bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fitness-for-Service Assessment of Passenger Railcars and Trucks
Authors: Smyth Andrew , Carmody Kevin , Maier Derek
Published: June 2018

An important consideration when operating a fleet of passenger rail consists is the remaining service life of both the car structure and the trucks. Agencies may choose to undertake studies like this when considering a fleet wide capital improvement program, ranging from minor aesthetic upgrades to major system replacements and interior reconfigurations. With this in mind, the owner needs to determine the remaining fatigue life of the individual cars and trucks within the fleet. This paper describes the fitness-for-service (FFS) assessment performed on railcars and trucks and an example of the method applied in practice.

To establish the current condition of the fleet, an initial structural and service history review was undertaken. In addition, nondestructive examinations (NDE) of a sample of cars and trucks were performed to investigate any regions that have experienced damage due to the years of service. After the baseline condition of the cars and trucks was determined, finite element analyses (FEA) were performed on both the cars and the trucks to assist in locating the potential fatigue critical regions. Strain gages and accelerometers were then installed on both the cars and trucks for field testing. Multiple runs of in-service testing were performed and a typical revenue service fatigue life of both the cars and trucks was calculated based on an S-N approach. Based on the calculated fatigue life and the current accumulated consist mileage, the remaining car and truck service lives were determined. For regions with known flaws more detailed fracture mechanics based crack growth analyses were developed to determine critical flaw sizes and their propagation times to critical from the known initial flaw sizes.

Results of the FFS assessment provide information on the susceptible areas within the car structure and trucks. Depending on those results, decisions can be made on the required inspections, repairs, or decommissioning necessary to operate the fleet in the short term, while also providing valuable insight into long term fleet planning.
Analyzing Railway Capacity Using a Planning Tool
Authors: Vieira Anderson P. , Christofoletti Luciano M. , Vilela Plínio R. S.
Published: June 2018

1Railway transportation is a mean of conveying ore, goods or passengers on wheeled vehicles running on rails. The operation is costly and the transported goods have low aggregated value, therefore profitability is enabled under long distances and large quantities. Railways all around the world face rising demand for transportation of goods and people. While upgrading the railroad infrastructure is guaranteed to increase capacity, it usually takes large capital expenditures and is time consuming.

In this paper we show how a circulation planning tool can aid railroads fully utilize their infrastructure in order to improve capacity utilization. Parameters such as train departing frequency, behavior during train delays, priorities on the negotiation of crossings and overtakes, performance allowance, and headway can be varied, and the resulting scenarios can be compared to help find a reasonable ceiling to the railroad capacity. The same tool can be used in an operational setting, to quickly respond to incidents and disruptions while keeping services at an acceptable level.

There are many publications that propose methods to calculate railway capacity. While traffic simulation methods offer accurate results, user interaction and graphical presentation, they are often time-consuming, so analytical methods are usually preferred. Our simulation approach takes just seconds to run, resulting in a much more powerful tool to assess capacity limits.

We run our simulations with data from a real heavy haul railroad, and use a number of metrics to show how their current operation could be improved with no need to build more tracks. Preliminary results indicate that, by changing train departing frequency alone, throughput could increase by more than 20%.
Evaluation of Substation Capacity Using Headway Shift and Perturbation Parameters
Authors: Ku Bih-Yuan , Chang Ching-Hsiang
Published: June 2018

The variations in the operation timetable or schedule of an electrified transit rail system can lead to substantial fluctuations in power demands of its traction power network. This paper studies the correlation between the maximum power demands and timetable perturbations for electrified transit rail systems. Specifically, the operation schedule uncertainties are quantified as two parameters: headway shift and headway perturbation. A computation algorithm is introduced to illustrate how to use these two parameters to obtain the worst case scenario to obtain maximum power demand of traction power substations. Also a special type of catenary-free light rail system is used as an example to illustrate the algorithm and numerical results.
Classification of Rail Switch Data Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Bryan Kaylen J. , Solomon Mitchell , Jensen Emily , Coley Christina , Rajan Kailas , Tian Charlie , Mijatovic Nenad , Kiss James M. , Lamoureux Benjamin , Dersin Pierre , Smith Anthony O. , Peter Adrian M.
Published: June 2018

Rail switches are critical infrastructure components of a railroad network, that must maintain high-levels of reliable operation. Given the vast number and variety of switches that can exist across a rail network, there is an immediate need for robust automated methods of detecting switch degradations and failures without expensive add-on equipment. In this work, we explore two recent machine learning frameworks for classifying various switch degradation indicators: (1) a featureless recurrent neural network called a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) architecture, and (2), the Deep Wavelet Scattering Transform (DWST), which produces features that are locally time invariant and stable to time-warping deformations. We describe both methods as they apply to rail switch monitoring and demonstrate their feasibility on a dataset captured under the service conditions by Alstom Corporation. For multiple categories of degradation types, the baseline models consistently achieve near-perfect accuracies and are competitive with the manual analysis conducted by human switch-maintenance experts.
Railroad R&D 1970-2017: Key Events and Lessons Learned
Authors: Kesler Kevin , Bing Alan
Published: June 2018

