bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Anthropology of Ethics and Morality
Authors: Mattingly Cheryl , Throop Jason
Published: August 2018

Anthropologists have sustained a varied and active engagement with ethics throughout the field's history. In light of this long-standing engagement, what marks the distinctiveness of the current ethical turn? To think in Foucauldian terms, ethics/morality now looms large precisely because it has been problematized. Although there has been a recent outpouring of work on ethics, and a widely shared concern to move beyond overly collectivist accounts, much is nascent. Debates and schools of thought are still emerging. In this review article, we explore several resonate streams of disquiet or inspiration within the discipline that have generated new lines of inquiry. These include ( a) emerging debates and confusion around the use of basic terms such as “ethics” and “morality” and their role in debates over ordinary ethics, ( b) articulations of an anthropological virtue ethics (and the Foucault effect), ( c) increasingly sophisticated treatments of moral experience informed by philosophical phenomenology, and ( d) reinvigorated considerations of the political as connected to ethical life.
Early life voiding dysfunction leads to lower urinary tract dysfunction through alteration of muscarinic and purinergic signaling in the bladder
Authors: Iguchi Nao , Malykhina Anna P. , Wilcox Duncan T.
Published: August 2018

Lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) is a common problem in children and constitutes up to 40% of pediatric urology clinic visits. Improved diagnosis and interventions have been leading to better outcomes in many patients, whereas some children are left untreated or do not respond to the treatment successfully. In addition, many of these patients are lost by the pediatric urologists during their teenage years, and the outcome in later life largely remains unidentified. Studies suggest childhood LUTD is associated with subsequent adult urinary tract symptoms. However, whether and how early life LUTD attributes to urinary symptoms in those patients later in life remains to be elucidated. In the current study, we investigated the effects of early life voiding perturbation on bladder function using a neonatal maternal separation (NMS) protocol in mice. The NMS group displayed a delayed development of voluntary voiding behavior, a significant reduction of functional bladder capacity, and bladder overactivity compared with control mice later in life. In vitro evaluation of detrusor smooth muscle and molecular study showed a decrease in muscarinic contribution alongside an increase in purinergic contribution in detrusor contractility in NMS mice compared with control group. These results suggest that early life bladder dysfunction interfered with the normal maturation of the voluntary micturition control and facilitated LUTD in a later stage, which is at least partly attributed to an alteration of muscarinic and purinergic signaling in the urinary bladder.
Electric Pulses Can Influence Galvanotaxis ofDictyostelium discoideum
Authors: Li Ying , Gu Yu , Wang He , Liu Zhipeng , Song Bing , Yin Tao
Published: August 2018

Galvanotaxis, or electrotaxis, plays an essential role in wound healing, embryogenesis, and nerve regeneration. Up until now great efforts have been made to identify the underlying mechanism related to galvanotaxis in various cells under direct current electric field (DCEF) in laboratory studies. However, abundant clinical research shows that non-DCEFs including monopolar or bipolar electric field may also contribute to wound healing and regeneration, although the mechanism remains elusive. Here, we designed a novel electric stimulator and applied DCEF, pulsed DCEF (pDCEF), and bipolar pulse electric field (bpEF) to the cells ofDictyostelium discoideum. The cells had better directional performance under asymmetric 90% duty cycle pDCEF and 80% duty cycle bpEF compared to DCEF, with 10 Hz frequency electric fields eliciting a better cell response than 5 Hz. Interestingly, electrically neutral 50% duty cycle bpEF triggered the highest migration speed, albeit in random directions. The results suggest that electric pulses are vital to galvanotaxis and non-DCEF is promising in both basic and clinical researches.
On Topological Indices of Fractal and Cayley Tree Type Dendrimers
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Baig Abdul Qudair , Khalid Waqas
Published: August 2018

The topological descriptors are the numerical invariants associated with a chemical graph and are helpful in predicting their bioactivity and physiochemical properties. These descriptors are studied and used in mathematical chemistry, medicines, and drugs designs and in other areas of applied sciences. In this paper, we study the two chemical trees, namely, the fractal tree and Cayley tree. We also compute their topological indices based on degree concept. These indices include atom bond connectivity index, geometric arithmetic index and their fourth and fifth versions, Sanskruti index, augmented Zagreb index, first and second Zagreb indices, and general Randic index for α={-1,1,1/2,-1/2}. Furthermore, we give closed analytical results of these indices for fractal trees and Cayley trees.
Opportunistic Mobile Sensing in the Fog
Authors: Menchaca-Mendez Rolando , Luna-Nuñez Brayan , Menchaca-Mendez Ricardo , Yee-Rendon Arturo , Quintero Rolando , Favela Jesus
Published: August 2018

The increasing adoption of mobile personal devices and Internet of Things devices is leveraging the emergence of a wide variety of opportunistic sensing applications. However, the designers of this type of applications face a set of technical challenges related to the limitations and heterogeneity of the hardware and software platforms and to the dynamics of the scenarios where they are deployed. In this paper, we introduce a Semantic‐Centric Fog‐based framework aimed at effectively and efficiently supporting this type of applications. The proposed framework is composed of local and distributed algorithms that support the establishment and coordination of sensing tasks in the Fog. First, it performs ontology‐driven in‐network processing to locate the most adequate devices to carry out a given sensing task and then, it establishes efficient multihop routes that are used to coordinate relevant devices and to transport the collected sensory data to Fog sinks. We present a set of theorems that prove that the proposed algorithms are correct and the results of a series of detailed simulation‐based experiments in NS3 that characterize the performance of the proposed platform. The results show that the proposed framework outperforms traditional sensing platforms that are based on centralized services.
Real Interpolation of Small Lebesgue Spaces in a Critical Case
Authors: Ahmed Irshaad , Hafeez Aneesa , Murtaza Ghulam
Published: August 2018

