bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do Environmental Factors Influence Excimer Laser Pulse Fluence and Efficacy?
Authors: Dantas Paulo Elias Correa , Martins Cristiane Loiola , de Souza Luciene Barbosa , Dantas M Cristina Nishiwaki
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate excimer laser fluence after experimentally induced changes in room temperature and relative air humidity.

METHODS: Excimer laser fluence was analyzed with a specific power meter under three different grathents of room temperature and relative air humidity as well as the reproducibility of myopic correction of -3.00 diopters in a polymethylmethacrylate plate test.

RESULTS: Under the simulated environmental conditions, no significant difference in laser energy fluence and reproduction of myopic correction was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: In a setting with controlled temperature and relative air humidity, subtle changes in environmental factors do not appear to influence laser fluence and efficacy. [J Refract Surg. 2007;23:307-309.]
Bilateral Bacterial Keratitis in Three Patients Following Photorefractive Keratectomy
Authors: Karimian Farid , Baradaran-Rafii Alireza , Javadi Mohammad-Ali , Nazari Roshanak , Rabei Hossein Mohammad , Jafarinasab Mohammad-Reza
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report clinical manifestations and the bactériologie profiles of three patients with bilateral bacterial keratitis following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

METHODS: Photorefractive keratectomy was performed for mild to moderate myopia or compound myopic astigmatism. Bandage contact lenses were fitted at the conclusion of each surgery. Bilateral infectious keratitis was diagnosed within 3 days after surgery. Smear and culture were obtained in all three cases. Patients were treated with topical fortified antibiotics (cefazolin and gentamicin).

RESULTS: All patients presented with severe bilateral ocular pain, photophobia, purulent discharge, and dense corneal infiltration. Causative organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (n=2) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=l). Ulcers were controlled with aggressive medical therapy in five eyes; however, tectonic penetrating keratoplasty was required in one eye.

CONCLUSIONS: Uncontrolled blepharitis and bandage contact lens use appears to play a role in the development of bacterial keratitis after PRK. Avoidance of simultaneous bilateral surgery in patients with risk factors for bacterial keratitis, preoperative control of blepharitis, and good contact lens hygiene is suggested. [J Refract Surg. 2007;23:312-315.]
Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis for the Correction of Hyperopia Using a 7.0-mm Optical Zone With the Schwind ESIRIS Laser
Authors: O'Brart David P S , Mellington Faye , Jones Sophie , Marshall John
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) for the correction of hyperopia using a 7.0-mm optical zone and a 9.0-mm total ablation zone diameter with the Schwind ESIRIS flying-spot laser.

METHODS: Forty-seven patients (70 eyes) were treated with a mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction of +2.32 diopters (D) (range: 0 to +5.00 D). All eyes underwent LASEK using 15% alcohol with a 20-second application.

RESULTS: An intact epithelial flap was obtained in 66 (94%) eyes. In 70 eyes at 12 months, the mean spherical equivalent refraction was +0.09 D (range: -0.75 to + 1.00 D) with all (100%) eyes within ±1.00 D of the intended correction and 60 (86%) eyes within ±0.50 D. In 40 eyes with 24-month follow-up, the refractive correction remained stable after 6 months. Hyperopic cylindrical corrections were attempted in 49 eyes (range: +0.25 to +5.00 D) with vector analysis demonstrating a mean 102% correction at 12 to 24 months. In 60 nonamblyopic eyes, uncorrected visual acuity was s= 20/20 in 47 (78%) eyes. Thirty-three (47%) eyes gained 1 to 2 lines of Snellen decimal equivalent best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, 30 (43%) eyes showed no change, and 7 (10%) eyes lost 1 line. Eight (11%) eyes at 12 to 24 months had grade s*+l of paracentral corneal haze and 57 (81%) had no haze. At 12 months (n=70), the safety index was 1.06 with an efficacy index of 0.95. Analysis of higher order wavefront aberrations showed no significant changes in root-mean-square values postoperatively, except for a significant reduction of fourth order spherical aberration (P<.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Laser epithelial keratomileusis for hyperopia up to +5.00 D using a 7.0-mm optical zone with the Schwind ESIRIS laser provides excellent refractive and visual outcomes with minimal complications. In eyes followed for 24 months, the refractive correction remained stable after 6 months. [J Refract Surg. 2007;23:343-354.]
Contrast Sensitivity After LASIK, LASEK, and Wavefront-guided LASEK With the VISX S4 Laser
Authors: Kim Tae Wan , Wee Won Ryang , Lee Jin Hak , Kim Mee Kum
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in contrast sensitivity and glare after corneal refractive surgery for moderate myopia.

METHODS: The study comprised 267 eyes of 149 patients who underwent LASIK, laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK), or wavefront-guided LASEK with the VISX STAR S4. Contrast sensitivity was measured with VCTS 6500 before surgery and at 2 and 6 months postoperatively. Glare was evaluated using questionnaires and the ALC glare test at last follow-up. Contrast sensitivity at 2 and 6 months was compared with preoperative contrast sensitivity in each group. Glare sensitivity in each group was compared to normal controls.

