bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coping in residual schizophrenia
Authors: Shah Ruchita , Grover Sandeep , Kulhara Parmanand
Published: February 2018

Background & objectives:

Persons with schizophrenia use various coping strategies to adapt to distressing symptoms as well as to deal with daily stressors. Efforts have been made to explore alternative frameworks of coping using Ways of Coping Checklist (WCC) in persons with schizophrenia. This study aimed to re-analyze (factor analysis) the revised-WCC in Indian patients with residual schizophrenia. The secondary aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship of new framework of coping with psychopathology, disability and quality of life (QOL).

Methods:

Using a cross-sectional design, 103 patients with residual schizophrenia were assessed on WCC. A principal component analysis with varimax rotation was carried out to determine the factor structure of WCC.

Results:

Factor analysis yielded six factors which explained 51.6 per cent of the total variance and had acceptable-to-good internal consistency. Based on the type of items loaded, the six factors were named as follows: active and growth-oriented coping, accepting and fantasizing, reflective and confrontative coping, detachment, seeking social support and negative emotional coping. Patients most often used coping strategy of seeking social support, followed by ‘accepting and fantasizing’ and ‘active and growth-oriented coping’. Correlation analysis showed that those who more often used ‘active and growth-oriented coping’ had less negative symptoms, lower level of disability and higher spiritual and overall QOL.

Interpretation & conclusions:

The factor structure of revised-WCC was different among patients with schizophrenia when compared with individuals without mental illness, living in the community. It was evident that use of certain adaptive coping strategies was associated with better QOL and lower level of psychopathology. Our findings provided a framework of coping in patients with residual schizophrenia and suggested that promotion of certain coping strategies might be useful in improving the QOL and reduction of psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia.
Computed Tomography- and Radiography-Based Morphometric Analysis of the Lateral Mass of the Subaxial Cervical Spine in the Indian Population
Authors: Patil Nirmal D , Srivastava Sudhir K , Bhosale Sunil , Purohit Shaligram
Published: February 2018

Study Design

This was a double-blinded cross-sectional study, which obtained no financial support for the research.

Purpose

To obtain a detailed morphometry of the lateral mass of the subaxial cervical spine.

Overview of Literature

The literature offers little data on the dimensions of the lateral mass of the subaxial cervical spine.

Methods

We assessed axial, sagittal, and coronal computed tomography (CT) cuts and anteroposterior and lateral X-rays of the lateral mass of the subaxial cervical spine of 104 patients (2,080 lateral masses) who presented to a tertiary care public hospital (King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai) in a metropolitan city in India.

Results

For a majority of the parameters, males and females significantly differed at all levels (p<0.05). Females consistently required higher (p<0.05) minimum lateral angulation and lateral angulation. While the minimum lateral angulation followed the order of C5<C4<C6<C3, the lateral angulation followed the order of C3<C5<C4<C6. The lateral mass becomes longer and narrower from C3 to C7. In axial cuts, the dimensions increased from C3 to C6. The sagittal cut thickness and diagonal length increased and the sagittal cut height decreased from C3 to C7. The sagittal cut height was consistently lower in the Indian population at all levels, especially at the C7 level, as compared with the Western population, thereby questioning the acceptance of a 3.5-mm lateral mass screw. A good correlation exists between X-ray- and CT-based assessments of the lateral mass.

Conclusions

Larger lateral angulation is required for Indian patients, especially females. The screw length can be effectively calculated by analyzing the lateral X-ray. A CT scan should be reserved for specific indications, and a caution must be exercised while inserting C7 lateral mass screws.
Psoas Morphology Differs between Supine and Sitting Magnetic Resonance Imaging Lumbar Spine: Implications for Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Authors: Buckland Aaron J. , Beaubrun Bryan M. , Isaacs Evan , Moon John , Zhou Peter , Horn Sam , Poorman Gregory , Tishelman Jared C. , Day Louis M. , Errico Thomas J. , Passias Peter G. , Protopsaltis Themistocles
Published: February 2018

Study Design

Retrospective radiological review.

Purpose

To quantify the effect of sitting vs supine lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and change in anterior displacement of the psoas muscle from L1–L2 to L4–L5 discs.

Overview of Literature

Controversy exists in determining patient suitability for lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) based on psoas morphology. The effect of posture on psoas morphology has not previously been studied; however, lumbar MRI may be performed in sitting or supine positions.

Methods

A retrospective review of a single-spine practice over 6 months was performed, identifying patients aged between 18–90 years with degenerative spinal pathologies and lumbar MRIs were evaluated. Previous lumbar fusion, scoliosis, neuromuscular disease, skeletal immaturity, or intrinsic abnormalities of the psoas muscle were excluded. The anteroposterior (AP) dimension of the psoas muscle and intervertebral disc were measured at each intervertebral disc from L1–L2 to L4–L5, and the AP psoas:disc ratio calculated. The morphology was compared between patients undergoing sitting and/or supine MRI.