We establish an interpolation formula for small Lebesgue spaces in a critical case.
Type III Transforming Growth Factor-β Receptor RNA Interference Enhances Transforming Growth Factor β3-Induced Chondrogenesis Signaling in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Zheng Shuhui , Zhou Hang , Chen Zhuohui , Li Yongyong , Zhou Taifeng , Lian Chengjie , Gao Bo , Su Peiqiang , Xu Caixia
Published: August 2018

The type III transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptor (TβRIII), a coreceptor of the TGF-β superfamily, is known to bind TGF-βs and regulate TGF-β signaling. However, the regulatory roles of TβRIII in TGF-β-induced mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) chondrogenesis have not been explored. The present study examined the effect of TβRIII RNA interference (RNAi) on TGF-β3-induced human MSC (hMSC) chondrogenesis and possible signal mechanisms. A lentiviral expression vector containing TβRIII small interfering RNA (siRNA) (SiTβRIII) or a control siRNA (SiNC) gene was constructed and infected into hMSCs. The cells were cultured in chondrogenic medium containing TGF-β3 or control medium. TβRIII RNAi significantly enhanced TGF-β3-induced chondrogenic differentiation of hMSCs, the ratio of type II (TβRII) to type I (TβRI) TGF-β receptors, and phosphorylation levels of Smad2/3 as compared with cells infected with SiNC. An inhibitor of the TGF-β signal, SB431542, not only inhibited TβRIII RNAi-stimulated TGF-β3-mediated Smad2/3 phosphorylation but also inhibited the effects of TβRIII RNAi on TGF-β3-induced chondrogenic differentiation. These results demonstrate that TβRIII RNAi enhances TGF-β3-induced chondrogenic differentiation in hMSCs by activating TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling. The finding points to the possibility of modifying MSCs by TβRIII knockdown as a potent future strategy for cell-based cartilage tissue engineering.
Effect of Different Morphology of Titanium Surface on the Bone Healing in Defects Filled Only with Blood Clot: A New Animal Study Design
Authors: Gehrke Sergio Alexandre , Dedavid Berenice Anina , Aramburú Jaime Sardá , Pérez-Díaz Letícia , Guirado José Luis Calvo , Canales Patrícia Mazon , De Aza Piedad N.
Published: August 2018

Background. The objective of the present histologic animal study was to analyze whether roughness of the titanium surface can influence and/or stimulate the bone growth in defects filled with the blood using a rabbit tibia model. Materials and Methods. Forty sets (implant and abutment), dental implant (3.5 mm in diameter and 7 mm in length) plus healing abutment (2.5 mm in diameter), were inserted in the tibiae of 10 rabbits. Moreover, twenty titanium discs were prepared. The abutment and discs were treated by 4 different methods and divided into 4 groups: (group A) machined abutments (smooth); (group B) double acid etching treatment; (group C) treatment with blasting with particles of aluminum oxide blasted plus acid conditioning; (group D) treatment with thorough blasting with particles of titanium oxide plus acid conditioning. The discs were used to characterize the surfaces by a profilometer and scanning electronic microscopy. Results. After 8 weeks, the new bone formation around the sets of the samples was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively in relation to bone height from the base of the implant and presence of osteocytes. Group C (1.50±0.20 mm) and group D (1.62±0.18 mm) showed bone growth on the abutment with higher values compared to group A (0.94±0.30 mm) and group B (1.19±0.23 mm), with significant difference between the groups (P < 0.05). In addition, osteocyte presence was higher in groups with surface treatment related to machined (P < 0.05). Conclusions. Within the limitations of the present study, it was possible to observe that there is a direct relationship between the roughness present on the titanium surface and the stimulus for bone formation, since the presence of larger amounts of osteocytes on SLA surfaces evidenced this fact. Furthermore, the increased formation of bone tissue in height demonstrates that there is an important difference between the physical and chemical methods used for surface treatment.
Ground State Solutions to a Critical Nonlocal Integrodifferential System
Authors: Liu Min , Wang Zhijing , Guo Zhenyu
Published: August 2018

Consider the following nonlocal integrodifferential system: LKu+λ1u+μ1u2⁎-2u+Gu(x,u,v)=0  in  Ω,  LKv+λ2v+μ2v2⁎-2v+Gv(x,u,v)=0  in  Ω,  u=0,  v=0  in  RN∖Ω, where LK is a general nonlocal integrodifferential operator, λ1,λ2,μ1,μ2>0, 2⁎≔2N/N-2s is a fractional Sobolev critical exponent, 0<s<1, N>2s, G(x,u,v) is a lower order perturbation of the critical coupling term, and Ω is an open bounded domain in RN with Lipschitz boundary. Under proper conditions, we establish an existence result of the ground state solution to the nonlocal integrodifferential system.
Nanosecond Electric Pulses Induce Early and Late Phases of DNA Damage and Cell Death in Cisplatin-Resistant Human Ovarian Cancer Cells
Authors: Qian Guanhua , Yu Tinghe
Published: August 2018