RESULTS: Contrast sensitivity did not change after LASIK (P>.05). Contrast sensitivity of 3 and 6 cylces per degree (cpd) at 2 months increased after LASEK (P<.05) and contrast sensitivity of 6, 12, and 18 cpd at 2 months and 3, 6, 12, and 18 cpd at 6 months improved in wavefront-guided LASEK (P<.05). Glare test and questionnaires did not show any significant difference between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Wavefront-guided LASEK induced significant increases in contrast sensitivity of moderate myopes at high spatial frequencies under mesopic conditions by 6 months. Glare was not affected by the different refractive procedures. [J Refract Surg. 2007;23:355-361.]
Confocal Microscopy Changes in Epithelial and Stromal Thickness up to 7 Years After LASIK and Photorefractive Keratectomy for Myopia
Authors: Patel Sanjay V , Erie Jay C , McLaren Jay W , Bourne William M
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine the long-term changes in epithelial, stromal, and corneal thickness after LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

METHODS: In two prospective observational case series, 11 patients (16 eyes) received LASIK and 12 patients (18 eyes) received PRK to correct myopia or myopic astigmatism. None of the corneas had retreatment procedures. Corneas were examined using confocal microscopy before and at 1 month, and at 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 years after surgery. Central thicknesses were measured from reflected light intensity profiles recorded by confocal microscopy. Postoperative epithelial thickness was compared to preoperative, and postoperative stromal and corneal thicknesses were compared to thickness at 1 month after surgery.

RESULTS: In LASIK, epithelial thickness at 1 month (51 ± 4 µm, n=11) was greater than before surgery (41 ± 4 µm, n=16; P<.001) and remained thicker through 7 years (52 ± 6 µm, n=13; P<.001). Stromal and corneal thickness did not change between 1 month and 7 years after LASIK. After PRK, corneal thickness at 1 year (464 ± 44 µm, n=17) was greater than at 1 month (442 ± 39 µm, n=15; P=.001) and remained thicker at 7 years after PRK (471 ± 45 µm, n=17; P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The early increase in central epithelial thickness after myopic LASIK persists for at least 7 years and is probably the result of epithelial hyperplasia. Central corneal thickness increases during the first year after PRK and remains stable thereafter up to 7 years. [J Refract Surg. 2007;23:385-392.]
The Effect of Moxifloxacin and Gatifloxacin on Long-term Visual Outcomes Following Photorefractive Keratectomy
Authors: Burka Jenna M , Bower Kraig S , VanRoekel R Cameron , Stutzman Richard D , Kuzmowych Chrystyna P
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin on visual outcomes after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

METHODS: Thirty-five PRK patients were treated postoperatively with gatifloxacin (Zymar) in one eye and moxifloxacin (Vigamox) in the fellow eye. Postoperative regimens were otherwise identical. In a previous study (initial phase), we evaluated epithelial healing. In this study (second phase), we compared uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), manifest spherical equivalent (MSE), and corneal haze at 6 months postoperatively for 32 patients using the Wilcoxon signed ranks test.

RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was noted between eyes treated with Zymar and Vigamox in terms of UCVA, BSCVA, MSE, or corneal haze at 6 months postoperatively. Two (6%) Vigamox-treated eyes versus 0 (0%) Zymar-treated eyes lost one line of BSCVA from preoperative examination. Median UCVA and MSE were equivalent for both groups.

CONCLUSIONS: At 6 months after PRK, there was no significant difference in visual outcomes with either antibiotic. [J Refract Surg. 2007;23:414-417.]
Non-contact Confocal Microscopy of the Tear Film in Unoperated Eyes
Authors: Stonecipher Karl G , Green Parke T
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The NIDEK ConfoScan4 (CS4) is a digital scanning slit confocal microscope. The corneal structure and tear film can be viewed, magnified, measured, and photographed at magnifications up to 500×, in vivo, in a noninvasive manner. The objective of this study was to evaluate and illustrate various conditions related to dry eye using the CS4 confocal microscope with the 20× noncontact lens.

METHODS: The CS4 was used to evaluate the natural tear film in 58 eyes of 29 patients with normal examinations, allergic conjunctivitis, nonspecific conjunctivitis, and dry eyes. In a subset of this patient population, subjective and objective findings were used to classify mild, moderate, and severe dry eye disease states. The usefulness of confocal microscopy as an objective tool to diagnose and manage different tear film-related ocular disease was also evaluated.

RESULTS: The differences in tear film composition were visible using confocal microscopy. Photographs demonstrate confocal noncontact 20× microscopy as a diagnostic tool.

CONCLUSIONS: Noncontact confocal microscopy is a valuable tool in the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye syndrome and other ocular states such as allergic and nonspecific conjunctivitis. It provides a simple and effective way to observe, classify, and treat the tear film. As investigators visualize and learn more, understanding of this structure will continue to improve. [J Refract Surg. 2007;23:417-419.]
Negritud afroargentina en la literatura regionalista folklórica de Draghi Lucero. Esclavos y Mandingas en Las mil y una noches argentinas
Authors: Morales Orlando Gabriel
Published: December 2018

