bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Foreign‐Funded Adaptation to Climate Change in Africa: Mirroring Administrative Traditions or Traditions of Administrative Blueprinting?
Authors: Vink Martinus , Schouten Greetje
Published: April 2018

Climate change impacts are most severe in developing countries with limited adaptive capacity. Accordingly, in Africa, climate change adaptation has become an issue of international funding and practice. As suggested in the Introduction to this special issue, administrative traditions could play a role in how adaptation plays out. This, however, raises questions about how foreign funding regimes coincide with recipients' administrative traditions, especially on the African continent where administrative traditions are often meagerly established. To address these questions, this article takes an explorative approach. From a literature review of African state governance and development aid approaches, we take colonial legacy as the most distinctive factor responsible for African administrative traditions. In addition, we define three ways in which foreign aid programs have dealt with African administration: (1) aligning with donor administration, (2) blueprinting administration, and (3) ignoring administration. Using 34 African countries' National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs), we analyze how African governments actually frame adaptation as a governance challenge. We contrast these frames with: (1) administrative traditions based on colonial legacy and (2) the ways in which development aid programs have historically dealt with recipient African administrations. Our findings indicate that NAPAs only meagerly refer to the administrative tradition that could be expected based on colonial legacy, but extensively refer to blueprint ideas common among international donors, or ignore administration altogether. We discuss the implications for adaptation to climate change.
The emotional self: Embodiment, reflexivity, and emotion regulation
Authors: Burkitt Ian
Published: April 2018

Current dominant trends in the biological and psychological sciences tend to put emphasis on the role of the brain, cognition, and consciousness in realising emotional states and attempting to regulate them. In this article, I suggest an alternative approach with the idea that emotions emerge within social relations and give meaning and value to the situations in which we are located. Humans are understood as embodied emotional selves for who thought and emotion are intertwined. However, individuals can get caught in obsessive and compulsive thinking and feeling traps where the self loses touch with its emotions, and because of this also loses contact with the social situation and the ability to skilfully navigate it. In such circumstances, the self gets overwhelmed by emotion and loses its poise in the social setting. I consider Buddhist meditation as a technique through which people can develop a more reflexive emotional self, where reflexivity is not about control of emotion but owning one's feelings and being able to respond more sensitively and skilfully in various situations.
MCMC methods for inference in a mathematical model of pulmonary circulation
Authors: Păun L. Mihaela , Qureshi M. Umar , Colebank Mitchel , Hill Nicholas A. , Olufsen Mette S. , Haider Mansoor A. , Husmeier Dirk
Published: April 2018

This study performs parameter inference in a partial differential equations system of pulmonary circulation. We use a fluid dynamics network model that takes selected parameter values and mimics the behaviour of the pulmonary haemodynamics under normal physiological and pathological conditions. This is of medical interest as it enables tracking the progression of pulmonary hypertension. We show how we make the fluids model tractable by reducing the parameter dimension from a 55D to a 5D problem. The Delayed Rejection Adaptive Metropolis algorithm, coupled with constraint non‐linear optimization, is successfully used to learn the parameter values and quantify the uncertainty in the parameter estimates. To accommodate for different magnitudes of the parameter values, we introduce an improved parameter scaling technique in the Delayed Rejection Adaptive Metropolis algorithm. Formal convergence diagnostics are employed to check for convergence of the Markov chains. Additionally, we perform model selection using different information criteria, including Watanabe Akaike Information Criteria.
Evaluating the Effects of Landscape on Housing Prices in Urban China
Authors: Du Qingyun , Wu Chao , Ye Xinyue , Ren Fu , Lin Yongjun
Published: April 2018

The rapid urbanisation of China has received growing attention regarding its urban residential environments. In this article, we model the spatial heterogeneity of housing prices and explore the spatial discrepancy of landscape effects on property values in Shenzhen, a large Chinese city. In contrast to previous studies, this paper integrates the official housing transaction records and housing attributes from open data along with field surveys. Then, the results using the hedonic price model (HPM), geographically weighted regression (GWR) without landscape metrics and GWR with landscape metrics are compared. The results show that GWR with landscape metrics outperforms the other two models. In summary, this research provides new insights into landscape metrics in real estate studies and can guide decision‐makers plan and design cities while also providing guidance to regulate and control urban property values based on local conditions.
A practical guide to appraisal and revalidation
Authors: Schram Catharina MH
Published: April 2018

Key content

Appraisal is a formative and developmental process; annual appraisals are the cornerstones of revalidation.

Supporting information for an appraisal should cover the whole scope of work of an obstetrician and gynaecologist, including any educational, managerial or academic work over a 5‐year revalidation cycle.

The quality of supporting information, including reflection, is more important than the quantity.

Supporting information for an appraisal can be found in many day‐to‐day clinical activities.

Learning objectives

To be familiar with the guiding principles of appraisal and revalidation.

To appreciate how to provide supporting information that satisfies appraisal and revalidation requirements.