Chemoresistance is a challenge for management of ovarian cancer, and therefore the response of resistant cells to nanosecond electric pulses (nsEP) was explored. Human ovarian cancer cell line COC1 and the cisplatin-resistant subline COC1/DDP were subjected to nsEP (32 ns, 10 kV/cm, 10 Hz pulse repletion frequency, and 10 min exposure duration), and then the cellular responses were followed. The percentages of dead cells and of comet-formed cells in the alkaline assay displayed two peak levels (i.e., 2 and 8 h after nsEP exposure), with the highest value noted at 8 h; the percentage of comet-formed cells in the neutral assay was increased at 8 h; the apoptotic percentage was increased at 8 h, with collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential and the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. The comet assay demonstrated DNA single-strand break at 2 h and double-strand break at 8 h. nsEP resulted in lower cytotoxicity in COC1/DDP cells compared with COC1 cells. These findings indicated that nsEP induced early and late phases of DNA damage and cell death, and these two types of cell death may have distinct applications to treatments of chemoresistant ovarian cancers.
A Request‐Based Handover Strategy Using NDN for 5G
Authors: Jia Fan , Zheng Xiaolin
Published: August 2018

With the developing of 5G, it is widely accepted that 5G will use a system architecture that supports the ultradense networks (UDN) deployments. In this architecture, a user will be covered by a large amount of small cell base stations (SBS) in 5G. However, selecting an SBS for handover is a great challenge. To address the challenge, the emerging content‐oriented Named Data Networking (NDN) has attractive advantages, such as providing name‐based routing. In this paper, a request‐based handover strategy (RBHS) is presented to improve the user experience in performance and obtain the optimal allocation of resources, and a caching mechanism based on the users’ requests is introduced for it. The proposed caching mechanism and access network selection mechanism were validated utilizing ndnSIM. Simulation results demonstrate that our proposed strategy achieves around 30% higher cache hit rate and 20% more traffic reduction, compared with the access network selection based on SINR.
In Vivo Evaluation of Different Collagen Scaffolds in an Achilles Tendon Defect Model
Authors: Gabler Carolin , Saß Jan-Oliver , Gierschner Susann , Lindner Tobias , Bader Rainer , Tischer Thomas
Published: August 2018

In the present study, a newly introduced bovine cross-linked collagen scaffold (test material) was investigated in vivo in an Achilles tendon defect model and compared to a commercially available porcine collagen scaffold (control material). In total, 28 male Sprague Dawley rats (about 400 g) were examined. The defined Achilles tendon defect of 5 mm of the right hind limb was replaced by one of the scaffold materials. After euthanasia, the hind limbs were transected for testing. Biomechanical evaluation was carried out via tensile testing (n = 8 each group, observation time: 28 days). Nonoperated tendons from the bilateral side were used as a control (native tendon, n = 4). For the histological evaluation, 12 animals were sacrificed at 14 and 28 days postoperatively (n = 3 each group and time point). Stained slices (Hematoxylin & Eosin) were evaluated qualitatively in terms of presence of cells and cell migration into scaffolds as well as structure and degradation of the scaffold. All transected hind limbs were additionally analyzed using MRI before testing to verify if the tendon repair using a collagen scaffold was still intact after the observation period. The maximum failure loads of both scaffold materials (test material: 54.5 ± 16.4 N, control: 63.1 ± 19.5 N) were in the range of native tendon (76.6 ± 11.6 N, p ≥ 0.07). The stiffness of native tendons was twofold higher (p ≤ 0.01) and the tear strength was approximately fivefold higher (p ≤ 0.01) compared to the repaired tendons with both scaffolds. Histological findings indicated that neither the test nor the control material induced inflammation, but the test material underwent a slower remodeling process. An overall repair failure rate of 48% was observed via MRI. The experimental data of the newly developed test material showed similar outcomes compared to the commercially available control material. The high repair failure rate indicated that MRI is recommended as an auxiliary measurement tool to validate experimental data.
Bayesian Equivalence Testing and Meta-Analysis in Two-Arm Trials with Binary Data
Authors: Kpekpena Cynthia , Muthukumarana Saman
Published: August 2018

We consider a Bayesian approach for assessing hypotheses of equivalence in two-arm trials with binary Data. We discuss the development of likelihood, the prior, and the posterior distributions of parameters of interest. We then examine the suitability of a normal approximation to the posterior distribution obtained via a Taylor series expansion. The Bayesian inference is carried out using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. We illustrate the methods using actual data arising from two-arm clinical trials on preventing mortality after myocardial infarction.
Voice Disorder Detection via an m-Health System: Design and Results of a Clinical Study to Evaluate Vox4Health
Authors: Cesari Ugo , De Pietro Giuseppe , Marciano Elio , Niri Ciro , Sannino Giovanna , Verde Laura
Published: August 2018