This paper provides a review of me of the main themes in North American R&D and technology innovation from the 1970s through 2017. A chronological description identifies some of the principal developments in safety and performance over the years, including the introduction of new technologies, the changes in government and industry priorities and funding for R&D. This includes investments in tank car/hazmat research, maglev, and high speed rail). Key technology introductions such as automated track and rolling stock inspection systems are discussed. The evolving and changing roles of the Federal government, the AAR, individual railroads, the supply industry are described. The paper offers a timeline of key events in railroad R&D and technology introductions, with brief discussions each came to pass, the conditions in the industry which drove or enabled them and the impacts each introduction have had. The paper closes with some thoughts about current trends in technology and railroad R&D and their likely trajectory into the future.
Development of a Secondary Impact Protection System (SIPS) for Locomotive Crew
Authors: Gordon Jeffrey , Gantoi Florentina M. , Singh Som P. , Prabhakaran Anand
Published: June 2018

In this study, a Secondary Impact Protection System (SIPS) consisting of an airbag and a deformable knee bolster for use on a modern freight locomotive was developed and tested. During rail vehicle collisions, a modern locomotive designed to current crashworthiness requirements should provide sufficient survival space to the engineer in cab. However, without additional protection against secondary impacts, a locomotive engineer could be subjected to head, neck, and femur injuries that exceed the limits specified in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS 208). The SIPS study aimed to design a system that would control these injuries within the limiting criteria.

Simulation results for the design concept showed that it would meet the FMVSS 208 criteria for the head, neck, chest, and femur, injuries and continuing to meet all existing functional requirements of the locomotive cab.

A sled testing of the prototype showed that to optimize the SIPS, further airbag design modifications, characterization and testing are required.
High Speed Overload and Imbalance Load System in China
Authors: Ding Yi , Cheng Li R.
Published: June 2018

An Overload and Imbalance Load Detection (OID) system monitors rolling stock on the railroad tracks, and identifies and alarms on improperly loaded vehicles. In China, OID systems have been installed near train stations close to the railroad signals and curves. The location and condition of the track in the area of the OID system can affect the weighing performance. In recent years, the dedicated high-speed passenger lines have freed up a great deal of train capacity on the freight tracks, enabling freight train speed to increase from 60km/h to 80∼120km/h. It has become necessary to install OID systems on freight mainline between stations.

The authors of this paper discuss the prospect and hurdles of two OID technologies on China railways.
Smoke Flow Control in Tunnels Using Natural Ventilation
Authors: Colino Mark P. , Rosenstein Elena B.
Published: June 2018

This paper provides an overview of the design of natural ventilation systems to control smoke movement in rail tunnels. The paper discusses the current industry standards and design requirements for tunnel emergency ventilation systems, and then addresses the various technical elements that are used to design such systems. These technical elements include parameters in the direct control of the designer, as well as those that are beyond the control of the designer. The paper also presents a case study where various physical design elements are utilized to create a working natural ventilation smoke control system for a short rail tunnel.
Philosophy and Evolution of Wayside Signals
Authors: Hofbauer John , Hofbauer Joseph
Published: June 2018

This paper begins with examining the fundamental nature of wayside signals and considers the first know signaling practices used to communicate the condition of the track ahead to the train engineer. The principle of wayside signals is to keep trains separated and to provide knowledge of the conditions ahead; speed and routing information. Most railways have gone through many different evolutions of signals and practices some driven by railway mergers which drove the operating rules. This consistently required changes within the training of locomotive engineers assigned operate trains within their territory.

This paper will focus on a few transitions between signal types, the specific makeups and effectiveness of wayside signals since the beginning of railway signals in the early 1830s. Starting with the term “High Ball” not related to a popular drink known today, but a raising of a large ball into the air that could be seen from afar instructing a train his status to train operating schedule. Later, signals were developed to provide the train engineer the status of the track ahead by dividing the track into short sections. This allowed the track section to be labeled as “occupied” a train present or “un-occupied”, train not present within the track section. Wayside signals continued to be advanced such that today’s standards, aspects (mimicking the wayside signals) are displayed within the operating cab providing the indication directly to the engineer. As we continue forward, wayside signals have been reduced and in the future, they may be only in a museum next to the cassette player.
Multiple water layers on AnO2 {111}, {110}, and {100} surfaces (An = U, Pu): A computational study
Authors: Tegner Bengt E. , Kaltsoyannis Nikolas
Published: June 2018

The geometries and energies of adsorption of up to five layers of water on the {111}, {110}, and {100} surfaces of stoichiometric UO2 and PuO2 are studied computationally with Hubbard U-corrected density functional theory within the periodic boundary condition framework. This work builds on their recent study of the surface-bound water monolayers [Tegner et al., J. Phys. Chem. C 121, 1675 (2017)], and the water geometries within this first layer are used as the starting point for the present calculations. Significant variations are found in the per-layer adsorption energies, as a result of differing extents of intra- and interlayer hydrogen bonding. After the adsorption of several additional layers, the effect of the surface-bound water geometries diminishes, and the average adsorption energy per water molecule is ca. 0.5–0.6 eV (similar to that in bulk water), irrespective of the surface.
Report details persistent hostility to women in science
Authors: Wadman Meredith
Published: June 2018