To know how to prepare efficiently and effectively for appraisal and revalidation.
Speech enhancement for cochlear implant recipients
Authors: Wang Dongmei , Hansen John H. L.
Published: April 2018

In this study, a single microphone speech enhancement algorithm is proposed to improve speech intelligibility for cochlear implant recipients. The proposed algorithm combines harmonic structure estimation with a subsequent statistical based speech enhancement stage. Traditional minimum mean square error (MMSE) based speech enhancement methods typically focus on statistical characteristics of the noise and track the noise variance along time dimension. The MMSE method is usually effective for stationary noise, but not as useful for non-stationary noise. To address both stationary and non-stationary noise, the current proposed method not only tracks noise over time, but also estimates the noise structure along the frequency dimension by exploiting the harmonic structure of the target speech. Next, the estimated noise is employed in the traditional MMSE framework for speech enhancement. To evaluate the proposed speech enhancement solution, a formal listener evaluation was performed with 6 cochlear implant recipients. The results suggest that a substantial improvement in speech intelligibility performance can be gained for cochlear implant recipients in noisy environments.
On the simultaneous inversion of micro-perforated panels' parameters: Application to single and double air-cavity backed systems
Authors: Tayong Rostand B. , Manyo Manyo Jacques A. , Siryabe Emmanuel , Ntamack Guy E.
Published: April 2018

This study deals with the deduction of parameters of Micro-Perforated Panel (MPP) systems from impedance tube data. It is shown that there is an ambiguity problem that exists between the MPP thickness and its open area ratio. This problem makes it difficult to invert the reflection coefficient data fitting and therefore to deduct the MPP parameters. A technique is proposed to reduce this ambiguity by using an equation that links the hole diameter to the open area ratio. Reflection coefficient data obtained for two specimens with different characteristics is employed for searching the MPP parameters using a simulated annealing algorithm. The results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique.
Enzymes Involved in Posttranscriptional RNA Metabolism in Gram-Negative Bacteria
Authors: Mohanty Bijoy K. , Kushner Sidney R.
Published: April 2018

Gene expression in Gram-negative bacteria is regulated at many levels, including transcription initiation, RNA processing, RNA/RNA interactions, mRNA decay, and translational controls involving enzymes that alter translational efficiency. In this review, we discuss the various enzymes that control transcription, translation, and RNA stability through RNA processing and degradation. RNA processing is essential to generate functional RNAs, while degradation helps control the steady-state level of each individual transcript. For example, all the pre-tRNAs are transcribed with extra nucleotides at both their 5′ and 3′ termini, which are subsequently processed to produce mature tRNAs that can be aminoacylated. Similarly, rRNAs that are transcribed as part of a 30S polycistronic transcript are matured to individual 16S, 23S, and 5S rRNAs. Decay of mRNAs plays a key role in gene regulation through controlling the steady-state level of each transcript, which is essential for maintaining appropriate protein levels. In addition, degradation of both translated and nontranslated RNAs recycles nucleotides to facilitate new RNA synthesis. To carry out all these reactions, Gram-negative bacteria employ a large number of endonucleases, exonucleases, RNA helicases, and poly(A) polymerase, as well as proteins that regulate the catalytic activity of particular RNases. Under certain stress conditions, an additional group of specialized endonucleases facilitate the cell’s ability to adapt and survive. Many of the enzymes, such as RNase E, RNase III, polynucleotide phosphorylase, RNase R, and poly(A) polymerase I, participate in multiple RNA processing and decay pathways.
Correction of estimates of retention in care among a cohort of HIV-positive patients in Uganda in the period before starting ART: a sampling-based approach
Authors: Nyakato Patience , Kiragga Agnes N , Kambugu Andrew , Bradley John , Baisley Kathy
Published: April 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to use a sampling-based approach to obtain estimates of retention in HIV care before initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART), corrected for outcomes in patients who were lost according to clinic registers.

Design

Retrospective cohort study of HIV-positive individuals not yet eligible for ART (CD4 >500).

Setting

Three urban and three rural HIV care clinics in Uganda; information was extracted from the clinic registers for all patients who had registered for pre-ART care between January and August 2015.

Participants

A random sample of patients who were lost according to the clinic registers (>3 months late to scheduled visit) was traced to ascertain their outcomes.

Outcome measures

The proportion of patients lost from care was estimated using a competing risks approach, first based on the information in the clinic records alone and then using inverse probability weights to incorporate the results from tracing. Cox regression was used to determine factors associated with loss from care.

Results

Of 1153 patients registered for pre-ART care (68% women, median age 29 years, median CD4 count 645 cells/µL), 307 (27%) were lost according to clinic records. Among these, 195 (63%) were selected for tracing; outcomes were ascertained in 118 (61%). Seven patients (6%) had died, 40 (34%) were in care elsewhere and 71 (60%) were out of care. Loss from care at 9 months was 30.2% (95% CI 27.3% to 33.5%). After incorporating outcomes from tracing, loss from care decreased to 18.5% (95% CI 13.8% to 23.6%).