Objectives. The current study presents a clinical evaluation of Vox4Health, an m-health system able to estimate the possible presence of a voice disorder by calculating and analyzing the main acoustic measures required for the acoustic analysis, namely, the Fundamental Frequency, jitter, shimmer, and Harmonic to Noise Ratio. The acoustic analysis is an objective, effective, and noninvasive tool used in clinical practice to perform a quantitative evaluation of voice quality. Materials and Methods. A clinical study was carried out in collaboration with medical staff of the University of Naples Federico II. 208 volunteers were recruited (mean age, 44.2 ± 13.9 years), 58 healthy subjects (mean age, 36.7 ± 13.3 years) and 150 pathological ones (mean age, 47 ± 13.1 years). The evaluation of Vox4Health was made in terms of classification performance, i.e., sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, by using a rule-based algorithm that considers the most characteristic acoustic parameters to classify if the voice is healthy or pathological. The performance has been compared with that achieved by using Praat, one of the most commonly used tools in clinical practice. Results. Using a rule-based algorithm, the best accuracy in the detection of voice disorders, 72.6%, was obtained by using the jitter or shimmer value. Moreover, the best sensitivity is about 96% and it was always obtained by using jitter. Finally, the best specificity was achieved by using the Fundamental Frequency and it is equal to 56.9%. Additionally, in order to improve the classification accuracy of the next version of the Vox4Health app, an evaluation by using machine learning techniques was conducted. We performed some preliminary tests adopting different machine learning techniques able to classify the voice as healthy or pathological. The best accuracy (77.4%) was obtained by the Logistic Model Tree algorithm, while the best sensitivity (99.3%) was achieved using the Support Vector Machine. Finally, Instance-based Learning performed the best specificity (36.2%). Conclusions. Considering the achieved accuracy, Vox4Health has been considered by the medical experts as a “good screening tool” for the detection of voice disorders in its current version. However, this accuracy is improved when machine learning classifiers are considered rather than the rule-based algorithm.
Long-Term Outcomes of Caustic Esophageal Stricture with Endoscopic Balloon Dilatation in Chinese Children
Authors: Geng Lan-Lan , Liang Cui-Ping , Chen Pei-Yu , Wu Qiang , Yang Min , Li Hui-Wen , Xu Zhao-Hui , Ren Lu , Wang Hong-Li , Cheng Shunxian , Xu Wan-Fu , Chen Yang , Zhang Chao , Liu Li-Ying , Li Ding-You , Gong Si-Tang
Published: August 2018

Caustic esophageal stricture (CES) in children still occurs frequently in developing countries. We aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) in treating CES in children and the influencing factors associated with outcome. We retrospectively reviewed the data of all patients who had a diagnosis of CES and underwent EBD from August 1, 2005, to December 31, 2014. The primary outcome was EBD success, which was defined as the maintenance of dysphagia-free status for at least 12 months after the last EBD. The secondary outcome was to analyze influencing factors associated with EBD success. Forty-three patients were included for analysis (29 males; mean age at first dilatation 44 months with range 121 months). 26 (60.5%) patients had long segment (>2 cm) stricture. A total of 168 EBD procedures were performed. Twenty-six (60.5%) patients were considered EBD success. Seventeen (39.5%) patients failed EBD and required stent placement and/or surgery. Patients in the EBD success group had significantly shorter stricture segments when compared to the EBD failure group (t=2.398, P=0.018, OR=3.206, 95% OR: 1.228–8.371). Seven (4.4%) esophageal perforations occurred in 6 patients after EBD. Stents were placed in 5 patients, and gastric tube esophagoplasty was performed in 14 patients. In conclusion, 26 (60.5%) of 43 children with CES had EBD success. Length of stricture was the main influencing factor associated with EBD treatment outcome.
Some Topological Properties of Fuzzy Antinormed Linear Spaces
Authors: Kočinac Ljubiša D. R.
Published: August 2018

The definition of fuzzy antinorm is modified. Some topological properties of finite dimensional fuzzy antinormed linear space are studied. Fuzzy anticonvergence and statistical fuzzy anticonvergence are defined and their properties are studied. We also discuss some boundedness properties in fuzzy antinormed linear spaces.
Association between a New Sugar Index and Caries Experience: Results of a Cross-Sectional Field Study
Authors: Pieper Klaus , Winter Julia , Heinzel-Gutenbrunner Monika , Margraf-Stiksrud Jutta
Published: August 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the relationship between a newly developed sugar index and caries experience in 4th- and 6th-graders. Materials and Methods: A total of 1,019 fourth-graders and 925 sixth-graders from 2 regions in Northern Germany participated in the study. Caries experience was recorded by applying the ICDAS criteria. Tooth-brushing habits and other independent variables were examined psychometrically. Structured questions were formulated that were related to specific everyday eating situations, especially between main meals, which proved to be relevant for a higher caries risk. To compare mean caries scores, nonparametric tests were applied. The Pearson coefficient was calculated in order to verify the correlation between the sugar index and the caries experience. The influence of various independent variables on caries experience was assessed by stepwise backward logistic regression analysis. Results: With regard to the primary teeth of the 4th-graders, significant correlations with values > 0.1 were found for all ICDAS outcome variables. With regard to the permanent teeth of the 6th-graders, the only significant correlations with the sugar index were for the ICDAS outcome variables D3–6MFT and D3–6FS. Conclusion: The results of our study show that not only the correlation between the sugar index and caries experience was stronger for 4th-graders than for 6th-graders, but also more distinctly visible differences were observed when comparing extreme groups. This indicates that protective factors, such as fluoridation and the preventive sealing of fissures, help level out the differences in caries occurrence in older children when compared to younger children.
Glycocalyx Degradation after Pulmonary Transplantation Surgery
Authors: Rancan Lisa , Simón Carlos , Sánchez Pedrosa Guillermo , Aymonnier Karen , Shahani Priya M. , Casanova Javier , Muñoz Celia , Garutti Ignacio  , Vara Elena
Published: August 2018