National Academies study urges cultural change to curb multiple kinds of sexual harassment.
Poster couple
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: June 2018

Showing the country that there's no need to fear HIV-infected people.
The Sunshine State's dark cloud
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: June 2018

New efforts aim to curb Florida's startlingly high HIV infection rate.
Induction of CD4 T cell memory by local cellular collectivity
Authors: Polonsky Michal , Rimer Jacob , Kern-Perets Amos , Zaretsky Irina , Miller Stav , Bornstein Chamutal , David Eyal , Kopelman Naama Meira , Stelzer Gil , Porat Ziv , Chain Benjamin , Friedman Nir
Published: June 2018

Modeling memory differentiation in T cells

The balance between effector and central memory T cells shifts toward the latter as the number of T cells participating in immune responses increases. Polonsky
et al.
determined the mechanisms by which T cell quorum sensing affects memory differentiation by using live-cell imaging to track cell proliferation and differentiation. They found that the rate of memory CD4
+
T cell differentiation is determined by cell number. This rate substantially increases above a threshold number of locally interacting cells. Mathematical modeling suggests that the number of initially seeded cells and the number of cell divisions are not critical. Instead, the instantaneous number of interacting cells continuously modulates the differentiation rate. This is partly fueled by increased sensitivity to the cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-6, independent of any effects on cell proliferation.

Science
, this issue p.
eaaj1853
A dust-enshrouded tidal disruption event with a resolved radio jet in a galaxy merger
Authors: Mattila S. , Pérez-Torres M. , Efstathiou A. , Mimica P. , Fraser M. , Kankare E. , Alberdi A. , Aloy M. Á. , Heikkilä T. , Jonker P. G. , Lundqvist P. , Martí-Vidal I. , Meikle W. P. S. , Romero-Cañizales C. , Smartt S. J. , Tsygankov S. , Varenius E. , Alonso-Herrero A. , Bondi M. , Fransson C. , Herrero-Illana R. , Kangas T. , Kotak R. , Ramírez-Olivencia N. , Väisänen P. , Beswick R. J. , Clements D. L. , Greimel R. , Harmanen J. , Kotilainen J. , Nandra K. , Reynolds T. , Ryder S. , Walton N. A. , Wiik K. , Östlin G.
Published: June 2018

An expanding radio jet from a destroyed star

If a star gets too close to a supermassive black hole, it gets ripped apart in a tidal disruption event (TDE). Mattila
et al.
discovered a transient source in the merging galaxy pair Arp 299, which they interpret as a TDE. The optical light is hidden by dust, but the TDE generated copious infrared emission. Radio observations reveal that a relativistic jet was produced as material fell onto the black hole, with the jet expanding over several years. The results elucidate how jets form around supermassive black holes and suggest that many TDEs may be missed by optical surveys.

Science
, this issue p.
482
Comment on “Satellites reveal contrasting responses of regional climate to the widespread greening of Earth”
Authors: Li Yue , Zeng Zhenzhong , Huang Ling , Lian Xu , Piao Shilong
Published: June 2018

Forzieri
et al
. (Reports, 16 June 2017, p. 1180) used satellite data to show that boreal greening caused regional warming. We show that this positive sensitivity of temperature to the greening can be derived from the positive response of vegetation to boreal warming, which indicates that results from a statistical regression with satellite data should be carefully interpreted.
Improving mechanical sensor performance through larger damping
Authors: Roy Swapan K. , Sauer Vincent T. K. , Westwood-Bachman Jocelyn N. , Venkatasubramanian Anandram , Hiebert Wayne K.
Published: June 2018

Reconsidering resonator sensing

Changes in the frequency of a nanoscale mechanical resonator can be used for many sensing applications, provided that there is an adequate signal-to-noise ratio. Normally, this ratio is improved by creating resonators with higher quality factors that “ring” for longer times. Taking a cue from the approaches used in atomic force microscopy, Roy
et al.
show that if the thermomechanical noise of the resonator is well defined, the signal-to-noise ratio of the frequency shift can improve by lowering the quality factor. They used this approach to demonstrate temperature sensing with a double-clamped silicon beam resonator, which performed better at ambient pressures than in a vacuum.

Science
, this issue p.
eaar5220
Facing your fears
Authors: Frankland Paul W. , Josselyn Sheena A.
Published: June 2018

Activation of remote fear memory promotes fear attenuation
Antimicrobial Resistance, Virulence Factors, and Genetic Profiles of Vibrio parahaemolyticus from Seafood
Authors: Lopatek Magdalena , Wieczorek Kinga , Osek Jacek
Published: June 2018

The presence of
V. parahaemolyticus
in seafood may pose a risk for consumers, especially in countries where shellfish are eaten raw. In recent years, a significant increase of food poisoning caused by these bacteria has been also observed in Europe. Our results highlight the high level of
V. parahaemolyticus
contamination of seafood, along with the isolates being potentially pathogenic for humans. However, the first-line antimicrobials, such as tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones, remained highly effective against
V. parahaemolyticus
. The monitoring of antimicrobial resistance of isolates is important to ensure the high efficacy in the treatment of human infections. Most of
V. parahaemolyticus
strains possessed new sequence types (STs), which showed the high genetic diversity of the isolates tested.
Cord milking versus immediate clamping in preterm infants: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: El-Naggar Walid , Simpson David , Hussain Arif , Armson Anthony , Dodds Linda , Warren Andrew , Whyte Robin , McMillan Douglas
Published: June 2018

Objective

To investigate whether umbilical cord milking (UCM) at birth improves systemic blood flow and short-term outcomes, as compared with immediate cord clamping (ICC).