Conclusion

Estimates of loss from HIV care may be too high if based on routine clinic data alone. A sampling-based approach is a feasible way of obtaining more accurate estimates of retention, accounting for transfers to other clinics.
Reducing the default dispense quantity for new opioid analgesic prescriptions: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Bachhuber Marcus A , Nash Denis , Southern William N , Heo Moonseong , Berger Matthew , Schepis Mark , Cunningham Chinazo O
Published: April 2018

Introduction

As opioid analgesic consumption has grown, so have opioid use disorder and opioid-related overdoses. Reducing the quantity of opioid analgesics prescribed for acute non-cancer pain can potentially reduce risks to the individual receiving the prescription and to others who might unintentionally or intentionally consume any leftover tablets. Reducing the default dispense quantity for new opioid analgesic prescriptions in the electronic health record (EHR) is a promising intervention to reduce prescribing.

Methods and analysis

This study is a prospective cluster randomised controlled trial with two parallel arms. Primary care sites (n=32) and emergency departments (n=4) will be randomised in matched pairs to either a modification of the EHR so that new opioid analgesic prescriptions default to a dispense quantity of 10 tablets (intervention) or to no EHR change (control). The dispense quantity will remain fully modifiable by providers in both arms. From 6 months preintervention to 18 months postintervention, patient-level data will be analysed (ie, the patient is the unit of inference). Patient eligibility criteria are: (A) received a new opioid analgesic prescription, defined as no other opioid analgesic prescription in the prior 6 months; (B) age ≥18 years; and (C) no cancer diagnosis within 1 year prior to the new opioid analgesic prescription. The primary outcome will be the quantity of opioid analgesics prescribed in the initial prescription. Secondary outcomes will include opioid analgesic reorders and health service utilisation within 30 days after the initial prescription. Outcomes will be compared between study arms using a difference-in-differences analysis.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been approved by the Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine Institutional Review Board with a waiver of informed consent (2016-6036) and is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03003832, 6 December 2016). Findings will be disseminated through publication, conferences and meetings with health system leaders.

Trial registration number

NCT03003832; Pre-results.
Observational cross-sectional study of nasal staphylococcal species of medical students of diverse geographical origin, prior to healthcare exposure: prevalence of SCCmec,fusC,fusBand the arginine catabolite mobile element (ACME) in the absence of selective antibiotic pressure
Authors: Budri Paulo E , Shore Anna C , Coleman David C , Kinnevey Peter M , Humpreys Hilary , Fitzgerald-Hughes Deirdre
Published: April 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate co-located nasalStaphylococcus aureusand coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (mainlyStaphylococcus epidermidis), recovered from healthy medical students in their preclinical year, prior to exposure to the healthcare environment, for the carriage of genes and genetic elements common to both species and that may contribute toS. aureusand methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) evolution.

Design

Prospective observational cross-sectional study. Carriage of antimicrobial resistance and virulence-associated genes in the absence of significant antibiotic selective pressure was investigated among healthy medical students from geographically diverse origins who were nasally co-colonised withS. aureusand CoNS. Clonal lineages ofS. aureusisolates were determined.

Setting/participants

Dublin-based international undergraduate medical students.

Results

NasalS. aureuscarriage was identified in 137/444 (30.8%) students of whom nine (6.6%) carried MRSA (ST59-MRSA-IV (6/9), CC1-MRSA-V-SCCfus(3/9)). The genesmecA,fusB,ileS2, qacA/qacCand the arginine catabolic mobile element-arcwere detected among colonising nasal staphylococci and had a significantly greater association with CoNS thanS. aureus.The rate of co-carriage of any of these genes inS. aureus/CoNS pairs recovered from the same individual was <1%.

Conclusions

The relatively high prevalence of these genes among CoNS of the healthy human flora in the absence of significant antibiotic selective pressure is of interest. Further research is required to determine what factors are involved and whether these are modifiable to help prevent the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance among staphylococci.
Validating malignant melanoma ICD-9-CM codes in Umbria, ASL Napoli 3 Sud and Friuli Venezia Giulia administrative healthcare databases: a diagnostic accuracy study
Authors: Orso Massimiliano , Serraino Diego , Abraha Iosief , Fusco Mario , Giovannini Gianni , Casucci Paola , Cozzolino Francesco , Granata Annalisa , Gobbato Michele , Stracci Fabrizio , Ciullo Valerio , Vitale Maria Francesca , Eusebi Paolo , Orlandi Walter , Montedori Alessandro , Bidoli Ettore
Published: April 2018

Objectives

To assess the accuracy of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes in identifying subjects with melanoma.

Design

A diagnostic accuracy study comparing melanoma ICD-9-CM codes (index test) with medical chart (reference standard). Case ascertainment was based on neoplastic lesion of the skin and a histological diagnosis from a primary or metastatic site positive for melanoma.

Setting

Administrative databases from Umbria Region, Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Napoli 3 Sud (NA) and Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) Region.

Participants

112, 130 and 130 cases (subjects with melanoma) were randomly selected from Umbria, NA and FVG, respectively; 94 non-cases (subjects without melanoma) were randomly selected from each unit.

Outcome measures

Sensitivity and specificity for ICD-9-CM code 172.x located in primary position.