Purpose: Ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a main cause of morbidity after pulmonary resection surgery. The degradation of glycocalyx, a dynamic layer of macromolecules at the luminal surface of the endothelium, seems to participate in tissue dysfunction after IRI. Lidocaine has a proven anti-inflammatory activity in several tissues but its modulation of glycocalyx has not been investigated. This work aimed to investigate the potential involvement of glycocalyx in lung IRI in a lung auto-transplantation model and the possible effect of lidocaine in modulating IRI. Methods: Three groups (sham-operated, control, and lidocaine), each consisting of 6 Large White pigs, were subjected to lung auto-transplantation. All groups received the same anaesthesia. In addition, the lidocaine group received a continuous IV administration of lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg/h). Lung tissue and plasma samples were taken before pulmonary artery clamp, before reperfusion, and 30 and 60 min post-reperfusion in order to analyse pulmonary oedema, glycocalyx components, adhesion molecules, and myeloperoxidase level. Results: Ischaemia caused pulmonary oedema, which was greater after reperfusion. This effect was accompanied by decreased levels of syndecan-1 and heparan sulphate in the lung samples, together with increased levels of both glycocalyx components in the plasma samples. After reperfusion, neutrophil activation and the expression of adhesion molecules were increased. All these alterations were significantly lower or absent in the lidocaine group. Conclusion: Lung IRI caused glycocalyx degradation that contributed to neutrophil activation and adhesion. The administration of lidocaine was able to protect the lung from glycocalyx degradation.
Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis Implicates microRNA Processing in Parkinson’s Disease Pathogenesis
Authors: Chen Jason A.
Published: August 2018

Background: Recent advances in genetics have provided insights into important inherited causes of Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the underlying biological mechanisms are still incompletely understood. Gene expression studies have pointed toward the dysregulation of neuroinflammation, mitochondrial function, and protein degradation pathways. Objective: We aimed to identify groups of dysregulated genes in PD. Methods: In order to increase statistical power and control for potential confounders, we re-analyzed transcriptomic data from PD patients and model systems, integrating additional genomic data using a systems biology approach. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we partitioned genes into co-expressed modules. Results: One co-expression module, M13, had an expression trajectory that was highly correlated with PD, was not characterized by any specific cell type markers, and was enriched in PD genes identified by genome-wide association studies. Genes within M13 seemed to be related to global microRNA biogenesis, and DICER1 and AGO3 were highly connected within the module. The NUCKS1 gene, previously identified as part of the PARK16 locus, was also a hub gene within M13. Conclusion: These results suggest that microRNA processing and function may play a role in the pathogenesis of PD, and thus may represent a useful target for future drug development.
Improving Communication between Persons with Mild Dementia and Their Caregivers: Qualitative Analysis of a Practice-Based Logopaedic Intervention
Authors: Olthof-Nefkens Maria W.L.J. , Kruse Hannes , Derksen Els , de Swart Bert J.M. , Nijhuis-van der Sanden Maria W.G. , Kalf Johanna G.
Published: August 2018

Objective: To identify the essential elements of a newly developed, practice-based logopaedic intervention, which focuses on communication between persons with dementia (PwDs) and their caregivers. Methods: The intervention of 6 one-hour sessions was conducted and evaluated with 4 PwD-caregiver dyads. Eighteen therapy sessions were video recorded and semi-structured interviews with all dyads and an interview with the speech-language therapist (SLT) were audio recorded. Framework analysis and triangulation were used to analyse the data. Results: Five elements were found, which were systematically applied in the treatment of all dyads: interactive history taking, dynamic assessment, education about consequences of dementia for communicative effectiveness, development and use of two communication tools, and specific didactic strategies of the SLT. Regarding the outcome of the treatment, the dyads valued the focus on the interaction between PwD and caregiver, the usefulness of the received pieces of advice, and the empowering attitude of the SLT, which improved their self-confidence. The SLT added another element for an efficient approach: the ability to deliver treatment in people’s home environment. Conclusion: A short pragmatic but consistent approach for communication problems caused by dementia seems promising for improving daily communication and reducing stress and frustration. Further research will explore the feasibility and efficacy of this approach.
Cases and Regulation of Advance Decisions in Germany
Authors: Albers Marion
Published: August 2018

The article clarifies principles, provisions and shortcomings of regulating advance decisions with a view to current regulatory approaches in Germany. The legal framework of instructional directives has been fundamentally amended in 2009. But recent cases illustrate some of the difficulties that arise and several decisions of the highest courts have reopened controversial discussions. The article argues that both the making and the implementation of advance directives involve decisions made under conditions of uncertainty. Regulations must be and are already quite complex. Even so, problems are predictable if advance decisions are not embedded in a broader context of advance care planning.
From Legislative Shortcomings towards Better Human Rights Protection — Analysis of Legislation on the Emergency Medical Services in Finland and Estonia
Authors: Uusitalo Jenna
Published: August 2018