Design

Randomised clinical trial.

Setting

Single tertiary care centre.

Patients

Infants born to eligible women presenting in preterm labour between 24 and 31 weeks’ gestation.

Interventions

UCM three times at birth or ICC.

Outcome measures

Primary outcome included systemic blood flow as represented by echo-derived superior vena cava(SVC) flow at 4–6 hours after birth. The echocardiographer and interpreter were blinded to the randomisation. Secondary outcomes included cardiac output, neonatal morbidities and mortality. Analysis was by intention to treat.

Results

A total of 73 infants were randomised (37 to UCM and 36 to ICC). Mean (SD) gestational age was 27 (2) weeks and mean (SD) birth weight was 1040 (283) g. Haemoglobin on admission was higher in the UCM than in the ICC group (16.1 vs 15.0 g/L), p=0.049 (mean difference 1.1, 95% CI 0.003 to 2.2). No statistically significant differences were found between groups in SVC flow at 4–6 hours (88.9±37.8 and 107.3±60.1 mL/kg/min), p=0.13 (mean difference −18.4, 95% CI −41.7 to 5.0 mL/kg/min) or at 10–12 hours of age (102.5±41.8 and 90.6±28.4 mL/kg/min), p=0.17 (mean difference 12.0, 95% CI −4.7 to 28.7 mL/kg/min), cardiac output or neonatal morbidities.

Conclusions

Cord milking was not shown to improve functional cardiac outcomes, neonatal morbidity or mortality. More research is needed before routine cord milking can be recommended for very preterm infants.

Trial registration

NCT01487187.
Correction to metamagnetic conditions of the Union Jack lattice Ising model
Authors: Mellor Vincent A. , Hibberd Katrina E.
Published: June 2018

This paper reviews the work of Wu and Lin on the Union Jack lattice Ising model. This model is of interest as it one of the few to display re-entrant phase transitions. Specifically, we re-examine their result for the general anisotropic sublattice magnetizations, comparing these with the works of Vaks, Larkin and Ovchinnikov, and our own numerical simulations. We discuss the disagreements found in both sublattice predictions including non-zero antiferromagnetic results and a rotational variance. We will then suggest additional conditions and modified formulae that will allow valid results to be produced.
One-component fermion plasma on a sphere at finite temperature
Authors: Fantoni Riccardo
Published: June 2018

We study through a computer experiment, using the restricted path integral Monte Carlo method, a one-component fermion plasma on a sphere at finite, nonzero, temperature. We extract thermodynamic properties like the kinetic and internal energy per particle and structural properties like the radial distribution function. This study could be relevant for the characterization and better understanding of the electronic properties of hollow graphene spheres.
A mixed real-time robot hardware abstraction layer (R-HAL)
Authors: Rigano Giuseppe F. , Muratore Luca , Laurenzi Arturo , Hoffman Enrico M. , Tsagarakis Nikos G.
Published: June 2018

The rapid advances in robotics have recently led to the developments of a wide range of robotic platforms that exhibit significant differences at the hardware components level. Consequently, this poses a significant challenge to robot software developers since they have to know how every hardware device in the robot works to ensure their software’s compatibility when transferring/reusing their code on different robots. In this paper we present a new Robot Hardware Abstraction Layer (R-HAL) that permits to seamlessly program and control any robotic platform powered by the XBot control software framework. The implementation details of the R-HAL are introduced. The R-HAL is extensively validated through simulation trials and experiments with a wide range of dissimilar robotic platforms, among them the COMAN and WALK-MAN humanoids, the KUKA LWR and the CENTAURO upper body. The results attained demonstrate in practice the gained benefits in terms of code compatibility, reuse and portability, and finally unified application programming even for robots with significantly diverse hardware.
Urinothorax Caused by Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis
Authors: Abusnina Waiel , Bukamur Hazim , Koc Zeynep , Najar Fauzi , Munn Nancy , Zeid Fuad
Published: June 2018

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is a rare form of chronic pyelonephritis that generally afflicts middle-aged women with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections. Its pathogenesis generally involves calculus obstructive uropathy and its histopathology is characterized by replacement of the renal parenchyma with lipid filled macrophages. This often manifests as an enlarged, nonfunctioning kidney that may be complicated by abscess or fistula. This case details the first reported case of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis complicated by urinothorax, which resolved on follow-up chest X-ray after robot-assisted nephrectomy.
Control of Complex Nonlinear Dynamic Rational Systems
Authors: Zhu Quanmin , Liu Li , Zhang Weicun , Li Shaoyuan
Published: June 2018