Este artículo examina las representaciones de la negritud afroargentina en Las mil y una noches argentinas (Draghi Lucero, 1940), una obra referente y destacada de la literatura regionalista de inspiración folklórica de Cuyo, del período 1930-1940, que contribuyó a configurar una identidad cuyana. El trabajo contextualiza Las mil y una noches argentinas en la trayectoria de Juan Draghi Lucero en las disciplinas del folklore, la historia y la literatura, y pone en diálogo su obra literaria con el criollismo, el nacionalismo y regionalismo cultural de fines del siglo XIX y principios del XX. El análisis expone una narrativa que asume un mesticismo, un folklore y una cultura popular cuyana con énfasis en el aporte precolombino y español, excluyente del elemento africano. También que reproduce ideas comunes de intelectuales argentinos sobre la esclavitud y los africanos esclavizados. Respecto a esto, se identifican dos asociaciones que concatenadas contribuyen a la premisa de la desaparición de los negros argentinos en el siglo XIX: una, entre esclavitud y negros africanos, situados éstos en la sociedad colonial y concebidos como sujetos pasivos beneficiados por relaciones recíprocas de fidelidad/solidaridad con los amos; y otra, menos evidente y más alegórica, entre el fin de la esclavitud o la obtención de la libertad de los esclavos y la desaparición física de los negros. Asimismo, la narrativa apela a estereotipos sociales como la identificación de los negros argentinos con el federalismo y mitos tradicionales de la cultura occidental como la representación del diablo como un hombre negro.
Using Three Acoustic Technologies on Underwater Gliders to Survey Fish
Authors: Lembke Chad , Lowerre-Barbieri Susan , Mann David , Taylor J. Christopher
Published: December 2018

AbstractAutonomous platforms and vehicles are a growing component of the ocean research fleet, producing data sets crucial to our understanding of oceanographic and fishery ecosystem processes. One emerging tool for making these measurements is underwater gliders that autonomously
sample the water column for weeks to months at a time. Although originally designed to measure temperature and salinity, underwater gliders can now support a myriad of sensors. For the demonstration project described within, three complementary acoustic technologies were integrated into an
underwater glider for mapping fish on the continental shelf: an acoustic telemetry receiver, a passive acoustic monitoring recorder, and a fisheries echosounder.The demonstration project was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of each sensing technology. Sixty-one fish were implanted
with acoustic tags near the Gulfstream Natural Gas pipeline in the eastern Gulf of Mexico in advance of planned underwater glider missions. The glider was deployed four times over 12 months, with all three acoustic technologies to traverse the pipeline and surrounding habitat. Glider detections
were compared to detections of fish at moored acoustic tag telemetry receivers and passive acoustic recorders co-located at the tagged fish locations. All three technologies identified fish along the targeted hard-bottom pipeline habitat, as well as previously uncharted areas of hard-bottom
reef. The results of this study demonstrate the utility of gliders integrated with acoustic sensors as a potential tool to identify areas that merit deeper investigation to assess fish stocks.
The Application of Novel Research Technologies by the Deep Pelagic Nekton Dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico (DEEPEND) Consortium
Authors: Milligan Rosanna J. , Bernard Andrea M. , Boswell Kevin M. , Bracken-Grissom Heather D. , D'Elia Marta A. , deRada Sergio , Easson Cole G. , English David , Eytan Ron I. , Finnegan Kimberly A. , Hu Chuanmin , Lembke Chad , Lopez Jose V. , Penta Bradley , Richards Travis , Romero Isabel C. , Shivji Mahmood , Timm Laura , Warren Joe D. , Weber Max , Wells R. J. David , Sutton Tracey T.
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe deep waters of the open ocean represent a major frontier in exploration and scientific understanding. However, modern technological and computational tools are making the deep ocean more accessible than ever before by facilitating increasingly sophisticated studies
of deep ocean ecosystems. Here, we describe some of the cutting-edge technologies that have been employed by the Deep Pelagic Nekton Dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico (DEEPEND; www.deependconsortium.org)
Consortium to study the biodiverse fauna and dynamic physical-chemical environment of the offshore Gulf of Mexico (GoM) from 0 to 1,500 m.
Consortium for the Molecular Engineering of Dispersant Systems (C-MEDS)
Authors: McCormick Alon , John Vijay
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe primary objective of the Consortium for the Molecular Engineering of Dispersant Systems (C-MEDS) was to understand the molecular basis of dispersant systems, the way the components of dispersants act in breaking oil into small drops by studying in detail the processes
at the interface of oil and water. As a consequence of such improved understanding, it was also an objective to design alternative concepts in oil dispersion, taking into account natural processes occurring in ocean environments. The development of new environmentally benign dispersants was
always an underlying focus of research efforts.
The Use of Autonomous Marine Vehicles by the Hydrocarbon Industry: A Proof of Concept Mission
Authors: Soofi Khalid , Pai Sudhir
Published: December 2018