Results

The most common melanoma subtype was malignant melanoma of skin of trunk, except scrotum (ICD-9-CM code: 172.5), followed by malignant melanoma of skin of lower limb, including hip (ICD-9-CM code: 172.7). The mean age of the patients ranged from 60 to 61 years. Most of the diagnoses were performed in surgical departments.

The sensitivities were 100% (95% CI 96% to 100%) for Umbria, 99% (95% CI 94% to 100%) for NA and 98% (95% CI 93% to 100%) for FVG. The specificities were 88% (95% CI 80% to 93%) for Umbria, 77% (95% CI 69% to 85%) for NA and 79% (95% CI 71% to 86%) for FVG.

Conclusions

The case definition for melanoma based on clinical or instrumental diagnosis, confirmed by histological examination, showed excellent sensitivities and good specificities in the three operative units. Administrative databases from the three operative units can be used for epidemiological and outcome research of melanoma.
Qualitative longitudinal study of episodic disability experiences of older women living with HIV in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Solomon Patricia , O’Brien Kelly K , Nixon Stephanie , Letts Lori , Baxter Larry , Gervais Nicole
Published: April 2018

Objectives

To examine the episodic disability experiences of older women living with HIV over time.

Design

Qualitative longitudinal study, conducting semistructured in-depth interviews on four occasions over a 20-month time frame. Inductive thematic analyses were conducted cross-sectionally and longitudinally.

Setting

Participants were recruited from HIV community organisations in Canada.

Participants

10 women aged 50 years or older living with HIV for more than 6 years.

Results

Two major themes related to the episodic nature of the women’s disability. Women were living with multiple and complex sources of uncertainty over time including: unpredictable health challenges, worrying about cognition, unreliable weather, fearing stigma and the effects of disclosure, maintaining housing and adequate finances, and fulfilling gendered and family roles. Women describe strategies to deal with uncertainty over time including withdrawing and limiting activities and participation and engaging in meaningful activities.

Conclusions

This longitudinal study highlighted the disabling effects of HIV over time in which unpredictable fluctuations in illness and health resulted in uncertainty and worrying about the future. Environmental factors, such as stigma and weather, may put older women living with HIV at a greater risk for social isolation. Strategies to promote dealing with uncertainty and building resilience are warranted.
#Stroke
Authors: Bundy Jacob J , Chick Jeffrey Forris Beecham , Hage Anthony N , Srinivasa Ravi N , Chaudhary Neeraj , Srinivasa Rajiv N , Vadlamudi Venu , Gemmete Joseph J
Published: April 2018

Purpose

To describe the stroke-related Twitter network through analysis of the #Stroke hashtag.

Materials and methods

621 653 tweets containing the #Stroke hashtag were analyzed from 20 March 2012 to 31 January 2018. Twitter activity metrics, engagement, user characteristics, content analysis, and network analysis were obtained using the healthcare social media analytics platform, Symplur Signals.

Results

The number of users, the number of impressions, and the number of tweets containing the #Stroke hashtag increased by an annual average of 64.9%, 87.7%, and 89.2% over the past 6 years from 20 March 2012 to 31January 2018. 69 371 tweets (11.2%) contained novel content and 48 568 tweets (7.8%) related to patient care. 181 120 (29.1%) tweets contained at least one image and 436 132 tweets (70.2%) contained links to outside resources. Stroke prevention, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation were commonly discussed topics. With regard to engagement, there were 259 438 retweets (41.7%), 366 561 mentions (59.0%), and 8549 replies (1.4%). Physicians and patients authored 52 197 (8.4%) and 41 822 (6.7%) tweets, respectively. Advocate organizations, patients, and non-healthcare individuals most frequently used the #Stroke hashtag on Twitter.

Conclusion

The use of the #Stroke hashtag on Twitter has grown significantly over the 6-year study period. The majority of the discussions were held between stroke support groups and non-healthcare-related individuals, with discussion content centering around stroke prevention, stroke symptoms, associated medical conditions, and treatment options.
CAPN1 mutations broadening the hereditary spastic paraplegia/spinocerebellar ataxia phenotype
Authors: Lambe Jeffrey , Monaghan Bernadette , Munteanu Tudor , Redmond Janice
Published: April 2018

Increasing availability of next-generation sequencing technologies has revealed several limitations of diagnosis-driven traditional clinicogenetic disease classifications, particularly among patients with an atypical or mixed phenotype. Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) and spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) are two such disease entities with an often overlapping presentation, in which next generation exome sequencing has played a key role in identification of genes causing disease along a continuum of ataxia and spasticity. We describe a patient who presented with features of both ataxia and spasticity, in whom initial diagnostic testing was inconclusive. Ultimately next generation exome sequencing identified homozygosity for a pathogenic variant in exon 13 of the CAPN1 gene c.1534C>T(p.Arg512Cys). This case supports consideration of a less discriminatory classification system among such patients, potentially allowing for more expedient diagnosis through testing of a larger gene panel along the ‘ataxia-spasticity spectrum’.
Neoplastic mass involving the zygomatic arch in a sheep: clinical, sonographic, radiographic, pathological, and CT findings
Authors: Hund Alexandra , Gumpenberger Michaela , Thaller Denise , Kofler Johann
Published: April 2018