Nonlinear rational systems/models, also known as total nonlinear dynamic systems/models, in an expression of a ratio of two polynomials, have roots in describing general engineering plants and chemical reaction processes. The major challenge issue in the control of such a system is the control input embedded in its denominator polynomials. With extensive searching, it could not find any systematic approach in designing this class of control systems directly from its model structure. This study expands the U‐model‐based approach to establish a platform for the first layer of feedback control and the second layer of adaptive control of the nonlinear rational systems, which, in principle, separates control system design (without involving a plant model) and controller output determination (with solving inversion of the plant U‐model). This procedure makes it possible to achieve closed‐loop control of nonlinear systems with linear performance (transient response and steady‐state accuracy). For the conditions using the approach, this study presents the associated stability and convergence analyses. Simulation studies are performed to show off the characteristics of the developed procedure in numerical tests and to give the general guidelines for applications.
The Association between the Level of Plasma Oxytocin and Craving among Former Heroin Users
Authors: Lin Shih-Hsien , Chen Po See , Lee Lan-Ting , Lee Sheng-Yu , Tsai Hsin Chun , Chen Wei Tseng , Chen Kao Chin , Lee I. Hui , Lu Ru-Band , Yang Yen Kuang
Published: June 2018

Background: Animal studies have demonstrated that oxytocin can influence addiction behaviors and might interact with the dopaminergic system, which is a key component of addiction behaviors. However, related evidence from clinical studies is scarce. The aim of our study was to explore the relationship between plasma oxytocin level and heroin craving among patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment, and to ascertain whether this relationship is moderated by novelty-seeking. Methods: The study was conducted in a methadone maintenance therapy clinic of a medical center in Taiwan. Seventy-seven patients with heroin addiction were enrolled. Plasma oxytocin was measured using an ELISA kit. Craving was assessed using an established instrument, the Chinese Craving Scale. Results: A significant negative association was found between the plasma oxytocin level and craving score, which remained robust after controlling the effects of social support and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. An interaction between oxytocin and novelty-seeking indicated that this relationship was stronger among patients with a lower level of novelty-seeking. Conclusion: This finding may be taken into account in future studies and may provide a basis for the development of potential treatment for addiction. The effect of oxytocin for the treatment of opioid dependence might be modulated by some psychological factors.
Congenital Hyperinsulinism in Infants with Turner Syndrome: Possible Association with Monosomy X and KDM6A Haploinsufficiency
Authors: Gibson Christopher E. , Boodhansingh Kara E. , Li Changhong , Conlin Laura , Chen Pan , Becker Susan A. , Bhatti Tricia , Bamba Vaneeta , Adzick N. Scott , De Leon Diva D. , Ganguly Arupa , Stanley Charles A.
Published: June 2018

Background: Previous case reports have suggested a possible association of congenital hyperinsulinism with Turner syndrome. Objective: We examined the clinical and molecular features in girls with both congenital hyperinsulinism and Turner syndrome seen at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) between 1974 and 2017. Methods: Records of girls with hyperinsulinism and Turner syndrome were reviewed. Insulin secretion was studied in pancreatic islets and in mouse islets treated with an inhibitor of KDM6A, an X chromosome gene associated with hyperinsulinism in Kabuki syndrome. Results: Hyperinsulinism was diagnosed in 12 girls with Turner syndrome. Six were diazoxide-unresponsive; 3 had pancreatectomies. The incidence of Turner syndrome among CHOP patients with hyperinsulinism (10 of 1,050 from 1997 to 2017) was 48 times more frequent than expected. The only consistent chromosomal anomaly in these girls was the presence of a 45,X cell line. Studies of isolated islets from 1 case showed abnormal elevated cytosolic calcium and heightened sensitivity to amino acid-stimulated insulin release; similar alterations were demonstrated in mouse islets treated with a KDM6A inhibitor. Conclusion: These results demonstrate a higher than expected frequency of Turner syndrome among children with hyperinsulinism. Our data suggest that haploinsufficiency for KDM6A due to mosaic X chromosome monosomy may be responsible for hyperinsulinism in Turner syndrome.
Peripilar “Guttate” Hypopigmentation of the Scalp and Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis in Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia
Authors: Diaz Aisleen A. , Miteva Mariya
Published: June 2018

Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is characterized by progressive band-like scarring alopecia involving the frontotemporal hairline and limbs and irreversible alopecia of the eyebrows. Two opposite types of pigmentary alterations have been reported in FFA: hyper- and hypopigmentation. Here, we report a 57-year-old Hispanic female with FFA who presented with peripilar hypopigmentation and idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis on the upper extremities. To our knowledge, this is the first report of peripilar white halos in a patient of a White Hispanic origin. Upon review of other previous publications on trichoscopy of FFA, this pattern has not been detected. The common pattern of focal absence of melanocytes and melanin in both is another confirmation that FFA is associated with pigmentation abnormalities.
Public Order, National Security and the Rights of Third-Country Nationals in Immigration Cases
Authors: Chlebny Jacek
Published: June 2018