Emergency medical service (EMS) is designed, above all, to provide urgent treatment for patients with sudden life-threatening diseases or injuries. In wider context, however, EMS is a part of state’s constitutional obligation to guarantee adequate medical care. Therefore, this analysis of how EMS legislation has been drafted and implemented in practice can also be seen to reflect the state’s attitude towards the protection of human rights. A comparison between legal provisions on EMS in Finland and Estonia has been performed in order to illustrate these differentiations. Essentially, the article argues that Estonian EMS legislation seems to contribute more significantly to human rights protection, whereas Finland is more economically oriented in its attitude. However, both jurisdictions also contain some advantageous provisions, which could enhance the quality and improve the recognition of human rights in other states as well.
An account of Ceropegia sect. Chamaesiphon (Apocynaceae) in Moçambique with new records and two new species
Authors: BRUYNS PETER V. , KLAK CORNELIA , HANÁČEK PAVEL
Published: August 2018

Two new species of Ceropegia sect. Chamaesiphon H.Huber from Moçambique, C. cyperifolia Bruyns and C. gracilidens Bruyns, are described and illustrated. A brief account of eight other species recorded for the first time from Moçambique is given and notes are provided on the little-known Ceropegia simplex (Schltr.) Bruyns, which has not been collected since Schlechter’s original gathering in 1898. A key is presented to all 11 species in Moçambique. Brachystelma simplex subsp. banforae Lebrun & Stork from West Africa is raised to specific level as Ceropegia banforae (Lebrun & Stork) Bruyns so that Ceropegia simplex is confined to material from Moçambique. Ceropegia vahrmeijeri (R.A.Dyer) Bruyns is reduced to synonymy under C. cupulata (R.A.Dyer) Bruyns and Brachystelma mortonii C.C.Walker under Ceropegia plocamoides (Oliver) Bruyns.
Catalogue of the type material in the entomological collection of the Natural History Museum of Denmark: basal hexapods
Authors: EUSÉBIO RITA , SENDRA ALBERTO , ENGHOFF HENRIK , REBOLEIRA ANA SOFIA P.S.
Published: August 2018

A catalogue of type specimens of basal hexapods (Collembola, Protura, Diplura, Archaeognatha, Zygentoma) in the collection of the Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen is presented. The NHMD collection harbours type material of 175 species, and it is composed of 132 holotypes, 4 neotypes, 3 syntypes, 32 lectotypes, and 39 paratypes. For Diplura one neotype is newly designated. The order Protura is represented by 5 families, Collembola by 7 families, Diplura by 6 families, Archaeognatha by 1 family and Zygentoma by 2 families.
Discovery of the first pincer wasp (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) from Rovno amber
Authors: PERKOVSKY EVGENY E. , OLMI MASSIMO
Published: August 2018

Dryinidae (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea) are recorded for the first time from Rovno amber (Ukraine), following the discovery of one female of Dryinus janzeni Olmi. Holotypes of D. balticus (Olmi) and D. bruesi (Olmi) previously assigned to the Baltic amber, were actually collected on the coast of Denmark, so that they have to be recorded as specimens in Scandinavian (Danish) amber. As a result, true records of Dryinus species of group 3 (Olmi 1993) in Baltic amber are three: D. janzeni, D. bruesi, because of a second specimen found in true Baltic amber, and D. velteni Olmi. Dryinidae are the 33th hymenopteran family known from Rovno amber. Three species, D. janzeni, D. bruesi and D. balticus are known from understudied Rovno and Scandinavian amber originated from the warmer south coast of the Subparathetys. Dryinus janzeni is the 115th hymenopteran species known from Rovno amber and the first Dryinus record from Ukraine.
Description of a new species of the genus Agamura Blanford, 1874 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from southern Iran
Authors: YOUSEFKHANI SEYYED SAEED HOSSEINIAN , ALIABADIAN MANSOUR , RASTEGAR-POUYANI ESKANDAR , DARVISH JAMSHID , SHAFIEI SOHEILA , SEHHATISABET MOHAMMAD EBRAHIM
Published: August 2018

Herein, we describe a new species of spider gecko, Agamura kermanensis sp. nov., from south Kerman, Iran. The new species is distinguished from other species by having long forelimbs and hindlimbs and a high interorbital distance. Agamura kermanensis sp. nov. was discovered in the Faryab region of southern Kerman Province, which has a xeric climate and low vegetation density. The habitat of the species is similar to that of A. cruralis in southeast Iran. It can be assumed that the distribution of the species is more extensive than currently known. More investigation is required in Jazmourian and the surrounding areas. This is the third species of the genus Agamura discovered on the Iranian Plateau.
Reduced Wet-Season Length Detected by Satellite Retrievals of Cloudiness over Brazilian Amazonia: A New Methodology
Authors: Sena Elisa T. , Dias M. A. F. Silva , Carvalho L. M. V. , Dias P. L. Silva
Published: August 2018