AbstractA proof of concept and validation mission was conducted by ConocoPhillips to test the ability of autonomous marine vehicles (AMVs) to (1) collect and validate metocean data, (2) monitor loop and eddy currents, and (3) detect surface oil slicks with accompanying in-situ
measurements. During this mission, four AMVs, two equipped with meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) sensors and two equipped with hydrocarbon (SEEP) sensors, were deployed. The METOC vehicles were equipped with Teledyne RDI Workhorse acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) and were
launched to monitor and delineate eddy current features at near-surface depths in the vicinity of the ConocoPhillips asset, Magnolia platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The SEEP vehicles monitored areas identified with natural seep-related hydrocarbon surface expressions. With respect to mission
objectives, the sensors were deployed in challenging oceanographic conditions, thus reducing demands on people and large vessels. Mission-based statistics per vehicle were gathered and tabulated capturing the total days at sea (59 days), distance traveled (881.45‐1526.49 nautical miles),
and average speed (0.66‐1.08 knots) for validation of AMV as a platform. The mission showed a novel way of using technology that is safe and environmentally friendly and at a lower price point than traditional data acquisition methods. The AMV, hence, provides a substantial competitive
advantage to acquiring data in a safe, reliable manner with greater operational efficiencies.
From Bubbles to Beaches: An Integrated Modeling Approach to Oil Spill Response
Authors: Chapman Piers , DiMarco Steven , Hetland Robert , Socolofsky Scott
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe BP-operated Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil rig blowout in April 2010 led to the release of about 700,000 tons of crude oil and 250,000 tons of gas into the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) before it was capped. It also led, tragically, to 11 deaths and 16 injuries to
people on the rig. This was the first deep, subsurface ocean spill in offshore oil exploration and posed many technical issues as a result. The GoM Research Initiative (GoMRI) was set up with funding provided by BP to improve the science for responding to future spills. Under GoMRI, the Gulf
Integrated Spill Research (GISR) consortium was established to increase the understanding of how petroleum fluids in the ocean behave and improve the ability to predict what happens after a spill. GISR's aim was to construct a multiscale nested model suite that covers scales from droplets
to an ocean basin, validated by field and laboratory experiments. Thus, we can follow an oil drop from its first release to its arrival on a shoreline, taking into account natural rates of mixing, dissolution, evaporation, and degradation. This was needed, because during the spill, available
models all tended to operate at different scales but did not interact. There are also a number of shallow bays along the northern GoM that are of great importance to local fisheries, and these were not included in existing models.
De la identidad a la pluridentidad. Reelaboraciones identitarias entre pentecostales migrantes peruanos y bolivianos indígenas en Arica e Iquique
Authors: Mansilla Agüero Miguel Ángel , Piñones Rivera Carlos , Liberona Concha Nanette
Published: December 2018

El objetivo de este artículo es mostrar que los sujetos migrantes indígenas (quechuas y aymaras) son portadores de una pluridentidad forjada entre lo nacional, lo religioso, lo indígena, el género, la clase, y la condición migrante. Se sostiene que no hay una identidad omnímoda, sino una pluridentidad desde la cual los individuos resaltan u ocultan alguna identidad según las circunstancias. En ese contexto, no es la identidad de una persona lo que está en crisis, sino la estrechez del concepto. Nuestro análisis se sustenta teóricamente en una postura constructivista estratégico-normativa y en un extenso material de campo que incluye 46 entrevistas en profundidad, así como observaciones en cultos internacionales (Lima y Tacna [Perú] y Santa Cruz y La Paz [Bolivia]) y nacionales, además de grupos de discusión en las ciudades de Iquique y Arica. En consecuencia, la pluridentidad viene a responder a un abanico de posibilidades, emergencias y  complejidades, adquiriendo relevancia los sentimientos, la desinstitucionalización y la instrumentalidad en la producción de las identidades.
Las migraciones en el norte de Veracruz, México. Redes, rutas y ruralidades
Authors: Pérez Monterosas Mario
Published: December 2018

Este artículo aborda la dinámica de las redes sociales en el proceso de origen y reproducción de la migración internacional emergente, acelerada y heterogénea, que ha tenido lugar en el norte de Veracruz, México, en la última década del siglo XX y principios del XXI. El análisis se centra en las migraciones de los campesinos e indígenas totonacos, de la sierra papanteca. La discusión se apoya en los planteamientos teóricos de la migración como proceso social, en las redes sociales como marco para las interacciones de los actores rurales que han establecido espacios de trabajo y de vida entre los municipios de la sierra y la región, así como en las ciudades del centro del país, la frontera norte, Estados Unidos y Canadá. Esta investigación se sustenta en información bibliográfica y en la obtenida por medio de trabajo de campo en diversas comunidades rurales de la sierra de Papantla, en el norte-centro de Veracruz. Damos cuenta de los diversos tipos de movilidades de los actores rurales que en su ir y venir modifican las conductas y expectativas de sus contextos de origen.
¿MERCOSUR o Alianza del Pacífico? Las políticas de integración del gobierno de Cambiemos en Argentina
Authors: Ramos Hugo
Published: December 2018

Desde la asunción de Cambiemos al gobierno de Argentina en 2015, se observó un cambio en el discurso integracionista oficial: se revalorizó la dimensión económico-comercial y se volvió a plantear la necesidad de establecer acuerdos con otros bloques y países para revitalizar el comercio regional. Asimismo, se modificaron las relaciones al interior del bloque, con un creciente aislamiento de Venezuela, lo que derivó en su suspensión. Sin embargo, el discurso oficial gubernamental siguió destacando la importancia de la integración regional y del MERCOSUR como plataforma para la inserción de Argentina y de la región en el mercado internacional. En esta línea, es relevante analizar cómo se ha intentado llevar a la práctica esa redefinición de la integración, considerando que las decisiones al interior del MERCOSUR se toman por consenso y de forma unánime. De igual manera es importante evaluar si las políticas integracionistas en Argentina han sido capaces de superar el cambio en el signo político del gobierno. La metodología de trabajo fue cualitativa y se basó en el análisis de discurso y de contenido. Las fuentes de información fueron los discursos oficiales vinculados al MERCOSUR y las normas aprobadas a nivel regional en el año 2016.
Teoría de regímenes internacionales: el caso del recurso agua en el régimen ambiental México-Estados Unidos
Authors: Lascurain Mauricio
Published: December 2018