The objective of the article is to highlight the impact of the public order and national security concerns on immigration cases in the Member States. The most common categories of the administrative acts that are relevant to the topic are visa decisions, refusal of entry, entry bans, all types of decisions on granting a residence permit (permanent or temporary) and return decisions. The first part of the article is devoted to the institutional capacity in the field of immigration cases. The second part deals with the substantive law challenges and the third part focuses on the procedural law challenges, in particular access to classified evidence in immigration cases.
Transformations in Minority Religious Leadership
Authors: Leezenberg Michiel
Published: June 2018

This paper discusses three religious communities in Northern Iraq that are characterized by the shared fate of having been targeted by the 2014 “Islamic State” (IS) offensive. These events dramatically brought home the vulnerability of these communities in post-Saddam Iraq; but the precarious status of these groups was already painfully visible even to the most casual observer prior to theISonslaught. In this paper, I trace the rather different trajectories of these—initially broadly comparable—minority groups, with a focus on the changing articulation and legitimation of religious leadership. I do so by pointing out some of the longer-term tendencies among these groups, while treating religious leadership in terms of patronage.
New dark species of the bee genus Colletes (Hymenoptera, Colletidae) from Mexico and Guatemala
Authors: BALBOA CARLOS , HINOJOSA-DÍAZ ISMAEL , AYALA RICARDO
Published: June 2018

Eight new species of Neotropical Colletes (Hymenoptera, Colletidae, Colletinae) are described and illustrated, Colletes tzotzilis Balboa & Ayala sp. n., C. jobeli Balboa & Ayala sp. n., C. guatemalensis Balboa & Ayala sp. n., C. chiapensis Balboa & Ayala sp. n., C. jaliscoensis Balboa & Ayala sp. n., C. nigerrima Balboa & Ayala sp. n., C. isabelae Balboa & Ayala sp. n. and C. solari Balboa & Ayala sp. n. A key to all known dark Mesoamerican species is provided.
Species delimitation of colour polymorphic Cladophorus (Coleoptera: Lycidae) from New Guinea
Authors: KALOUSOVA ROMANA , BOCAK LADISLAV
Published: June 2018

Cladophorus Guérin-Méneville, 1830 are endemic Papuan net-winged beetles which take part in highly diverse Müllerian mimicry rings. Available specimens were sequenced for cox1–tRNA-Leu–cox2 mitochondrial DNA fragment and the species delimitations were based on the genetic distance, phylogenetic analysis, and morphology. Three earlier described species were identified in the recently collected material and further 10 species are described: C. pallescens sp. nov., C. bicolor sp. nov., C. craterensis sp. nov., C. motykai sp. nov., C. mindikensis sp. nov., C. kailakiensis sp. nov., C. manokwarensis sp. nov., C. haiaensis sp. nov., C. humeralis sp. nov., and C. boceki sp. nov. DNA-based identifications provided some ambiguous results and closely related species could not be robustly delimited using solely molecular data. Additionally, the species limits were based on clearly defined morphological characters and the morphological differentiation was found unlinked from the genetic divergence. Colour patterns cannot be used for identification because all species available in more specimens were polymorphic and followed various local co-mimics. The Papuan fauna of Cladophorus is very diverse and the closely related species regularly occur in limited regions. Differentiation within restricted ranges is therefore considered as the main speciation mode.
Revision of the Afrotropical genus Susua Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1998 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae: Protopatellata)
Authors: KLUGE NIKITA J. , GATTOLLIAT JEAN-LUC , SALLES FREDERICO F. , NOVIKOVA EUGENIA A.
Published: June 2018

The species originally described as Cheleocloeon sigiensis Gillies 2001 is moved to the genus Susua Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1998. Additional descriptions of Susua sigiensis (Gillies 2001) are given based on male and female imagoes reared from larvae from several localities in Tanzania (including the type locality in the Upper Sigi Basin). Susua niandanensis (Wuillot in Wuillot & Gillies 1993) is redescribed based on larvae and male imagoes from Guinea, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire and Zambia. The genus Susua belongs to the plesiomorphon Protopatellata Kluge & Novikova 2011 and has an Afrotropical distribution; Susua is closely related to Crassabwa Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996. General characteristics of Susua are given based on the two known species.
Northeast Asian Allorhynchium van der Vecht (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with a key to Oriental species
Authors: TAN JIANG-LI , ACHTERBERG CORNELIS VAN , HE YI-FEI , CARPENTER JAMES M.
Published: June 2018

The Oriental species of Allorhynchium van der Vecht, 1963 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) are keyed for the first time and their distribution is summarised, with special reference to China and Vietnam. Archancistrocerus Giordani Soika, 1986, is synonymized with Allorhynchium van der Vecht (syn. nov.). Allorhynchium diffinis (Giordani Soika, 1986) is a new combination and A. quadrimaculatum Gusenleitner, 1997, is recorded from Vietnam for the first time.
Camelobaetidius guaycara, a new species of Baetidae (Ephemeroptera) from Costa Rica, Central America
Authors: SIBAJA-ARAYA FABIÁN , ESQUIVEL CARLOS
Published: June 2018