A five‐year‐old intact female East Friesian sheep was presented for examination, following a noted decrease in feed intake and general apathy. A swelling was observed under the right eye. Ultrasonographic examination exposed a mass with a highly irregular texture and distinct loss of the normal bone surface echogenicity of the zygomatic and temporal processes. An ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspirate was performed which showed that the mass was a malignant spindle‐cell sarcoma. The sheep was euthanased and a postmortem CT examination revealed extensive damage to the tissues surrounding the mass. Immunohistochemical staining helped to confirm the diagnosis fibrosarcoma. This case shows the value of using ultrasonography in working up such cases in general practice. The technology is available to most farm animal veterinarians and, in the authors’ opinion, should be used more extensively in practice.
Geological framework of the Laurentian trough aquifer system, southern Ontario
Authors: Sharpe David R. , Pugin André J.-M. , Russell Hazen A.J.
Published: April 2018

The Laurentian trough (LT), a depression >100 km long, >3000 km2in area, and 100 m deep at the base of the Niagara Escarpment, extends from within Georgian Bay to Lake Ontario. It has a complex erosional history and is filled and buried by up to 200 m of interglacial and glacial sediment. The primary depression fronts a cuesta landscape and is attributed to differential erosion by fluvial, glacial, and glaciofluvial processes, exposing Ordovician rocks along the Canadian Shield margin. The fill succession includes sediments from the last two glacial periods (Illinoian, Wisconsinan) and the intervening interglacial time (Sangamonian), a poorly dated succession with at least three regional unconformities. A subaerial (interglacial, Don Formation) unconformity relates to low base level mainly preserved in lows of the LT, succeeded by a long period of rising water levels and glaciolacustrine conditions as ice advanced into the Lake Ontario basin. A second unconformity, within the Thorncliffe Formation, is the result of rapid channel erosion to bedrock, forming an ∼north–south network filled with coarse-grained glaciofluvial, transitional to fine-grained glaciolacustrine subaqueous fan sediment. The overlying drumlinized Newmarket Till, up to 50 m thick, is a distinct regional unit with a planar to undulating base. A third unconformity event eroded Newmarket Till, locally truncating it and underlying sediment to bedrock. Three younger sediment packages, Oak Ridges Moraine (channel and ridge sediment), Halton, and glaciolacustrine overlie this erosion surface. Significant regional aquifers are hosted within the LT. Upper Thorncliffe Formation sediments, north–south glaciofluvial channel–fan aquifers, are protected by overlying mud and Newmarket Till aquitards. Similarly, Oak Ridges Moraine sediments comprise a north–south array of glaciofluvial channel–fans and east–west fan aquifers, locally covered by silt–clay rhythmite and till aquitards.
Spatial variation in trophic structure of nearshore fishes in Lake Michigan as it relates to water clarity
Authors: Turschak Benjamin A. , Czesny Sergiusz , Doll Jason C. , Grunert Brice K. , Höök Tomas O. , Janssen John , Bootsma Harvey A.
Published: April 2018

Nearshore water clarity, as measured by remotely sensed Kd(490), and stable C and N isotopes of several nearshore fishes differed across the Lake Michigan basin. Values of δ13C of round goby (Neogobius melanstomus), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonis) were depleted in the southeast where water clarity was low relative to the southwest where water clarity was greater. Bayesian analyses were used to evaluate spatial variation in diet composition and quantify the relationship between water clarity and the proportional importance of pelagic energy in fish diets. Water clarity in nearshore areas is likely related to variable riverine inputs, resuspension, and upwelling processes. While these processes may not directly impact δ13C or δ15N of nearshore fishes, we hypothesize that water clarity differentially affects benthic and pelagic algal production. Lower water clarity in the benthos and subsequently lower benthic productivity may be related to regional diet differences and increased reliance on pelagic energy sources. Mobile fishes such as alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) may not be in isotopic equilibrium with regional prey sources and depart from spatial patterns observed in other nearshore fishes.
Optical solitons, complexitons, Gaussian soliton and power series solutions of a generalized Hirota equation
Authors: Mao Jin-Jin , Tian Shou-Fu , Zou Li , Zhang Tian-Tian
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we consider a generalized Hirota equation with a bounded potential, which can be used to describe the propagation properties of optical soliton solutions. By employing the hypothetical method and the sub-equation method, we construct the bright soliton, dark soliton, complexitons and Gaussian soliton solutions of the Hirota equation. Moreover, we explicitly derive the power series solutions with their convergence analysis. Finally, we provide the graphical analysis of such soliton solutions in order to better understand their dynamical behavior.
Recognition of the optical packet header for two channels utilizing the parallel reservoir computing based on a semiconductor ring laser
Authors: Bao Xiurong , Zhao Qingchun , Yin Hongxi , Qin Jie
Published: April 2018