Desde una perspectiva teórica de los regímenes internacionales, el estudio del régimen ambiental México-Estados Unidos permite visualizar su funcionamiento y evaluar si este ha cumplido con los objetivos de su creación. En este sentido, los enfoques neorrealistas y neoliberales ofrecen diferentes interpretaciones del fenómeno de cooperación internacional, así como también de su probabilidad y factibilidad de ocurrencia. En el contexto de las relaciones bilaterales entre México y Estados Unidos, los problemas comunes en materia ambiental en la frontera han originado la formación de un régimen, con la finalidad de solucionar los problemas de contaminación, degradación y deterioro ambiental que se presentan en la zona fronteriza. Sin embargo, Estados Unidos se presenta como el país más poderoso y hegemónico, por lo que México suele verse menos beneficiado de las decisiones tomadas dentro del régimen. El presente artículo pretende identificar la operatividad del régimen ambiental México-Estados Unidos, específicamente para el caso de la problemática hídrica en la frontera, bajo los principios básicos de la teoría de regímenes internacionales con la finalidad de entender si los miembros del régimen y sus políticas públicas constituyen un sistema de niveles múltiples de gobernanza.
Student Perception of Open and Mobile Space Designs for Autonomous English Language Learning in Second Life
Authors: Gui Dean Anthony Fabi
Published: December 2018

This study follows from previously published studies by the author based on language learning designs for English technical writing and through MMOs, and completed Teaching & Learning projects focusing on collaboration and interdisciplinary learning. It reports on the results of a survey completed by Year One undergraduate students from an English for University Studies (EUS) subject at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPU), regarding their perception towards—and interest in—using Second Life to supplement their language learning. Thirty-one students responded to the survey which asked participants whether they would be receptive to the idea of using a virtual mobile or outdoor café to supplement their English language learning. Results indicated that most students (90%) liked the idea of learning in a virtual cafe because of its relaxing and familiar atmosphere as well as the potential to interact with other virtual learners; however, about half the respondents (40%) noted that they would consider a different design for the learning space. While the response rate was relatively small, this study reframes the characteristics of autonomy and language learning centers, and additionally is an area of independent language learning which has been little investigated, particularly in an Asian context.
Editorial
Authors: Lim Kenneth Y T , Ferreira Catia
Published: December 2018

This issue, themed on Pedagogy and Learning, aims to document both the present and emerging state-of-the-art, covering the adoption, design, enaction, scaling and translation of immersive and/or mixed-reality environments for learning, and in other contexts of education.This commemorative issue stands on the shoulders of those who explored the frontiers and came before and is dedicated to the memory and work of the late Leslie Jarmon.
ImmersiMed: Cross-platform simulation training
Authors: Jorissen Pieter , De Boi Ivan
Published: December 2018

This work presents our vision and work-in-progress on a new platform for immersive virtual and augmented reality (AR) training. ImmersiMed is aimed at medical educational and professional institutions for educating nurses, doctors, and other medical personnel. ImmersiMed is created with multi-platform support and extensibility in mind. By creating consistent experiences across different platforms and applications, ImmersiMed intends to increase simulation availability. Furthermore, it is expected to improve the quality of training and prepare students better for more advanced tasks and boost confidence in their abilities. Tools for educators are being provided so new scenarios can be added without the intervention of costly content creators or programmers. This article addresses how Immersive’s mixed platform approach can ease the transition from basic school training to real-world applications by starting from a virtual reality simulation and gradually let the student move on to guided AR in the real world. By explaining the idea of a single development platform for multiple applications using different technologies and by providing tools for educators to create their own scenarios, ImmersiMed will improve training quality and availability at a low training and simulation costs.
Poisson equation beyond its natural domain of definition
Authors: D'Onofrio Luigi , Greco Luigi , Iwaniec Tadeusz , Schiattarella Roberta
Published: December 2018

This note is concerned with the Poisson equation in the unit disk of the complex plane. Our setting is in the Sobolev space

\mathcal W^{1,p} (\mathbb D)

with exponent

1 < p < \infty

. Such a setting with

p \neq 2

is referred to as beyond the natural domain of definition. The novelty lies in the use of a singular integral called Beurling Transform.
Stability of evolution equations with small commutators in a Banach space
Authors: Gil' Michael
Published: December 2018

Let

A

be a generator of a

C_0

-semigroup in a Banach space

\mathcal X

, and

B(t)

(t\ge 0)

be a variable bounded piece-wise strongly continuous operator in

\mathcal X

. We consider the equation

dy(t)/dt = (A+B(t))y(t)

(t\ge 0)

. It is assumed that the commutator

K(t)=AB(t)-B(t)A

is a bounded operator. Under that condition, exponential stability conditions are derived in terms of the commutator.
Connectedness of random set attractors
Authors: Scheutzow Michael , Vorkastner Isabell
Published: December 2018

We examine the question whether random set attractors for continuous-time random dynamical systems on a connected state space are connected. In the deterministic case, these attractors are known to be connected. In the probabilistic setup, however, connectedness has only been shown under stronger connectedness assumptions on the state space. Under a weak continuity condition on the random dynamical system we prove connectedness of the pullback attractor on a connected space. Additionally, we provide an example of a weak random set attractor of a random dynamical system with even more restrictive continuity assumptions on an even path-connected space which even attracts all bounded sets and which is not connected. On the way to proving connectedness of a pullback attractor we prove a lemma which may be of independent interest and which holds without the assumption that the state space is connected. It states that even though pullback convergence to the attractor allows for exceptional nullsets which may depend on the compact set, these nullsets can be chosen independently of the compact set (which is clear for

\sigma

-compact spaces but not at all clear for spaces which are not

\sigma

-compact).
Influence of diffusion on the stability of a full Brusselator model
Authors: Capone Florinda , De Luca Roberta , Torcicollo Isabella
Published: December 2018