The nymphs of a new species of Camelobaetidius (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) possibly related to the South American species of this genus were found on the Atlantic and Pacific slopes of Costa Rica. Among other characteristics it is distinguished by having the anterodorsal arc of labrum with 1 + 6 setae, the first two frayed, ventrally 4 small setae near the lateral margin, and a minute seta near the anterior margin, on both sides of the cleft; the left mandible incisors with 6 denticles similar in size and the tip of the slender process extended at about the same level as the incisors; the paraglossa and glossa equal in length and a little shorter than segment II of labial palp, and a short triangular distomedial projection on segment II of labial palp; small nipple-like thoracic gills at base of forecoxa; claws with 27–32 denticles; posterior margin of abdominal terga with rounded spines; paraproct with 1–3 sclerotized spines, and cerci approximately 12% longer than the median filament. Both sexes present several different colorations. Some data on microhabitat preferences of nymphs are also given.
A new species of Wohlfahrtia Brauer & Bergenstamm (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) from northwestern China, with three new synonymies and a pictorial synopsis
Authors: GE YING-QIANG , ZHANG DONG , THOMAS PAPE
Published: June 2018

A new species, Wohlfahrtia spinisternum Pape & Zhang sp. nov., is described based on one male specimen collected from the arid steppe habitat of Kalamaili Nature Reserve, Xinjiang, China. The species shares with W. aschersoni (Enderlein, 1934) a reduction of the distal posteroventral row of flattened, spiny bristles (‘ctenidium’) on the male mid femur, and has male sternite 5 gradually raised posteriorly into a pointed process, which is a unique feature in the entire subfamily Paramacronychiinae. Lectotypes are designated for Wohlfahrtia musiva Séguy, 1953 and Wohlfahrtia triquetra Séguy, 1933, and three new synonymies are proposed: Wohlfahrtia longicorpuris Mawlood & Abdul-Rassoul, 2001 syn. nov. of W. nuba (Wiedemann, 1830), Wohlfahrtia musiva Séguy, 1953 syn. nov. of W. villeneuvi Salem, 1938, and Wohlfahrtia triquetra Séguy, 1933 syn. nov. of W. indigens (Wiedemann, 1830). A pictorial synopsis of male terminalia of the 24 recognized species of Wohlfahrtia Brauer & Bergenstamm, 1889 is provided.
Dynamics of the Transition from Spiral Rainbands to a Secondary Eyewall in Hurricane Earl (2010)
Authors: Didlake Anthony C. , Reasor Paul D. , Rogers Robert F. , Lee Wen-Chau
Published: June 2018

Airborne Doppler radar captured the inner core of Hurricane Earl during the early stages of secondary eyewall formation (SEF), providing needed insight into the SEF dynamics. An organized rainband complex outside of the primary eyewall transitioned into an axisymmetric secondary eyewall containing a low-level tangential wind maximum. During this transition, the downshear-left quadrant of the storm exhibited several notable features. A mesoscale descending inflow (MDI) jet persistently occurred across broad stretches of stratiform precipitation in a pattern similar to previous studies. This negatively buoyant jet traveled radially inward and descended into the boundary layer. Farther inward, enhanced low-level inflow and intense updrafts appeared. The updraft adjacent to the MDI was likely triggered by a region of convergence and upward acceleration (induced by the negatively buoyant MDI) entering the high-θe boundary layer. This updraft and the MDI in the downshear-left quadrant accelerated the tangential winds in a radial range where the axisymmetric wind maximum of the secondary eyewall soon developed. This same quadrant eventually exhibited the strongest overturning circulation and wind maximum of the forming secondary eyewall. Given these features occurring in succession in the downshear-left quadrant, we hypothesize that the MDI plays a significant dynamical role in SEF. The MDI within a mature rainband complex persistently perturbs the boundary layer, which locally forces enhanced convection and tangential winds. These perturbations provide steady low-level forcing that projects strongly onto the axisymmetric field, and forges the way for secondary eyewall development via one of several SEF theories that invoke axisymmetric dynamical processes.
Assessing the Robustness of Future Extreme Precipitation Intensification in the CMIP5 Ensemble
Authors: Bador Margot , Donat Markus G. , Geoffroy Olivier , Alexander Lisa V.
Published: June 2018

A warming climate is expected to intensify extreme precipitation, and climate models project a general intensification of annual extreme precipitation in most regions of the globe throughout the twenty-first century. We investigate the robustness of this future intensification over land across different models, regions, and seasons and evaluate the role of model interdependencies in the CMIP5 ensemble. Strong similarities in extreme precipitation changes are found between models that share atmospheric physics, turning an ensemble of 27 models into around 14 projections. We find that future annual extreme precipitation intensity increases in the majority of models and in the majority of land grid cells, from the driest to the wettest regions, as defined by each model’s precipitation climatology. The intermodel spread is generally larger over wet than over dry regions, smaller in the dry season compared to the wet season and at the annual scale, and largely reduced in extratropical compared to tropical regions and at the global scale. For each model, the future increase in annual and seasonal maximum daily precipitation amounts exceeds the range of simulated internal variability in the majority of land grid cells. At both annual and seasonal scales, however, there are a few regions where the change is still within the background climate noise, but their size and location differ between models. In extratropical regions, the signal-to-noise ratio of projected changes in extreme precipitation is particularly robust across models because of a similar change and background climate noise, whereas projected changes are less robust in the tropics.
Endovascular Thrombectomy of Septic Thrombophlebitis of the Inferior Vena Cava: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Talaie Tara , Drucker Charles , Aicher Brittany , Khalifeh Ali , Lal Brajesh , Sarkar Rajabrata , Toursavadkohi Shahab
Published: June 2018