In this paper, an all-optical parallel reservoir computing (RC) system with two channels for the optical packet header recognition is proposed and simulated, which is based on a semiconductor ring laser (SRL) with the characteristic of bidirectional light paths. The parallel optical loops are built through the cross-feedback of the bidirectional light paths where every optical loop can independently recognize each injected optical packet header. Two input signals are mapped and recognized simultaneously by training all-optical parallel reservoir, which is attributed to the nonlinear states in the laser. The recognition of optical packet headers for two channels from 4 bits to 32 bits is implemented through the simulation optimizing system parameters and therefore, the optimal recognition error ratio is 0. Since this structure can combine with the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical packet switching network, the wavelength of each channel of optical packet headers for recognition can be different, and a better recognition result can be obtained.
Effects of strain on the half-metallicity and spin gapless feature of Ti2YSi (Y = Fe, Co) alloys
Authors: Fan Xiaoguang , Li Jincheng , Jin Yingjiu
Published: April 2018

Half-metals and spin gapless semiconductors (SGSs), which exhibit 100% spin polarization at the Fermi level, are considered important candidates for spintronics. Using first-principles calculations, we have investigated the effects of uniform strain and tetragonal distortion on the half-metallicity and spin gapless feature of inverse Heusler Ti2YSi (Y = Fe and Co) alloys. Results show that for uniform strains, the half-metallicity occurs in the ranges of lattice parameters from 5.938 Å to 6.535 Å for Ti2FeSi and from 5.924 Å to 6.840 Å for Ti2CoSi. Tetragonal distortions over the ranges of −2.0% to +2.5% and −2.6% to +4.1% could destroy the half-metallicity for Ti2FeSi and Ti2CoSi, respectively. On the other hand, Ti2CoSi is an SGS at lattice constants of 5.968–6.023 Å. An interesting finding is that Ti2CoSi reproduces the SGS character with increasing the lattice parameters to 6.784–6.840 Å. Small tetragonal distortions with ±0.2% will destroy the SGS character of Ti2CoSi.
Effect of an external magnetic field on particle acceleration by a rotating black hole surrounded with quintessential energy
Authors: Shaymatov Sanjar , Ahmedov Bobomurat , Stuchlík Zdeněk , Abdujabbarov Ahmadjon
Published: April 2018

We investigate particle motion and collisions in the vicinity of rotating black holes immersed in combined cosmological quintessential scalar field and external magnetic field. The quintessential dark-energy field governing the spacetime structure is characterized by the quintessential state parameter [Formula: see text] characterizing its equation of state, and the quintessential field-intensity parameter [Formula: see text] determining the static radius where the black hole attraction is just balanced by the quintessential repulsion. The magnetic field is assumed to be test field that is uniform close to the static radius, where the spacetime is nearly flat, being characterized by strength [Formula: see text] there. Deformations of the test magnetic field in vicinity of the black hole, caused by the Ricci non-flat spacetime structure are determined. General expression of the center-of-mass energy of the colliding charged or uncharged particles near the black hole is given and discussed in several special cases. In the case of nonrotating black holes, we discuss collisions of two particles freely falling from vicinity of the static radius, or one such a particle colliding with charged particle revolving at the innermost stable circular orbit. In the case of rotating black holes, we discuss briefly particles falling in the equatorial plane and colliding in close vicinity of the black hole horizon, concentrating attention to the interplay of the effects of the quintessential field and the external magnetic field. We demonstrate that the ultra-high center-of-mass energy can be obtained for black holes placed in an external magnetic field for an infinitesimally small quintessential field-intensity parameter [Formula: see text]; the center-of-mass energy decreases if the quintessential field-intensity parameter [Formula: see text] increases.
Exercise is medicine: student pharmacists’ perceptions and knowledge of exercise prescription
Authors: Dirks-Naylor Amie J. , Griffiths Carrie L. , Bush Mark A.
Published: April 2018

With healthcare costs on the rise, a global initiative was launched in 2007, called Exercise is Medicine, to prescribe and counsel patients on exercise to aid in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Since community pharmacists are one of the most accessible healthcare providers, this is an opportunity for pharmacists to also engage in this initiative. This study aimed to assess pharmacy student perceptions and knowledge on exercise to determine whether they are adequately prepared to counsel patients on exercise prescription. Third and fourth year pharmacy students were surveyed to test their basic knowledge of exercise prescription. Results show that 93.5% of students agreed or strongly agreed that it is important for pharmacists to counsel patients about exercise. The mean (SD) score for the 11 basic knowledge quiz questions on exercise prescription was 28.9% (SD 16.8), with no significant difference between third and fourth year pharmacy students. While students deemed exercise counseling as important, students proved deficient in exercise prescription knowledge. Schools of pharmacy may consider increasing curricular content to be congruent with this initiative.
A role for collagen type IV in cardiovascular disease?
Authors: Steffensen L. B. , Rasmussen L. M.
Published: April 2018

