influence.ME: tools for detecting influential data in mixed effects models

influence.ME provides tools for detecting influential data in mixed effects models. The application of these models has become common practice, but the development of diagnostic tools has lagged behind. influence.ME calculates standardized measures of influential data for the point estimates of generalized mixed effects models, such as DFBETAS, Cook’s distance, as well as percentile change and a test for changing levels of significance. influence.ME calculates these measures of influence while accounting for the nesting structure of the data. The package and measures of influential data\ud are introduced, a practical example is given, and strategies for dealing with influential data are suggested

Taming carbon-centered radicals with cobalt:Controlled formation of carbene-radical intermediates and catalytic reactivity via ortho-quinodimethanes

The combined work described in this thesis shows that radical-carbenes can be used in selective reactivity when mediated by [Co(TPP)]. If allyl radical intermediates are generated that are in direct conjugation with the already weak Co-C bond ortho-quinodimethanes dissociate from the catalyst. These reactive ortho-quinodimethane intermediates react further in a series of unexpected reactions to give stable organic products like dihydronapthalenes, E-aryl dienes and dibenzocyclooctenes. As such, we have developed a novel radical-type methodology for the selective synthesis of these three new classes of compounds. Nearly all of the compounds made by the novel catalytic reactions described in this thesis were never reported before

Denomination, Religious Context, and Suicide: Neo-Durkheimian Multilevel Explanations Tested with Individual and Contextual Data

In Suicide, Durkheim found that involvement in religious communities is inversely related to suicide risk. In this article, two explanations for this relationship are examined. One is that religious networks provide support. The other is that religious communities prohibit suicide. To examine these hypotheses, individual-level data on suicide in the Netherlands from 1936 to 1973 are used. The results show that with an increase in the proportion of religious persons in a municipality, the chances of committing suicide decrease for every denomination in that municipality, as well as among nonchurch members. Furthermore, along with the secularization of Dutch society, the impact of religious composition on suicide wanes. These results contradict the network-support mechanism and confirm the notion that religious communities have a general protective effect against suicide.

Dimensions of individual religiosity and charity:Cross national effect differences in European countries?

The relation between religiosity and donations to charity has frequently been subject of research. We analyzed effects of dimensions of individual religiosity (Glock and Stark 1966) on people's intention to donate to the poorest countries. We tested for cross-national effect differences in representative samples of seven European countries. Results turned out to be relatively robust across countries. We found that church attendance, dogmatic conviction and a consequential religious attitude affect intentional donations positively. The religiosity of one's network does have an additional effect. Partner's church attendance is positively related to willingness to donate. However, people with mainly friends with the same religious opinions are less willing to donate