We describe the cases of 2 patients who had septic thrombophlebitis and were successfully managed with endovascular thrombectomy. Patient A developed septic thrombophlebitis of the inferior vena cava after several retroperitoneal resections for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The thrombus was successfully removed via endovascular mechanical balloon thrombectomy. Patient B was a patient with pancreatic adenocarcinoma involving the portal vein who developed a septic inferior vena cava thrombus extending from the level and beyond the renal veins, for which she underwent endovascular thrombectomy. We argue that this approach is safe and feasible. It should be considered as a supplemental treatment modality for select decompensating patients who require lifesaving interventions and have contraindications to traditional management of surgical thrombectomy or excision of the involved venous segment.
Commentary: Forest Cover Is Critical for Biodiversity Conservation in Tropical Livestock-Dominated Landscapes
Authors: Alvarado Fredy , Williams David R. , Arroyo-Rodríguez Víctor , Escobar Federico
Published: June 2018

Balancing meat production and biodiversity conservation is a major challenge. To address this challenge, we must understand the independent effects of land-use change and production practices on biodiversity across spatial scales. A key question is whether biodiversity will benefit more from habitats embedded in farmland (“land sharing”) or preserved elsewhere (“land sparing”). Our multiscale assessment of dung beetle communities in livestock-dominated landscapes from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, supports the latter strategy. New results from phylogenetic analyses and unpublished results from dung removal experiments also highlight the importance of forest cover for preserving dung beetles and their key ecological roles. Both landscape-scale forest cover and macrocyclic lactones (commonly used veterinary drugs) shape dung beetle communities in the Yucatan Peninsula, thus suggesting that a land sparing approach, which maximizes forest protection, may minimize the damage of beef production to biodiversity. However, maximizing yields through macrocyclic lactone use will likely reduce on-farm ecosystem service provision. These surprising results have important implications for the conservation of biodiversity and ecological functions, as they suggest that the best strategies for conserving biodiversity may differ from those focused on delivering ecosystem services. We must therefore consider factors other than just food production and biodiversity conservation when designing land-use strategies.
Sleep apnoea in the asymptomatic elderly: a real issue for the brain?
Authors: Celle Sébastien , Boutet Claire , Annweiler Cédric , Barthélémy Jean-Claude , Roche Frédéric
Published: June 2018

The link between sleep apnoea and brain structure is unclear; although dysfunction of the hippocampus, middle temporal gyrus and brainstem/cerebellum have been observed previously. However, this link has been little explored in elderly subjects. The aim of this study was to explore the link between sleep apnoea and the brain in an elderly population.

226 asymptomatic elderly subjects (age mean±sd75.3±0.9 years, range 72.3–77.8 years) from the PROOF (Evaluation of Ageing, Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Cardiovascular Events) cohort study were explored using linear voxel-based or cortical thickness with apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI; mean±sd15.9±11.5 events·h−1, range 6–63.6 events·h−1) as a covariate of main interest. The brain volumes of 20 control subjects, 18 apnoeic (AHI >29 events·h−1) treated patients and 20 apnoeic untreated patients from this population were compared using voxel-based morphometry, cortical thickness or surface-based analyses.

AHI was not associated with any change in local brain volume, cortical thickness or cortex surface. Control subjects, apnoeic treated and untreated patients were not different in terms of local brain volume, cortical thickness or surface.

In a specific population of asymptomatic elderly healthy subjects, sleep apnoea does not seem to be associated with a change in local brain volume or in cortical thickness.
Diagnosed depression and sociodemographic factors as predictors of mortality in patients with dementia
Authors: Lewis Gemma , Werbeloff Nomi , Hayes Joseph F. , Howard Robert , Osborn David P. J.
Published: June 2018

Background

Potentially modifiable risk factors for developing dementia have been identified. However, risk factors for increased mortality in patients with diagnosed dementia are not well understood. Identifying factors that influence prognosis would help clinicians plan care and address unmet needs.

Aims

To investigate diagnosed depression and sociodemographic factors as predictors of mortality in patients with dementia in UK secondary clinical care services.

Method

We conducted a cohort study of patients with a dementia diagnosis in an electronic health records database in a UK National Health Service mental health trust.

Results

In 3374 patients with 10 856 person-years of follow-up, comorbid depression was not associated with mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 0.94; 95% CI 0.71–1.24). Single patients had higher mortality than those who were married (adjusted hazard ratio 1.25; 95% CI 1.03–1.50). Patients of Asian ethnicity had lower mortality rates than White British patients (adjusted hazard ratio 0.50; 95% CI 0.34–0.73).

Conclusions

Clinically diagnosed depression does not increase mortality in patients with dementia. Patients who are single are a potential high-mortality risk group. Lower mortality rates in Asian patients with dementia that have been reported in the USA also apply in the UK.

Declaration of interest

None.