Over the past decade, studies have repeatedly found single-nucleotide polymorphisms located in the collagen ( COL) 4A1 and COL4A2 genes to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the 13q34 locus harboring these genes is one of ~160 genome-wide significant risk loci for coronary artery disease. COL4A1 and COL4A2 encode the α1- and α2-chains of collagen type IV, a major component of basement membranes in various tissues including arteries. Despite the growing body of evidence indicating a role for collagen type IV in CVD, remarkably few studies have aimed to directly investigate such a role. The purpose of this review is to summarize the clinical reports linking 13q34 to coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, and artery stiffening and to assemble the scattered pieces of evidence from experimental studies based on vascular cells and tissue collectively supporting a role for collagen type IV in atherosclerosis and other macrovascular disease conditions.
Modifiable Lifestyle Factors: Opportunities for (Hereditary) Breast Cancer Prevention - a Narrative Review
Authors: Lammert Jacqueline , Grill Sabine , Kiechle Marion
Published: April 2018

Increasing rates of obesity, lack of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and frequent alcohol consumption are major lifestyle-related risk factors for breast cancer. In fact, it has been estimated that about one-third of breast cancer cases are attributable to factors women can change. Most research has focused on examining the impact of one single exposure on breast cancer risk while adjusting for other risk modifiers. Capitalizing on big data, major efforts have been made to evaluate the combined impact of well-established lifestyle factors on overall breast cancer risk. At the individual level, data indicate that even simple behavior modifications could have a considerable impact on breast cancer prevention. Moreover, there is emerging new evidence that adopting a healthy lifestyle may be particularly relevant for women with hereditary susceptibility to breast cancer. On the absolute risk scale, studies suggest that the presence of certain risk factors, such as excessive body weight, had a substantially higher impact on breast cancer risk if women had a hereditary predisposition to cancer. The existing body of knowledge gives the medical professionals guidance as to which factors to focus on when counseling patients. However, well-designed randomized controlled trials utilizing objective methods are crucial to providing concrete recommendations.
Prognostic Significance of Nuisance Bleeding in Anticoagulated Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: O’Brien Emily C. , Holmes DaJuanicia N. , Thomas Laine E. , Fonarow Gregg C. , Allen Larry A. , Gersh Bernard J. , Kowey Peter R. , Singer Daniel E. , Ezekowitz Michael D. , Naccarelli Gerald V. , Ansell Jack E. , Chan Paul S. , Mahaffey Kenneth W. , Go Alan S. , Freeman James V. , Reiffel James A. , Peterson Eric D. , Piccini Jonathan P. , Hylek Elaine M.
Published: April 2018

Background:

Bleeding is commonly cited as a reason for stopping oral anticoagulants (OACs). Whether minor bleeding events (nuisance bleeding, NB) in patients with atrial fibrillation on OACs are associated with OAC discontinuation, major bleeding, and stroke/systemic embolism (SSE) is unknown.

Methods:

Within the ORBIT-AF prospective, outpatient registry (Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation), we identified 6771 patients ≥18 years of age at 172 sites with atrial fibrillation and eligible follow-up visits. NB was ascertained from the medical record and was defined as minor bleeding that did not require medical attention (eg, bruising, hemorrhoidal bleeding). We used multivariable pooled logistic regression modeling to evaluate the associations between NB and major bleeding and SSE in the 180 days after documentation of NB. Our unit of analysis was the patient visit, occurring at ≈6-month intervals for a median of 1.5 years following enrollment. Changes in anticoagulation treatment satisfaction after NB were examined descriptively in a subset of patients.

Results:

The median age of the overall population was 75.0 (interquartile range, 67.0–81.0); 90.0% were white and 42.5% were female. Among 6771 patients (18 560 visits), n=1357 (20.0%) had documented NB, for an incidence rate of 14.8 events per 100 person-years. Over 96.4% of patients remained on OAC therapy after the NB event. Overall, 287 (4.3%) patients experienced major bleeding and 64 (0.96%) had a SSE event during follow-up. NB was not associated with a significant increased risk of major bleeding over 6 months in models adjusting for the ATRIA bleeding score (Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation) (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 0.68–1.60;
P
=0.86). NB was also not associated with increased SSE risk over 6 months in models adjusting for the CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc risk score (odds ratio, 1.24; 95% confidence interval, 0.53–2.91;
P
=0.62).

Conclusions:

NB is common among patients with atrial fibrillation on OACs. However, NB was not associated with a higher risk of major bleeding or SSE over the next 6 months, suggesting its occurrence should not lead to changes in anticoagulation treatment strategies in OAC-treated patients.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01165710.
Genetic Risks and Doctors’ Disclosure Obligations — Revisiting the Duty of Confidentiality
Authors: de Paor Aisling
Published: April 2018

With developments in the field of genetics, new technologies such as genetic testing are fast emerging. Although offering unparalleled opportunities, these developments raise many ethical, legal and other issues. One challenge relates to the duty of confidentiality and disclosure obligations on doctors. Considering the familial nature of genetic information, doctors will increasingly have access to predictive health information, about individuals and individuals’ relatives. This article examines whether disclosure obligations on doctors should be expanded to encompass an obligation to disclose genetic risk to family members, and whether the exceptions to the duty of confidentiality should recognise genetic risk as potential harm. With recognition of the competing rights, the article considers the implications of recent case law in the United Kingdom, indicating a willingness to extend the duty of disclosure. This article argues that there is a case to be made for expanding disclosure obligations on doctors in certain circumstances.
Two new genera and five new species of Mugadina-like small grass cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettini) from Central and Eastern Australia: comparative morphology, songs, behaviour and distributions
Authors: EWART A.
Published: April 2018