This study investigates the variability of the seasonal cycle of convection in the Brazilian Amazon basin during the last decades, and examines physical mechanisms that potentially trigger these modifications. A new methodology to evaluate the onset and length of the rainy season using long-term cloud fraction observations from geostationary satellites is proposed and the connection between cloud cycle variability, surface properties, and thermodynamic and dynamic conditions is explored. The results show that cloud cover has significantly decreased over the last decades. The decline in cloudiness is steeper at 1200 UTC (0800 LT), when a trend of up to −6% decade−1 is observed over the central and eastern Amazon. High-cloud-cover reduction is the major contributor to the observed decline in total cloud fraction. Delayed onsets and a reduction of up to 4 days yr−1 in the northern and central Amazon wet-season length are observed. Correlation analyses indicate that the El Niño phenomenon affects the interannual variability of cloudiness in the Amazon, leading to delayed onset and early demise of the rainy season. The tropical South Atlantic, the Pacific warm pool, and the North Atlantic tripole also play a small, but significant, role in the Amazon’s cloudiness variability. The decrease in cloudiness over the Amazon basin reduces the amount of solar radiation reflected back to space while increasing irradiance at the surface. This local warming alters surface heat fluxes and the atmospheric thermodynamic profile, further affecting cloud development. The strong tendencies reported here indicate a significant shift in the Amazonian hydroclimate during the last few decades.
Assessing the Coupled Influences of Clouds on the Atmospheric Energy and Water Cycles in Reanalyses with A-Train Observations
Authors: Daloz A. S. , Nelson E. , L’Ecuyer T. , Rapp A. D. , Sun L.
Published: August 2018

The lack of complete knowledge concerning the complex interactions among clouds, circulation, and climate hinders our ability to simulate the Earth’s climate correctly. This study contributes to a broader understanding of the implications of cloud and precipitation biases on the representation of coupled energy and water exchanges by bringing together a suite of cloud impact parameters (CIPs). These parameters measure the coupled impact of cloud systems on regional energy balance and hydrology by simultaneously capturing the absolute strength of the cloud albedo and greenhouse effects, the relative importance of these two radiative effects, and the efficiency of precipitating clouds to radiatively heat the atmosphere and cool the surface per unit of heating through rain production. Global distribution of these CIPs is derived using satellite observations from CloudSat and used to evaluate energy and water cycle coupling in four reanalysis datasets [both versions of the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA and MERRA-2); the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) interim reanalysis (ERA-Interim); and the Japanese 55-year Reanalysis (JRA-55)]. The results show that the reanalyses provide a more accurate representation of the three radiation-centric parameters than the radiative efficiencies. Of the four reanalyses, MERRA and ERA-Interim provide the best overall representation of the different cloud processes but can still show significant biases. JRA-55 exhibits some clear deficiencies in many parameters, while MERRA-2 seems to introduce biases that were not evident in MERRA.
The Continuum of Drought in Southwestern North America
Authors: Parsons Luke A. , Coats Sloan , Overpeck Jonathan T.
Published: August 2018

Drought has severe consequences for humans and their environment, yet we have a limited understanding of the drivers of drought across the full range of time scales on which it occurs. Here, the atmosphere and ocean conditions that drive this continuum of drought variability in southwestern North America (SWNA) are studied using the latest observationally based products, paleoclimate reconstructions, and state-of-the-art Earth system model simulations of the last millennium. A novel application of the self-organizing maps (SOM) methodology allows for a visualization of the continuum of climate states coinciding with thousands of droughts of varying lengths in last millennium simulations from the Community Earth System Model (CESM), the Goddard Institute for Space Studies Model E2-R (GISS E2-R), and eight other members from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). It is found that most droughts are associated with a cool Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) pattern, but persistent droughts can coincide with a variety of ocean–atmosphere states, including time periods showing a warm PDO or weak ocean–atmosphere anomalies. Many CMIP5 models simulate similar SWNA teleconnection patterns, but the SOM analysis demonstrates that models simulate different continuums of ocean–atmosphere states coinciding with droughts of different lengths, suggesting fundamental differences in their drought dynamics. These findings have important implications for our understanding and simulation of the drivers of persistent drought, and for their potential predictability.
Rossby Waves with Continuous Stratification and Bottom Friction
Authors: Brink K. H. , Pedlosky J.
Published: August 2018

Published observations of subinertial ocean current variability show that the vertical structure is often well described by a vertical mode that has a node of horizontal velocity at the bottom rather than the traditional node of vertical velocity. The theory of forced and free linear Rossby waves in a continuously stratified ocean with a sloping bottom and bottom friction is treated here to see if frictional effects can plausibly contribute to this phenomenon. For parameter values representative of the mesoscale, bottom dissipation by itself appears to be too weak to be an explanation, although caution is required because the present approach uses a linear model to address a nonlinear phenomenon. One novel outcome is the emergence of a short-wave, bottom-trapped, strongly damped mode that is present even with a flat bottom.
Impact of UAS Global Hawk Dropsonde Data on Tropical and Extratropical Cyclone Forecasts in 2016
Authors: Kren A. C. , Cucurull L. , Wang H.
Published: August 2018