The classic Brusselator model consists of four reactions involving six components A, B, D, E, X, Y. In a typical run, the final products D and E are removed instantly, while, the concentrations of the reactants A and B are kept constant. Then, the classic Brusselator model consisting of two equations for the intermediate X and Y is obtained. When the component B is not considered constant, it is added to the mixture and the so-called full Brusselator model is considered. In this paper, the full Brusselator model is studied. In particular, the boundedness of solutions and the effect of diffusion on the linear stability is analyzed. Moreover, sufficient conditions ensuring that the unique steady state, unstable (stable) in the ODEs system, becomes stable (unstable) in presence of diffusion, are performed and a first nonlinear stability result is obtained.
Some progress on the polynomial Dunford–Pettis property
Authors: Cilia Raffaella , Gutiérrez Joaquín M.
Published: December 2018

A Banach space

E

has the
Dunford-Pettis property
(
DPP
, for short) if every weakly compact (linear) operator on

E

is completely continuous. In 1979 R. A. Ryan proved that

E

has the DPP if and only if every weakly compact polynomial on

E

is completely continuous. Every

k

-homogeneous (continuous) polynomial

P\in\mathcal P(^k\!E,F)

between Banach spaces

E

and

F

admits an extension

\widetilde P\in\mathcal P(^k\!E^{**},F^{**})

to the biduals called the Aron–Berner extension. The Aron–Berner extension of every weakly compact polynomial

P\in{\mathcal P}(^k\!E,F)

is

F

-valued, that is,

\widetilde P(E^{**})\subseteq F

, but there are non-weakly compact polynomials with

F

-valued Aron–Berner extension. For Banach spaces

F

with weak-star sequentially compact dual unit ball

B_{F^*}

, we strengthen Ryan's result by showing that

E

has the DPP if and only if every polynomial

P\in\mathcal P(^k\!E,F)

with

F

-valued Aron–Berner extension is completely continuous. This gives a partial answer to a question raised in 2003 by I. Villanueva and the second named author. They proved the result for spaces

E

such that every operator from

E

into its dual

E^*

is weakly compact, but the question remained open for other spaces.
A variational approach to doubly nonlinear equations
Authors: Bögelein Verena , Duzaar Frank , Marcellini Paolo , Scheven Christoph
Published: December 2018

This article presents a variational approach to the existence of solutions to equations of Porous Medium type. More generally, the method applies also to doubly nonlinear equations with a nonlinearity in

u

and

Du

, whose prototype is given by

\partial_t u^m-\mathrm {div}(|D u|^{p-2}D u) = 0,

where

m > 0

and

p > 1

. The technique relies on a nonlinear version of the Minimizing Movement Method which has been introduced in [14] in the context of doubly nonlinear equations with general nonlinearities

\partial_t b(u)

and more general operators with variational structure. The aim of this article is twofold. On the one hand it provides an introduction to variational solutions and outlines the method developed in [14]. In addition, we extend the results of [14] to initial data with potentially infinite energy. This requires a detailed discussion of the growth conditions of the variational energy integrand. The approach is flexible enough to treat various more general evolutionary problems, such as signed solutions, obstacle problems, time dependent boundary data or problems with linear growth.
On the Navier–Stokes equations in scaling-invariant spaces in any dimension
Authors: Yamazaki Kazuo
Published: December 2018

We study the Navier–Stokes equations with a dissipative term that is generalized through a fractional Laplacian in any dimension higher than two. We extend the horizontal Biot–Savart law beyond dimension three. Using the anisotropic Littlewood–Paley theory with which we distinguish the first two directions from the rest, we obtain a blow-up criteria for its solution in norms which are invariant under the rescaling of these equations. The proof goes through for the classical Navier–Stokes equations if dimension is three, four or five. We also give heuristics and partial results toward further improvement.
El papel de los TFG en la formación universitaria
Authors: Estapé Dubreuil Glòria
Published: December 2018

Introducción al monográfico sobre TFG
Exploración de las competencias para la comunicación oral de estudiantes de asignaturas electivas del programa de la carrera Medicina Veterinaria de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias de la Universidad Nacional del Litoral
Authors: Gramaglia C. , Cignetti Luciana María , Aressi Gabriela , Cadoche L.
Published: December 2018

En la actualidad, existen ciertas competencias genéricas que son consideradas tan importantes para el buen desempeño laboral como las competencias profesionales. Entre ellas se encuentran la capacidad de comunicación oral y escrita, de interactuar y trabajar en equipo, de crítica y autocrítica, de actuar en nuevas situaciones, de tomar decisiones, de motivar y conducir hacia metas comunes y de comprometerse con el medio socio-cultural. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo conocer las competencias para la comunicación oral de los estudiantes de las asignaturas electivas de la carrera Medicina Veterinaria en la Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Se exploró acerca de estas competencias mediante una encuesta en línea administrada a dichos estudiantes. La misma fue diseñada en torno a distintas dimensiones relacionadas con las competencias para la comunicación oral: el propósito de la comunicación, el sentido bilateral o de intercambio del proceso comunicativo, la empatía del comunicador, el proceso de adaptación en la comunicación, la escucha activa, la combinación de habilidades de comunicación verbal y no verbal, y la comunicación oral estratégica en situaciones formales. Los resultados obtenidos revelaron que en términos generales los estudiantes perciben que las mismas son satisfactorias, aunque un número significativo manifestó tener ciertas dificultades en relación con la comunicación oral estratégica en situaciones formales. Esta investigación pone de manifiesto la importancia de realizar intervenciones didácticas afines al desarrollo y mejoramiento de competencias para la comunicación oral que contribuyan a cumplimentar con las exigencias de la futura actividad profesional de nuestros estudiantes.
The importance of ultrasound examination in early arthritis
Authors: Ponikowska Monika , Świerkot Jerzy , Nowak Beata
Published: December 2018

Objectives

To assess the importance of ultrasound (US) examination of joints in hands and feet in patients with early arthritis and perform comparative analysis of the diagnostic value of US examination for 8, 12 and 52 selected joints.