Moulds (2012) established the genus Mugadina for two small cicadas, M. marshalli (Distant) and M. emma (Goding and Froggatt), both grass inhabiting species known from Queensland and New South Wales. Both species are notable for their relatively simple 'ticking' songs. Moulds further noted that there were at least two superficially similar genera of cicadas, but each with different genitalia. This paper describes two new genera of small (9–15 mm body lengths) and distinctive grass cicadas with genitalia that are very similar to those of Mugadina, but possess clear morphological, colour and calling song differences. The new genera are: Heremusina n. gen. with two known species namely H. udeoecetes n. sp. and H. pipatio n. sp.; the second new genus is Xeropsalta n. gen., containing four known species, X. thomsoni n. sp., X. aridula n. sp., X. rattrayi n. sp., and X. festiva n. comb. Heremusina n. gen. species are described from the Alice Springs area of Northern Territory and the Cloncurry area of northwest Queensland, from arid to semi arid habitats. The Xeropsalta n. gen. species are described from western, southwest and central Queensland, and from the Simpson and Strzelecki Deserts in northeastern South Australia and northwestern New South Wales, respectively, all locations in very arid to arid habitats, but close to seasonal (often irregular) rivers and lakes. X. festiva n. comb. occurs in semi arid habitats in southern and southeastern Australia.        Detailed taxonomic descriptions are provided of the new species, together with distributions, habitats, and the calling songs. The Heremusina species emit songs with short repetitive buzzing echemes, the echeme durations differing between each species. The Xeropsalta songs are notable for their complexity, containing multiple elements with rapid changes of amplitudes and temporal structures, rather atypical of the songs of most small grass dwelling cicadas. Detailed song structures distinguishing each of the species are illustrated and interpreted in each case in light of their respective taxonomic status.
The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse), a vector of dengue, chikungunya and zika viruses, reaches Portugal (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: MARABUTO EDUARDO , REBELO MARIA TERESA
Published: April 2018

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse), is a tropical species originally from south-eastern Asia (Hawley, 1988). It has experienced a rampant human-mediated range expansion since the 1970s to now occupy almost the whole of the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. As an eclectic haematophagous species, it attacks humans and is able to use a number of man-made and natural structures where stagnant water is present (Estrada-Franco & Craig, 1995). Eggs are able to survive for extended periods of time in complete dryness and diapause over unsuitable cold season, making it an especially resilient species (Hawley, 1988).
Revision of Gymnotus (Gymnotiformes: Gymnotidae) from the Upper Madeira Basin of Bolivia and Peru, with descriptions of two new species
Authors: CRAIG JACK M. , CORREA-ROLDÁN VANESSA , ORTEGA HERNÁN , CRAMPTON WILLIAM G. R. , ALBERT JAMES S.
Published: April 2018

Banded Knifefishes (Gymnotus, Gymnotidae) comprise the most species-rich genus of Neotropical electric fishes, with 41 species currently described from throughout the humid Neotropics, from Mexico to Argentina. Despite substantial alpha-taxonomic work in recent years, the diversity of Gymnotus in some regions remains poorly understood. Here we describe the Gymnotus fauna of the Upper Madeira basin of Bolivia and Peru from examination of more than 240 adult specimens. Species are delimited and described using body proportions (traditional morphometrics), fin-ray, squamation and laterosensory-pore counts (meristics), quantitative shape differences (geometric morphometrics), osteological traits, and color patterns. Comparisons of standardized linear measures as well as multivariate statistical methods validate the presence in the Upper Madeira basin of three previously described species, two with wide-spread geographic distributions throughout Greater Amazonia (G. carapo and G. coropinae), and one (G. chaviro) endemic to southwestern Amazonia. We also diagnose and describe two new species that are endemic to the Upper Madeira basin: G. eyra n. sp., morphologically most similar to G. mamiraua from lowland Amazonia, and G. riberalta n. sp., morphologically most similar to G. pantanal from the Paraguay-Paraná basin. The five Gymnotus species from the Upper Madeira basin are not monophyletic, each species being more closely related to a different species from another region; i.e. the Gymnotus species from the Upper Madeira represents a polyphyletic assemblage. These descriptions to 43 the number of valid Gymnotus species.
Four new species of Luciuranus fireflies from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)
Authors: SILVEIRA LUIZ F. L. DA , SOUTO PAULA M. , MERMUDES J. R. M.
Published: April 2018

Luciuranus Silveira, Khattar & Mermudes, 2016 is a firefly genus whose species bear an intricate, species-specific lock-and-key mechanism of reproductive isolation. Here we propose four new species, Luciuranus magnoculus sp. nov., L. desideratus sp. nov., L. takiyae sp. nov. and L. carioca sp. nov., and provide illustrations of their diagnostic features and an updated key to species. As previously reported for their congenerics, each of the four new species have stereotypical morphology of both male and female terminalia, and are regarded as prima facie endemics of single massifs of the Serra da Mantiqueira and Serra do Mar, in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest.