
Published: January 2015

Key points
Glucocorticoids regulate fetal and adult glucose metabolism, in part by influencing the actions of insulin. However, their effects on materno‐fetal glucose partitioning remain largely unknown.
In the present study, when pregnant mice were given the natural glucocorticoid, corticosterone, plasma insulin concentrations and liver insulin‐signalling increased but the blood glucose concentration remained normal.
However, in the placenta, glucose transport was reduced in association with the lower activity of some insulin signalling proteins, depending on the day of pregnancy and maternal food intake.
In both liver and placenta, there was increased expression of the Redd1 (Ddit4) gene when the plasma corticosterone concentration was raised.
The results show that maternal glucocorticoids interact with signalling pathways in the placenta to limit materno‐fetal glucose partitioning.
AbstractGlucocorticoids affect glucose metabolism in adults and fetuses, although their effects on materno‐fetal glucose partitioning remain unknown. The present study measured maternal hepatic glucose handling and placental glucose transport together with insulin signalling in these tissues in mice drinking corticosterone either from day (D) 11 to D16 or D14 to D19 of pregnancy (term = D21). On the final day of administration, corticosterone‐treated mice were hyperinsulinaemic (P < 0.05) but normoglycaemic compared to untreated controls. In maternal liver, there was no change in glycogen content or glucose 6‐phosphatase activity but increased Slc2a2 glucose transporter expression in corticosterone‐treated mice, on D16 only (P < 0.05). On D19, but not D16, transplacental 3H‐methyl‐d‐glucose clearance was reduced by 33% in corticosterone‐treated dams (P < 0.05). However, when corticosterone‐treated animals were pair‐fed to control intake, aiming to prevent the corticosterone‐induced increase in food consumption, 3H‐methyl‐d‐glucose clearance was similar to the controls. Depending upon gestational age, corticosterone treatment increased phosphorylation of the insulin‐signalling proteins, protein kinase B (Akt) and glycogen synthase‐kinase 3β, in maternal liver (P < 0.05) but not placenta (P > 0.05). Insulin receptor and insulin‐like growth factor type I receptor abundance did not differ with treatment in either tissue. Corticosterone upregulated the stress‐inducible mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) suppressor, Redd1, in liver (D16 and D19) and placenta (D19), in ad libitum fed animals (P < 0.05). Concomitantly, hepatic protein content and placental weight were reduced on D19 (P < 0.05), in association with altered abundance and/or phosphorylation of signalling proteins downstream of mTOR. Taken together, the data indicate that maternal glucocorticoid excess reduces fetal growth partially by altering placental glucose transport and mTOR signalling.
New Control Systems Facilitate Reconfiguring Aeroderivative Gas Turbines for Cogeneration
Authors: Moore David 
Published: January 2015

This paper briefly sets out the requirements for additional steam capacity at Anchor Products dairy plant at Te Awamutu in New Zealand and the reasons for choosing to use a relocated Turbo Power & Marine Twin Pac with a new waste heat recovery boiler together with an existing coal fired boiler to meet this demand.
The paper then discusses the decision to replace the gas turbine and generator controls in their entirety, their integration with the controls for the new and existing boilers, and the architecture adopted for the total system.
The philosophy of the control of the plant is then developed which leads to detailed discussion of the implementation of various modes of control of the plant, including, cogeneration control, co-ordinated control peaking control and compensate control and the methods of changing between the various modes of control.
Finally, the paper includes a section on commissioning the plant.
NOx-Abatement Potential of Lean-Premixed GT-Combustors
Authors: Sattelmayer T. , Polifke W. , Winkler D. , Döbbeling K. 
Published: January 2015

The influence of the structure of perfectly premixed flames on NOx-formation is investigated theoretically. Since a network of reaction kinetics modules and model flames is used for this purpose, the results obtained are independent of specific burner geometries. Calculations are presented for a mixture temperature of 630K, an adiabatic flame temperature of 1840K and 1 and 15 bars combustor pressure. In particular, the following effects are studied separately from each other:
- molecular diffusion of temperature and species
- flame strain
- local quench in highly strained flames and subsequent reignition
- turbulent diffusion (no preferential diffusion)
- small scale mixing (stirring) in the flame front
Either no relevant influence or an increase in NOx-production over that of the one-dimensional laminar flame is found. As a consequence, besides the improvement of mixing quality, a future target for the development of low-NOx burners is to avoid excessive turbulent stirring in the flame front. Turbulent flames that exhibit locally and instantaneously near laminar structures (“flamelets”) appear to be optimal.
Using the same methodology, the scope of the investigation is extended to lean-lean staging, since a higher NOx-abatement potential can be expected in principle. As long as the chemical reactions of the second stage take place in the boundary between the fresh mixture of the second stage and the combustion products from upstream, no advantage can be expected from lean-lean staging. Only if the primary burner exhibits much poorer mixing than the second stage can lean-lean staging be beneficial. In contrast, if full mixing between the two stages prior to afterburning can be achieved (lean-mix-lean technique), the combustor outlet temperature can in principle be increased somewhat without NO-penalty. However, the complexity of such a system with a larger flame tube area to be cooled will increase the reaction zone temperatures, so that the full advantage cannot be realised in an engine.
Of greater technical relevance is the potential of a lean-mix-lean combustion system within an improved thermodynamic cycle. A reheat process with sequential combustion is perfectly suited for this purpose, since, firstly, the required low inlet temperature of the second stage is automatically generated after partial expansion in the high pressure turbine, secondly, the efficiency of the thermodynamic cycle has its maximum and, thirdly, high exhaust temperatures are generated, which can drive a powerful Rankine cycle. The higher thermodynamic efficiency of this technique leads to an additional drop in NOx-emissions per power produced.