A preliminary investigation into the impact of dropsonde observations from the Global Hawk (GH) on tropical and extratropical forecasts is performed using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS). Experiments are performed during high-impact weather events that were sampled as part of the NOAA Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Sensing Hazards with Operational Unmanned Technology (SHOUT) field campaigns in 2016: 1) three extratropical systems in February 2016 and 2) Hurricanes Matthew and Nicole in the western Atlantic. For these events, the benefits of GH observations under a satellite data gap scenario are also investigated. It is found that the assimilation of GH dropsondes reduces the track error for both Matthew and Nicole; the improvements are as high as 20% beyond 60 h. Additionally, the localized dropsondes reduce global forecast track error for four tropical cyclones by up to 9%. Results are mixed under a satellite gap scenario, where only Hurricane Matthew is improved from assimilated dropsondes. The improved storm track is attributed to a better representation of the steering flow and atmospheric midlevel pattern. For all cases, dropsondes reduce the root-mean-square error in temperature, relative humidity, wind, and sea level pressure by 3%–8% out to 96 h. Additional benefits from GH dropsondes are obtained for precipitation, with higher skill scores over the southeastern United States versus control forecasts of up to 8%, as well as for low-level parameters important for severe weather prediction. The findings from this study are preliminary and, therefore, more cases are needed for statistical significance.
Predicting the Inland Penetration of Long-Lake-Axis-Parallel Snowbands
Authors: Eipper Daniel T. , Young George S. , Greybush Steven J. , Saslo Seth , Sikora Todd D. , Clark Richard D.
Published: August 2018

Predicting the inland penetration of lake-effect long-lake-axis-parallel (LLAP) snowbands is crucial to public safety because LLAP bands can produce hazardous weather well downwind of the parent lake. Accordingly, hypotheses for the variation in inland penetration of LLAP-band radar echoes (InPen) are formulated and tested. The hypothesis testing includes an examination of statistical relationships between environmental variables and InPen for 34 snapshots of LLAP bands observed during the Ontario Winter Lake-effect Systems (OWLeS) field campaign. Several previously proposed predictors of LLAP-band formation or InPen demonstrate weak correlations with InPen during OWLeS. A notable exception is convective boundary layer (CBL) depth, which is strongly correlated with InPen. In addition to CBL depth, InPen is strongly correlated with cold-air advection in the upper portion of the CBL, suggesting that boundary layer destabilization produced by vertically differential cold-air advection may be an important inland power source for preexisting LLAP bands. This power production is quantified through atmospheric energetics and the resulting variable, differential thermal advection power (DTAP), yields reasonably skillful predictions of InPen. Nevertheless, an InPen model developed using DTAP is outperformed by an empirical model combining CBL depth and potential temperature advection in the upper portion of the CBL. This two-variable model explains 76% of the observed InPen variance when tested on independent data. Finally, implications for operational forecasting of InPen are discussed.
Adaptive fuzzy hybrid unscented/H-infinity filter for state estimation of nonlinear dynamics problems
Authors: Tehrani Mohammad , Nariman-zadeh Nader , Masoumnezhad Mojtaba
Published: August 2018

In this paper, a new hybrid unscented Kalman (UKF) and unscented [Formula: see text](U[Formula: see text]F) filter is presented that can adaptively adjust its performance better than that of either UKF and/or U[Formula: see text], accordingly. In this way, two Takagi-Sugeno-Kang (TSK) fuzzy logic systems are presented to adjust automatically some weights that combine those UK and U[Formula: see text] filters, independent of the dynamics of the problem. Such adaptive fuzzy hybrid unscented Kalman/[Formula: see text] filter (AFUK[Formula: see text]) is based on the combination of gain, a priori state estimation, and a priori measurement estimation. The simulation results of an inverted pendulum and a re-entry vehicle tracking problem clearly demonstrate robust and better performance of this new AFUK[Formula: see text] filter in comparison with those of both UKF and U[Formula: see text]F, appropriately. It is shown that, therefore, the new presented AFUK[Formula: see text] filter can simply eliminate the need for either UKF or U[Formula: see text] F effectively in the presence of Gaussian and/or non-Gaussian noises.
Non-traumatic ligamentum teres tears: association with MRI morphometry of the hip
Authors: Park Juyoung , Kang Yusuhn , Ahn Joong Mo , Lee Eugene , Lee Joon Woo , Kang Heung Sik
Published: August 2018

Background

The ligamentum teres has been recognized as an important stabilizer of the hip.

Purpose

We aimed to examine the relationship between non-traumatic ligamentum teres (LT) tear and hip morphometry on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Material and Methods

Fifty patients who had undergone hip MRI were included (27 men, 23 women; average age = 54.0 years). The status of the LT and the morphometric hip parameters were assessed, including acetabular anteversion angle (AAA), acetabular depth (AD), acetabular index (AI), lateral center edge angle (LCEA), and extrusion index (EI). The morphometric hip parameters were compared between groups with one-way ANOVA, Student’s t-test, and Mann–Whitney U test.

Results

A decreased acetabular coverage was noted in the severe tear group compared to the normal group, indicated by a significantly larger AD ( P = 0.001) and smaller LCEA ( P = 0.016). There was a statistically significant difference in the AAA, AD, and LCEA between the normal group and the complete tear group; the AAA was significantly larger ( P = 0.031), the AD was significantly larger ( P = 0.01), and the LCEA was significantly smaller ( P = 0.043) in the complete tear group compared to the normal group.

Conclusion

There is an association between LT tears and acetabular bony morphology; an insufficient acetabular coverage is associated with complete tear of the LT. As the insufficient acetabular coverage may predispose to ligamentum teres tear, the ligamentum teres should be thoroughly evaluated in those with insufficient acetabular coverage, as a potential cause of hip pain.