Material and methods

123 patients (87 women, 36 men) with arthritis lasting less than 12 months, naive to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and glucocorticosteroids. Necessary differential diagnostics was performed for each patient. After the preliminary analysis, 72 patients met the classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) according to ACR/EULAR of 2010, and undifferentiated arthritis (UA) was diagnosed in 51 patients. UA patients were followed up after 6 and 12 months, and verification of the initial diagnosis yielded the following groups of patients: patients meeting classification criteria for RA, patients with maintained diagnosis of UA, patients in remission, and patients with other diagnoses. Ultrasound examination was performed considering the volume of joint effusion (JE), synovial membrane hypertrophy (GS), and synovial membrane hyperaemia assessed by power Doppler (PD). Results were assessed using the semi-qualitative scale. Coefficients being the sum of US scores for the assessment of JE, GS and PD for 52 and 12 joints in hands and feet, and 8 joints in hands were determined for the purpose of the study.

Results

In patients meeting classification criteria for RA during the initial assessment the US examination yielded significantly higher PD-52I, PD-12I and PD-8I coefficients. In UA patients who were diagnosed with RA after 12 months, the GS-8I coefficient was significantly higher.

Conclusions

Ultrasonography is a valuable tool in diagnostics of early arthritis. The GS assessment has prognostic value for UA patients. The assessment of 8 or 12 selected joints is often sufficient for the diagnostics of patients with early arthritis.
Hypertrophic pachymeningitis as an important neurological complication of granulomatosis with polyangiitis
Authors: Smoleńska Żaneta , Masiak Anna , Zdrojewski Zbigniew
Published: December 2018

Headache is a common symptom in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) mainly due to chronic sinusitis or orbital disease. Meningeal involvement may thus remain unrecognized for a long time. This can lead to a significant delay in accurate diagnosis, serious local damage of the central nervous system and high relapse rates. New diagnostic techniques such as contrast MRI allow one to identify inflammation of the dura mater in the course of GPA more frequently. The objective of this article is to characterize hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP) in patients with GPA and report diagnostic difficulties associated with this complication.
Valoración económica de tres servicios ecosistémicos antes del establecimientode un cinturón verde alrededor de la ciudad de Quebec, Canadá
Authors: Ruiz-Sandoval Daniela , Arana-Coronado J. Jaime , Godbout Stéphane , Sandoval-Salas Fabiola , Brambila-Paz José J.
Published: December 2018

Introducción:  Los servicios ecosistémicos proporcionan beneficios a los seres humanos; sinembargo, es después de una valoración económica cuando dichos servicios adquieren mayorrelevancia.Objetivo:  Estimar los valores de tres servicios ecosistémicos del área forestal alrededor de laciudad de Quebec y compararlos con los obtenidos en otros estudios.Materiales y métodos:  Se calculó el costo total de tres servicios ecosistémicos (suministro ycalidad del agua, calidad del aire y hábitat forestal) para representar el valor de un cinturón verdealrededor de la ciudad de Quebec. Para ello se utilizaron cuatro métodos de valoración: costo dereposición para el suministro de agua, costo-efectividad para la calidad del agua, costo evitadopara la calidad del aire y precio de mercado para el hábitat forestal.Resultados y discusión: El valor económico correspondiente a los tres servicios ecosistémicos(suministro y calidad del agua, calidad del aire y hábitat) fue de 4 539.48 USD·ha-1. Por lo tanto,el valor económico total para 15 998.96 ha del área forestal alrededor de la ciudad de Quebec fue72 627 025.00 USD·año-1. La variación entre las estimaciones y los valores reportados en otrosestudios fueron el resultado de diferentes métodos de valoración, los sistemas creados por elhombre como reemplazo de la función del ecosistema forestal, el nivel de eficiencia entre lossistemas   forestales   y   las   fuentes   de   precios   de   mercado   utilizadas   para   la   valoración   delecosistema.
Conclusión: El tipo de masa forestal, el método de valoración y el contexto del estudio fueroncriterios relevantes que determinaron el valor económico del ecosistema
Germinación de dos variedades de Ochroma pyramidale (Cav. ex Lam.) Urb. de la Selva Lacandona, Chiapas
Authors: Toledo-González Karina A. , Levy-Tacher Samuel I. , Macario-Mendoza Pedro A. , De Nova-Vázquez José A.
Published: December 2018

Introducción: Ochroma pyramidale (Cav. ex Lam.) Urb. es una especie nativa de crecimiento rápido con importancia económica y ecológica. Actualmente, es la única especie del género Ochroma. 
Objetivo: Determinar el efecto de siete tratamientos pregerminativos aplicados en semillas de O. pyramidale en su variedad típica y O. pyramidale var. bicolor (Rowlee) Brizicky en la Selva Lacandona.
Materiales y métodos: Se evaluaron siete tratamientos germinativos: testigo (control), remojo en agua a temperatura ambiente (Remojo12h y Remojo24h), inmersión en agua en ebullición a 100 °C (Ebullición3s y Ebullición10s) e inmersión en agua en ebullición y remojo en agua de coco (Ebullición3s + Remojo24h, y Ebullición10s + Remojo24h). El agua de coco se utilizó como fuente natural de citocininas.
Resultados y discusión: La germinación de O. pyramidale en su variedad típica (62 a 69 %) fue estadísticamente mayor (P = 0.05) con los tratamientos que incluyeron inmersión de las semillas en agua en ebullición. En el caso de O. pyramidale var. bicolor, los valores más altos de germinación corresponden a los tratamientos Ebullición3s (64 %) y Ebullición3s + Remojo24h (59 %). Las semillas de O. pyramidale var. bicolor fueron susceptibles al tiempo de inmersión de agua en ebullición, ya que la germinación fue estadísticamente mayor (P = 0.05) a los 3 s que a los 10 s.
Conclusión: Los tratamientos que incluyeron inmersión en agua en ebullición tuvieron mayor efecto sobre la germinación. El agua de coco no tuvo efecto significativo sobre la variable; por tanto, se sugiere el uso de citocininas sintéticas, con el fin de controlar la dosis de la fitohormona y así constatar su efecto en la germinación.
Parámetros locales-globales y fijos-aleatorios para modelar el crecimiento enaltura dominante de Pinus pseudostrobus Lindley
Authors: García-Espinoza Guadalupe G. , Aguirre-Calderón Oscar A. , Quiñonez-Barraza Gerónimo , Alanís-Rodríguez Eduardo , González-Tagle Marco A. , García-Magaña J. Jesús
Published: December 2018

Introducción:  Los modelos de altura dominante e índice de sitio (IS) consideran parámetrospromedio para una muestra o población. El enfoque de modelación de variables indicadoras (VI)genera   parámetros  globales  y  locales,  mientras  que   los  modelos   de  efectos  mixtos  (MEM)generan fijos y aleatorios para cada árbol o parcela.Objetivo: Ajustar y comparar ecuaciones dinámicas de altura dominante con los enfoques de VIy MEM para Pinus pseudostrobus Lindley en plantaciones forestales comerciales de Nuevo SanJuan Parangaricutiro, Michoacán, México.Materiales y métodos: Tres ecuaciones en diferencias algebraicas (ADA) y una generalizada(GADA), basadas en el modelo de Chapman-Richards, se ajustaron con el parámetro del ISasociado como local o aleatorio para cada árbol. La base de datos utilizada consideró análisistroncales de 41 árboles.Resultados y discusión: La precisión de las ecuaciones ajustadas con VI y MEM fue similar, deacuerdo con los estadísticos de ajuste y las trayectorias de las curvas de IS a la edad base de 20años. En las ecuaciones ADA, la curva polimórfica presentó eficiencia estadística superior conlos dos enfoques, cuando el parámetro de la tasa de crecimiento dependió del IS. No obstante, laecuación GADA generó curvas que describieron mejor el patrón de crecimiento; la precisiónmayor se obtuvo con el enfoque de VI.Conclusiones: El uso de la ecuación GADA con VI es una herramienta precisa para clasificar laproductividad de las plantaciones forestales comerciales, lo cual permitirá la planeación delmanejo forestal por calidad de estación.
Identificación de defectos y riesgos en el arbolado del Bosque de San Juan de Aragón, Ciudad de México
Authors: Saavedra-Romero Luz de L. , Alvarado-Rosales Dionicio , Martínez-Trinidad Tomás , Hernández-de la Rosa Patricia
Published: December 2018

Introducción: Los bosques urbanos requieren de la evaluación de los defectos estructurales de su arbolado, así como del riesgo que representan.
Objetivo: Identificar los defectos y riesgo del arbolado del Bosque de San Juan de Aragón en la Ciudad de México.
Materiales y métodos: Se establecieron, aleatoriamente, 28 parcelas circulares de 0.1 ha. El diámetro normal, altura total e índice de esbeltez se midieron en cada árbol. Los defectos estructurales se identificaron y una calificación de riesgo se obtuvo a nivel individual, por especie y sección, usando los métodos de Matheny y Clark, y de Dunster. 
Resultados y discusión: De los 760 árboles evaluados, Casuarina equisetifolia L., Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. ex R. Br. y Hesperocyparis lusitanica Mill. fueron las especies más frecuentes con clases diamétricas de 7.6 a 15.1 cm, alturas de 5.1 a 10 m e índice de esbeltez de 26 a 75. Se identificaron daños estructurales en 38.7 % de los árboles: inclinación (18.8 %), cancros (15.4 %), brotes epicórmicos (14.4 %), ramas muertas (9.9 %), tumores (9.2 %) y cavidades (6.2 %). Casuarina equisetifolia y Schinus molle tuvieron el mayor número de defectos. Con el método Matheny y Clark, 83.9 % de los árboles tuvieron calificación de riesgo bajo; 14.7 % de riesgo medio; y 1.4 % de riesgo alto; mientras que con el método de Dunster, 88.1 % fueron de riesgo bajo, 11.3 % de riesgo medio y 0.68 % de riesgo alto. 
Conclusión: Los procedimientos para la evaluación e identificación de árboles de riesgo permitieron identificar sus principales defectos estructurales de manera sencilla.