Results

Two hundred and nine patients were identified with supine-, and 60 patients with sitting-MRIs, of which 13 patients had undergone both sitting and supine MRIs (BOTH group). A propensity score match (PSM) was performed for patients undergoing either supine or sitting MRI to match for age, BMI, and gender to produce two groups of 43 patients. In the BOTH and PSM group, sitting MRI displayed significantly higher AP psoas:disc ratio compared with supine MRI at all intervertebral levels except L1–L2. The largest difference observed was a mean 32%–37% increase in sitting AP psoas:disc ratio at the L4–L5 disc in sitting compared to supine in the BOTH group (range, 0%–137%).

Conclusions

The psoas muscle and the lumbar plexus become anteriorly displaced in sitting MRIs, with a greater effect noted at caudal intervertebral discs. This may have implications in selecting suitability for LLIF, and intra-operative patient positioning.
Postoperative Assessment of Pedicle Screws and Management of Breaches: A Survey among Canadian Spine Surgeons and a New Scoring System
Authors: Aoude Ahmed , Ghadakzadeh Saber , Alhamzah Hamzah , Fortin Maryse , Jarzem Peter , Ouellet Jean A. , Weber Michael H.
Published: February 2018

Study Design

This study was designed as a survey amongst Canadian spine surgeon to determine a scoring system to standardize pedicle screw placement assessment.

Purpose

This study aimed to obtain and analyze the opinions of spine surgeons regarding the assessment of pedicle screw accuracy, with the goal of establishing clinical guidelines for interventions for malpositioned pedicle screws.

Overview of Literature

Accurate placement of pedicle screws is challenging, and misalignment can lead to various complications. To date, there is no recognized gold standard for assessing pedicle screw placement accuracy. The literature is lacking studies attempting to standardize pedicle screw placement accuracy assessment.

Methods

A survey of the clinical methods and imaging criteria that are used for assessing pedicle screw placement accuracy was designed and sent to orthopedic and neurosurgery spine surgeons from the Canadian Spine Society for their anonymous participation.

Results

Thirty-five surgeons completed the questionnaire. The most commonly used modalities for assessing pedicle screw position postoperatively were plain X-rays (97%) and computed tomography (CT, 97%). In both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, the most and least worrisome breaches were medial and anterior breaches, respectively. The majority of surgeons tended not to re-operate on asymptomatic breaches. More than 60% of surgeons would re-operate on patients with new-onset pain and a ≤4-mm medial or inferior breach in both thoracic and lumbar regions. If a patient experienced sensory loss and a breach on CT, in either the thoracic or lumbar levels, 90% and 70% of the surgeons would re-operate for a medial breach and an inferior breach, respectively.

Conclusions

Postoperative clinical presentation and imaging findings are crucial for interpreting aberrant pedicle screw placement. This study presents a preliminary scoring system for standardizing the classification of pedicle screws.
Dorsal Spinal Ligamentum Flavum Thickening: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
Authors: Chelladurai Amarnath , Balasubramaniam Suhasini , Anbazhagan Sarenya Preyah , Gnanasihamani Sathyan , Ramaswami Sukumar
Published: February 2018

Study Design

A retrospective radiological study of the ligamentum flavum (LF).

Purpose

We determined the relationship of dorsal spinal LF thickening with age and sex using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We also determined whether LF thickening has a predominant tendency to occur at a specific dorsal level and on a specific side.

Overview of Literature

Many researchers have studied LF thickness at dorsal levels in patients with compressive myelopathy. However, there is a dearth of literature pertaining to the study of dorsal LF thickness in patients without myelopathy.

Methods

LF thickness was measured at dorsal levels from T1 to T12 on both sides using MRI in 100 individuals. The patients were divided into three groups based on age: 20 to 40, 41 to 60, and >60 years. On axial T2-weighted imaging at the mid-disc level, LF thickness was measured perpendicular to the lamina border, either at half the length of LF or at maximum thickness, whichever was greater.

Results

We found that LF thickness does not increase significantly with increasing age and there was no significant disparity in LF thickness between the sides and sexes. We also found that there was a significant increase in LF thickness at the T10–T11 level (mean value, 3.27±0.94 mm).

Conclusions

LF thickness does not appear to have any side/sex dominance. LF thickening has a predominant tendency to occur specifically at the T10–T11 level. This may be due to maximum tensile strength and mobility at this level. Because there is an increased tendency for LF thickening at the T10–T11 level, this may be used as a reference point for counting the vertebral levels.
Competitive intelligence and national development: the role of information professionals
Authors: Ojo Joshua O. , Olaniyi Olukemi T.
Published: February 2018

Competitive intelligence (CI) is the process of developing actionable foresight regarding competitive dynamics and non-market factors that can be used to enhance competitive advantage. It is a relevant tool for strategic decision making which in return impacts national development. Though CI is an organizational function developed for the business organizations and later expanded to other sectors in the nation’s economy, its presence in the library and information delivery is yet to be established. This in other words implies that library and information professional working in libraries, archives, resource centers, etc are yet to realize their position as Competitive Intelligent Agents. This paper showcases the place of Library and Information Science Professionals as Competitive Intelligent Agents/Managers and also highlights the various ways in which CI influences national development.Keywords: competitive intelligence, information professionals, library and information science, big data
Preference for and access to media resources as predictors of in-school adolescents knowledge of sexual and reproductive health issues in Lagos State, Nigeria
Authors: Lawal Wasiu O. , Olawale Gabriel S.
Published: February 2018

The study investigated the extent to which preference for and access to media resources predicts knowledge of in-school adolescents to sexual and reproductive health issues in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria. A population of 526 in-school adolescents participates in the study while questionnaire was used as the main instrument of data collection. Findings from the study revealed that in-school adolescents in the study area prefer print-based information resources above other forms of media resources such as electronic resources. However, a low level of preference was established among the students despite their preference for print based media resources. The school library was established as the major place of accessing sexual and reproductive health information by the students while a low degree of accessibility to media resources on sexual and reproductive health among in-school adolescents in was also established. Also, the study revealed that in-school adolescents in the study area possess the right knowledge about sexual and reproductive health issues. Preference for and access to media resources were found to predict knowledge of in-school adolescents about sexual and reproductive health issues to the level of 9.9% and 38.8% degrees respectively. Recommendations were made based on the findings from the study.Keywords: media resources, sexual health information, reproductive health information, adolescents, Lagos, students
SwyftTapp: An NFC based attendance system using fingerprint authentication
Authors: Kommey B. , Anyane-Lah O. , Amuzu W.E.
Published: February 2018

Attendance has evolved to become a key requirement in educational institutions worldwide. With empirical evidence showing correlation between students’academic performance and attendance, parents, guardians, lecturers and school  administrations make effort to monitor attendance of students to classes and academic events. The conventional method for recording attendance in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), is the manual system, where sheets are passed round for students to write their names, student ID numbers and then append their signatures. The current manual system was  observed to be both inefficient and time-consuming. In this paper we discuss the use of NFC technology coupled with fingerprint verification technology, designed to work with an API and a web-based application to implement a more effective approach for recording and managing attendance in the university. The Department of Computer Engineering, KNUST was used as the scope of the project.Keywords:Attendance, RFID, NFC, Fingerprint Technology, API, Web-based Management System
Heat transfer in a vertical rectangular duct filled with a porous matrix and saturated with a nanofluid for temperature dependent viscosity
Authors: Umavathi J.C.
Published: February 2018

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive numerical study to analyze free convective heat transfer in a vertical  rectangular duct filled with porous matrix and saturated with nanofluid for temperature dependent viscosity. Using the Darcy- Forchhiemer model, the momentum in the porous medium was simulated. While  insulating two opposing wall ducts, the  temperatures remained varied for the other two walls. Solutions to the transport equations for a Newtonian fluid were providednumerically through the finite difference approach to second order accuracy. The impact of the overriding parameters, for  instance, the parameters of variable viscosity as well as inertial, the Grashof number, Darcy number, Brinkman number, solid volume index as well as the aspect ratio having a water-Copper nanofluid on the flow characteristics of natural convection is investigated. The flow nature using different nanoparticles is also studied. The values of volumetric flow rate, skin friction and Nusselt number are tabulated for pertinent parameters. It is found that for negative values of viscosity variation parameter the flow is enhanced in the lower part of the duct and positive values will enhance the flow in the upper part of the duct. Silver nanoparticle attains the maximum heat transfer rate when compared to other nanoparticles.Keywords: Natural convection; Darcy-Forchhiemer model; Nanofluids; Variable viscosity; Viscous dissipation; Rectangular duct; Finite difference method.
Long-term trends in total inorganic nitrogen and sulfur deposition in
the U.S. from 1990 to 2010
Authors: Zhang Yuqiang , Mathur Rohit , Bash Jesse O. , Hogrefe Christian , Xing Jia , Roselle Shawn J.
Published: February 2018

Abstract. Excess deposition (including both wet and dry deposition) of nitrogen and sulfur are detrimental to ecosystems. Recent studies have investigated the spatial patterns and temporal trends of nitrogen and sulfur wet deposition, but few studies have focused on dry deposition due to the scarcity of dry deposition measurements. Here, we use long-term model simulations from the coupled WRF-CMAQ model covering the period from 1990 to 2010 to study changes in spatial distribution as well as temporal trends in total (TDEP), wet (WDEP) and dry deposition (DDEP) of total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) and sulfur (TSO4). We first evaluate the model's performance in simulating WDEP over the U.S. by comparing the model results with observational data from the U.S. National Atmospheric Deposition Program. The coupled model generally underestimates the WDEP of both TIN (including both the oxidized nitrogen deposition-TNO3, and the reduced nitrogen deposition-NHX) and TSO4, with better performance in the eastern U.S. than the western U.S. TDEP of both TIN and TSO4 show significant decreases over the U.S., especially in the east due to the large emission reductions that occurred in that region. The decreasing trends of TIN TDEP are caused by decrease of TNO3, and the increasing trends of TIN deposition over the Great Plains and Tropical Wet Forests regions are caused by increases in NH3 emissions although it should be noted that these increasing trends are not significant. TIN WDEP shows decreasing trends throughout the U.S., except for the Marine West Coast Forest region. TIN DDEP shows significant decreasing trends in the region of Eastern Temperate Forests, Northern Forests, Mediterranean California and Marine West Coast Forest, and significant increasing trends in the region of Tropical Wet Forests, Great Plains and Southern Semi-arid Highlands. For the other three regions (North American Deserts, Temperate Sierras and Northwestern Forested Mountains), the decreasing or increasing trends were not significant. Both the WDEP and DDEP of TSOx have decreases across the U.S., with a larger decreasing trend in the DDEP than that in the WDEP. Across the U.S. during the 1990–2010 period, DDEP of TIN accounted for 58–65 % of TDEP of TIN. TDEP of TIN over the U.S. was dominated by deposition of TNO3 during the first decade, which then shifts to reduced nitrogen (NHX) dominance after 2003 resulting from combination of NOx emission reductions and NH3 emission increases. The sulfur DDEP is usually higher than the sulfur WDEP until recent years, as the sulfur DDEP has a larger decreasing trend than WDEP.
Evidence of L-mode electromagnetic wave pumping of ionospheric plasma near geomagnetic zenith
Authors: Leyser Thomas B. , James H. Gordon , Gustavsson Björn , Rietveld Michael T.
Published: February 2018

Abstract. The response of ionospheric plasma to pumping by powerful HF
(high frequency) electromagnetic waves transmitted from the ground into the
ionosphere is the strongest in the direction of geomagnetic zenith. We
present experimental results from transmitting a left-handed circularly
polarized HF beam from the EISCAT (European Incoherent SCATter association)
Heating facility in magnetic zenith. The CASSIOPE (CAScade, Smallsat and
IOnospheric Polar Explorer) spacecraft in the topside ionosphere above the
F-region density peak detected transionospheric pump radiation, although the
pump frequency was below the maximum ionospheric plasma frequency. The pump
wave is deduced to arrive at CASSIOPE through L-mode propagation and
associated double (O to Z, Z to O) conversion in pump-induced radio
windows. L-mode propagation allows the pump wave to reach higher plasma
densities and higher ionospheric altitudes than O-mode propagation so that
a pump wave in the L-mode can facilitate excitation of upper hybrid
phenomena localized in density depletions in a larger altitude range.
L-mode propagation is therefore suggested to be important in explaining the
magnetic zenith effect. Keywords. Space plasma physics (active perturbation experiments)
Preliminary evaluation of the potential of tree-ring cellulose content as a novel supplementary proxy in dendroclimatology
Authors: Ziehmer Malin M. , Nicolussi Kurt , Schlüchter Christian , Leuenberger Markus
Published: February 2018

Abstract. Cellulose content (CC (%)) in tree
rings is usually utilised as a tool to control the quality of the α-cellulose extraction from tree rings in the preparation of stable-isotope
analysis in wooden tissues. Reported amounts of CC (%) are often limited
to mean values per tree. For the first time, CC (%) series from two
high-Alpine species, Larix decidua Mill. (European Larch, LADE) and
Pinus cembra L. (Swiss stone pine, PICE) are investigated in modern
wood samples and Holocene wood remains from the Early and mid-Holocene.
Modern CC (%) series reveal a species-specific low-frequency trend
independent of their sampling site over the past 150 years.
Climate–cellulose relationships illustrate the ability of CC (%) to
record temperature in both species but for slightly different periods within
the growing season. The Holocene CC (%) series illustrate diverging low-frequency trends in
both species, independent of sampling site characteristics (latitude,
longitude and elevation). Moreover, potential age trends are not apparent in
the two coniferous species. The arithmetic mean of CC (%) series in the
Early and mid-Holocene indicate low CC (%) succeeding cold events. In
conclusion, CC (%) in tree rings show high potential to be established as
novel supplementary proxy in dendroclimatology.
The Ross Sea Dipole – temperature, snow accumulation and sea ice variability in the Ross Sea region, Antarctica, over the past 2700 years
Authors: Bertler Nancy A. N. , Conway Howard , Dahl-Jensen Dorthe , Emanuelsson Daniel B. , Winstrup Mai , Vallelonga Paul T. , Lee James E. , Brook Ed J. , Severinghaus Jeffrey P. , Fudge Taylor J. , Keller Elizabeth D. , Baisden W. Troy , Hindmarsh Richard C. A. , Neff Peter D. , Blunier Thomas , Edwards Ross , Mayewski Paul A. , Kipfstuhl Sepp , Buizert Christo , Canessa Silvia , Dadic Ruzica , Kjær Helle A. , Kurbatov Andrei , Zhang Dongqi , Waddington Edwin D. , Baccolo Giovanni , Beers Thomas , Brightley Hannah J. , Carter Lionel , Clemens-Sewall David , Ciobanu Viorela G. , Delmonte Barbara , Eling Lukas , Ellis Aja , Ganesh Shruthi , Golledge Nicholas R. , Haines Skylar , Handley Michael , Hawley Robert L. , Hogan Chad M. , Johnson Katelyn M. , Korotkikh Elena , Lowry Daniel P. , Mandeno Darcy , McKay Robert M. , Menking James A. , Naish Timothy R. , Noerling Caroline , Ollive Agathe , Orsi Anaïs , Proemse Bernadette C. , Pyne Alexander R. , Pyne Rebecca L. , Renwick James , Scherer Reed P. , Semper Stefanie , Simonsen Marius , Sneed Sharon B. , Steig Eric J. , Tuohy Andrea , Venugopal Abhijith Ulayottil , Valero-Delgado Fernando , Venkatesh Janani , Wang Feitang , Wang Shimeng , Winski Dominic A. , Winton V. Holly L. , Whiteford Arran , Xiao Cunde , Yang Jiao , Zhang Xin
Published: February 2018

Abstract. High-resolution, well-dated climate archives provide an
opportunity to investigate the dynamic interactions of climate patterns
relevant for future projections. Here, we present data from a new, annually
dated ice core record from the eastern Ross Sea, named the Roosevelt Island
Climate Evolution (RICE) ice core. Comparison of this record with climate
reanalysis data for the 1979–2012 interval shows that RICE reliably captures
temperature and snow precipitation variability in the region. Trends over the
past 2700 years in RICE are shown to be distinct from those in West
Antarctica and the western Ross Sea captured by other ice cores. For most of
this interval, the eastern Ross Sea was warming (or showing isotopic
enrichment for other reasons), with increased snow accumulation and perhaps
decreased sea ice concentration. However, West Antarctica cooled and the
western Ross Sea showed no significant isotope temperature trend. This
pattern here is referred to as the Ross Sea Dipole. Notably, during the
Little Ice Age, West Antarctica and the western Ross Sea experienced colder
than average temperatures, while the eastern Ross Sea underwent a period of
warming or increased isotopic enrichment. From the 17th century onwards, this
dipole relationship changed. All three regions show current warming, with
snow accumulation declining in West Antarctica and the eastern Ross Sea but
increasing in the western Ross Sea. We interpret this pattern as reflecting
an increase in sea ice in the eastern Ross Sea with perhaps the establishment
of a modern Roosevelt Island polynya as a local moisture source for RICE.
The effect of high dust amount on the surface temperature
during the Last Glacial Maximum: A modelling study using
MIROC-ESM
Authors: Ohgaito Rumi , Abe-Ouchi Ayako , O'ishi Ryouta , Takemura Toshihiko , Ito Akinori , Hajima Tomohiro , Watanabe Shingo , Kawamiya Michio
Published: February 2018

Abstract. The effect of aerosols is one of the many uncertain factors in projections of the future climate. However, the behaviour of mineral dust aerosol (dust) can be investigated in the context of past climate changes. The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) is known to have resulted in an enhancement of the dust deposition, especially over the polar regions. Using the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate Earth System Model (MIROC-ESM), we investigated the impact of glaciogenic dust on the climate of the LGM and found that the effect of the enhancement of dust results in less cooling over the polar regions. One of the major reasons of the reduced cooling is the ageing of snow or ice, resulting in the reduction of the albedo by a high dust deposition, especially in the vicinity of high glaciogenic dust emissions. Although the net radiative perturbations in the lee of high glaciogenic dust provenances are negative, warming by ageing of snow overcomes this radiative perturbation in the Northern Hemisphere. In contrast, the radiative perturbation by the high dust loading in the troposphere acts to warm the surface surrounding Antarctica, which is mainly caused by the longwave aerosol–cloud interaction of dust and is likely the result of the greenhouse effect of the enhanced cloud fraction in the upper troposphere. Although our analysis mainly focused on the results of the experiments using the atmospheric part of the MIROC-ESM, we also conducted full MIROC-ESM experiments for a first trial of glacial dust modelling. The long-term trend to enhance warming in the Northern Hemisphere with the increase of glaciogenic dust was observed, whereas the warming level around Antarctica is almost unchanged, even after an extended interaction with the ocean.
Effect of changing vegetation on denudation (part 1): Predicted vegetation composition and cover over the last 21 thousand years along the Coastal Cordillera of Chile
Authors: Werner Christian , Schmid Manuel , Ehlers Todd A. , Fuentes-Espoz Juan Pablo , Steinkamp Jörg , Forrest Matthew , Liakka Johan , Maldonado Antonio , Hickler Thomas
Published: February 2018

Abstract. Vegetation is crucial for modulating rates of denudation and landscape evolution as it stabilizes and protects hillslopes and intercepts rainfall. Climate conditions and atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) influence the establishment and performance of plants and thus have a direct influence on vegetation cover. In addition, vegetation dynamics (competition for space, light, nutrients and water) and stochastic events (mortality and fires) determine the state of vegetation, response times to environmental perturbations, and the successional development. In spite of this, state-of-art reconstructions of past transient vegetation changes have not been accounted for in landscape evolution models. Here, a widely used dynamic vegetation model (LPJ-GUESS) was used to simulate vegetation composition/ cover and surface runoff in Chile for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), Mid Holocene (MH) and present day (PD). In addition, we conducted transient vegetation simulations from LGM to PD for four sites of the Coastal Cordillera of Chile at a spatial and temporal resolution adequate for coupling with landscape evolution models. Using a regionally-adapted parametrization, LPJ-GUESS was capable of reproducing present day potential natural vegetation along the strong climatic gradients of Chile and simulated vegetation cover was also in line with satellite-based observations. Simulated vegetation during the LGM differed markedly from PD conditions. Coastal cold temperate rainforests where displaced northward by about 5° and the tree line and vegetation zones were at lower elevations than at PD. Transient vegetation simulations indicate a marked shift in vegetation composition starting with the past-glacial warming that coincides with a rise in [CO2]. Vegetation cover between the sites ranged from 13 % (LGM: 8 %) to 81 % (LGM: 73 %) for the northern Pan de Azúcar and southern Nahuelbuta sites, respectively, but did not vary by more than 10 % over the 21,000 yr simulation. A sensitivity study suggests that [CO2] is an important driver of vegetation changes and, thereby, potentially landscape evolution. Comparisons with other paleoclimate model driver highlight the importance of model input on simulated vegetation. In the near future, we will directly couple LPJ-GUESS to a landscape evolution model (see companion paper) to build a fully-coupled dynamic-vegetation/ landscape evolution model that is forced with paleoclimate data from atmospheric general circulation models.
Observations of brine plumes below melting Arctic sea ice
Authors: Peterson Algot K.
Published: February 2018

Abstract. In sea ice, interconnected pockets and channels of brine are surrounded by
fresh ice. Over time, brine is lost by gravity drainage and flushing. The
timing of salt release and its interaction with the underlying water can
impact subsequent sea ice melt. Turbulence measurements 1 m below melting
sea ice north of Svalbard reveal anticorrelated heat and salt fluxes. From
the observations, 131 salty plumes descending from the warm sea ice are
identified, confirming previous observations from a Svalbard fjord. The
plumes are likely triggered by oceanic heat through bottom melt. Calculated
over a composite plume, oceanic heat and salt fluxes during the plumes
account for 6 and 9 % of the total fluxes, respectively, while only lasting
in total 0.5 % of the time. The observed salt flux accumulates to
7.6 kg m−2, indicating nearly full desalination of the ice. Bulk
salinity reduction between two nearby ice cores agrees with accumulated salt
fluxes to within a factor of 2. The increasing fraction of younger, more
saline ice in the Arctic suggests an increase in desalination processes with
the transition to the “new Arctic”.
Wind-packing of snow in Antarctica
Authors: Sommer Christian Gabriel , Wever Nander , Fierz Charles , Lehning Michael
Published: February 2018

Abstract. The snow surface in polar and mountainous regions is mobile and this mobility determines surface mass balance and isotopic composition before final deposition, which is poorly understood thus far. During a field campaign in Antarctica, a snowfall and subsequent drifting snow event was recorded by meteorological and snow drift stations. Associated surface topology changes and snow hardness changes were measured by terrestrial laser scanning and with a SnowMicroPen. The polar field measurements show that drifting snow is necessary for wind-packing and that the hardening is more efficient at wind-exposed surfaces than in wind-sheltered areas. Furthermore, it is quantitatively demonstrated for the first time how fresh snow gets organized in barchan dunes during subsequent drifting events with significant increases in surface hardness at all locations on the dune. These results form a crucial step in understanding how drifting snow links precipitation to deposition via snow hardening.
Gezocht: integere en daadkrachtige verbinder (m/v)
Authors: Karsten Niels , Oostendorp Hans , van Kooten Frank
Published: February 2018

Wanted: an integer and effective linker (m/f). The discriminatory power of profile descriptions for Dutch mayors evaluated

There is a lot of criticism on the profile descriptions in which Dutch municipalities express the requirements which they put on a new mayor to be appointed. They would look too much like each other and contain few real choices. This article describes the requirements Dutch municipalities put on candidate mayors and analyses the discriminatory power of profile descriptions. A content analysis of 231 profile descriptions and talks with five focus groups show that municipal councils especially ask for integer networkers and linkers, who are above all effective, empathic and communicative. The differences between municipalities in this respect are small and the municipal size hardly makes any difference. Municipal councils do not fully utilize the opportunities in profile descriptions for local customization and barely translate the local conditions into specific requirements. The explanation for this is partly located in isomorphic processes, that lead to uniformity: municipal councils follow the guide of the national government for the appointment process and copy texts from each other. At the same time the office of the mayor in the Netherlands asks for a specific content, that is translated into the profile descriptions. It is therefore the question if the criticism on profile descriptions is fully justified. They do have discriminatory power, although municipal councils could make much sharper choices in what they expect from a mayor, appropriate to the challenges the municipality faces.
Sincere Apologies
Authors: Luth-Morgan Margreet
Published: February 2018

Sincere Apologies: The Importance of the Offender’s Guilt Feelings

This paper discusses the meaning and the importance of emotions, in particular the sincere guilt feelings of the offender. It is argued that the emotion of guilt reveals important information about the offender’s values and normative position. In the remainder of the paper, special consideration is awarded to the argument concerning ritual apologies, which might contain value even when insincere. This argument is rejected, on two grounds: 1. if the apology ritual does not aim for sincere guilt feelings, then the use of the symbol of apology is not fitting; and 2. if the apology ritual does aim for sincere guilt, then an insincere apology devalues the sincere expression.
Over verplichte excuses en spreekrecht
Authors: Geeraets Vincent , Veraart Wouter
Published: February 2018

On compelled apologies and the victim’s right to be heard. What’s wrong with empirical-legal research on victimhood and victim rights?

The central question in this article is whether an empirical-legal approach of victimhood and victim rights could offer a sufficient basis for proposals of legal reform of the legal system. In this article, we choose a normative-critical approach and raise some objections to the way in which part of such research is currently taking place in the Netherlands, on the basis of two examples of research in this field, one dealing with compelled apologies as a possible remedy within civil procedural law and the other with the victim’s right to be heard within the criminal legal procedure. In both cases, we argue, the strong focus on the measurable needs of victims can lead to a relatively instrumental view of the legal system. The legal system must then increasingly be tailored to the wishes and needs of victims. Within this legal-empirical, victim-oriented approach, there is little regard for the general normative principles of our present legal system, in which an equal and respectful treatment of each human being as a free and responsible legal subject is a central value. We argue that results of empirical-legal research should not too easily or too quickly be translated into proposals for legal reform, but first become part of a hermeneutical discussion about norms and legal principles, specific to the normative quality of legal science itself.
Estado de humor na Artrite Reumatoide
Authors: Sontag Iasmin , Souza Deise De , Dario Amabile Borges , Ribeiro Giovana Gomes , Domenech Susana Cristina , Borges Junior Noé Gomes , Gevaerd Monique Da Silva
Published: February 2018

Introduo: A Artrite Reumatoide (AR) uma doena autoimune de carterprogressivo e incapacitante, associada a perturbaes de humor. Contudo,constata-se pouca ateno aos potenciais efeitos das alteraes emocionais.Objetivos: Caracterizar e comparar o estado de humor de pacientes com AR, combase no nvel de atividade da doena. Mtodos: Foram avaliados 80 indivduoscom AR, com 52,72 15,14 anos. Para avaliao do nvel de atividade de doena,foi utilizado o Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28). A avaliao do Estado de Humorfoi realizada com a Escala de Humor Brasileira (BRAMS). Resultados: Foramobservadas alteraes de humor nos domnios raiva, tenso e vigor sendo queo grupo classificado em alta atividade da doena apresentou os piores quadrosde humor. Concluso: Estes dados ressaltam a importncia de um tratamentomultidisciplinar, visando melhora do estado de humor e da qualidade de vidadesses indivduos, conduzindo a uma melhor gesto teraputica da AR.
Irradiação como princípio da FNP em pacientes hemiparéticos pós AVE, análise funcional e eletromiográfica: estudo piloto
Authors: Emilio Marina Mendonça , Campos Stella Andrade Rodrigues , Raimundo Karoline Cipriano , Souza Luciane Aparecida Pascucci Sande de
Published: February 2018

Introduo: A irradiao pelo mtodo de Facilitao NeuromuscularProprioceptiva (FNP) ativa grupos musculares fracos estimulando grupos queesto preservados. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da irradiao do mtodo FNP sobrea ativao muscular no membro superior partico, quadro clinico e funcionalidadede indivduos ps-AVE. Metodologia: Estudo piloto, com 6 voluntrios, mdiade 53,33(19,22) anos, submetidos ao procedimento de irradiao do mtodo FNPno membro superior partico em 3 tarefas distintas. A interveno durou 8 sesses,2 vezes semanais e avaliao foi realizada pela escala de Fugl- Meyer, CIF(Classificao Internacional de Funcionalidade) e eletromiografia. Resultados: ACIF e a Fugl- Meyer apresentaram melhora em alguns dados (p0,05). A anliseeletromiogrfica no apresentou alteraes significativas (p0,05). Concluso:A interveno com uso de irradiao pelo mtodo FNP propiciou ganhos emfora e tnus muscular, controle de punho e funes vestibulares e cognitivas,melhorando o convvio com a comunidade e facilitando suas atividades. A eletromiografiano evidenciou mudanas ps interveno.
Disfunções sexuais nos três trimestres gestacionais
Authors: Köhler Bruna Da Silva Martins , Martins Maíra Pereira , Pivetta Hedioneia Maria Foletto , Braz Melissa Medeiros
Published: February 2018

Introduo: Dificuldades sexuais so bastante frequentes durante a gestao, pelas mudanas hormonais e emocionais deste perodo.Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalncia de disfunes sexuais nos trs trimestres gestacionais. Mtodos: Pesquisa observacional com 140 mulheres de 7 unidades bsicas de sade de um municpio do interior do RS. Foram aplicadosuma ficha de avaliao e o Female Sexual Function Index. Foi realizada a estatstica descritiva para representao dos grupos e o teste de normalidade de Kolmogorov-Smirnov para os testes de hipteses com nvel de significncia de 5%. Resultados: Houve alta prevalncia de disfuno sexual, com diferena entre o primeiro e o segundo trimestres (p 0,018), e entre o primeiro e o terceiro trimestres (p 0,014). Concluso: Houve alta prevalncia de disfuno sexual (33,04%), sendo os domnios mais afetados a satisfao (100%), lubrificao (94,69%), orgasmo (94,59%) e excitao (91,89%). Identificou-se aumento das disfunes sexuais com a evoluo da gestao.
INFLAMMATORY MARKERS AND NEUROPEPTIDES CHARACTERISTIC OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE AND THEIR RESPONSE TO VISUALIZATION AND SUGGESTION BASED MIND-BODY THERAPY
Authors: Ostapiuk-Karolczuk Joanna , Kasperska Anna , Botwina Ryszard
Published: February 2018

Progress in elucidating neuroimmune connections has created new opportunities for improving the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). In recent years, mind-body therapies have been shown to have positive effects on the immune and nervous systems, but interactions at the molecular level have not been tested. Thus, the main aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of therapy based on visualization and suggestion on the concentrations of IL-6, CRP, DA, BDNF, CoQ10, and TAC in patients with advanced PD.

Eight patients with PD and 8 elderly healthy men (control group) were enrolled in the study. The therapy lasted 19 days and consisted of three parts: individual sessions with the therapist, mixed (therapist and audio-file), and self-training (audio-file). Blood samples were taken before training and at the end of each part.

The expected changes in the investigated markers was observed during therapy: the serum concentration of IL-6 and CRP decreased, whereas DA and BDNF increased, however, this change was observed only after the first part of intervention when the therapy was conducted by the therapist. In the subsequent stages, the levels returned to the baseline. Noteworthy, after the therapy, we observed a significant increase in the motor and intellectual skills of the PD patients. No such changes were observed in the control group.

Mind-body therapy based on visualization and suggestions aimed at changing the concentrations of signaling molecules, which are crucial in the development or treatment of PD, may be an effective element in supporting pharmacological therapy.
Data in a Brave New World: Reducing Isolation to Amplify the Impact of Educational Research on Practice
Authors: Cai Jinfa , Morris Anne , Hohensee Charles , Hwang Stephen , Robison Victoria , Hiebert James
Published: February 2018

In our November 2017 editorial (Cai et al., 2017), we presented a vision of a future in which research has a significant impact on practice. In the world we described, researchers and teachers work together, sharing similar goals and incentive structures. A critical feature of this brave new world is the existence of an online professional knowledge base comprising “useful findings and artifacts that are continuously refined over time, indexed by specific learning goals and subgoals, and that assist teachers and researchers in implementing learning opportunities in their classrooms” (p. 469). Moreover, we argued that teacher—researcher partnerships are a necessary condition for greater impact on practice.
Research Commentary: Theorizing Collaborative Mathematics Teacher Learning in Communities of Practice
Authors: Bannister Nicole A.
Published: February 2018

Persistent disconnects within and among education research, practice, and policy are limiting the reach of professional mathematics teacher communities, one of the most promising levers for humanizing mathematics teaching and learning in schools. An overarching goal of this commentary is to convince the field of mathematics education to broaden our research agendas beyond individual classrooms to teacher collectives so that our combined efforts have a greater positive impact on how people experience mathematics in and out of school. The commentary begins with a focused review of extant literature on teacher community to establish context, clarify theoretical underpinnings, and describe three important problems of teacher community. The need for research on these problems is connected to the need for studies of mathematics teacher learning to better specify what counts as evidence of learning and how this evidence gets analyzed. In response, and for the sake of epistemological and ontological transparency, teacher learning is theorized from a community-of-practice perspective. A frame analysis methodology for empirical analysis of collaborative mathematics teacher learning within professional teacher community contexts is theorized, thereby contributing provisional tools for the field to use in this work.
Equity Analytics: A Methodological Approach for Quantifying Participation Patterns in Mathematics Classroom Discourse
Authors: Reinholz Daniel L. , Shah Niral
Published: February 2018

Equity in mathematics classroom discourse is a pressing concern, but analyzing issues of equity using observational tools remains a challenge. In this article, we propose equity analytics as a quantitative approach to analyzing aspects of equity and inequity in classrooms. We introduce a classroom observation tool that focuses on relatively low-inference dimensions of classroom discourse, which are cross-tabulated with demographic markers (e.g., gender, race) to identify patterns of more and less equitable participation within and across lessons. We argue that equity analytics can support researchers and practitioners in identifying subtle patterns of inequity in classroom discourse. As we show, even in classrooms with highly experienced, equityminded teachers, subtle inequities can emerge that are detectable through this quantitative methodology. To conclude, we discuss how equity analytics can complement qualitative approaches in the study of equity and inequity in classrooms.
Automorphisms of the moduli space of principal $G$-bundles induced by outer automorphisms of $G$
Authors: Antón Sancho Álvaro
Published: February 2018

In this work we study finite-order automorphisms of the moduli space of principal $G$-bundles coming from outer automorphisms of the structure group when $G$ is a simple complex Lie group. We do this by describing the subvarieties of fixed points for the action of that automorphisms on the moduli space of principal $G$-bundles. In particular, we prove that these fixed points are reductions of structure group to the subgroup of fixed points of the outer automorphism. Moreover, we study the way in which these fixed points fall into the stable or nonstable locus of the moduli.
Edgewise Cohen-Macaulay connectivity of partially ordered sets
Authors: Athanasiadis Christos A. , Kallipoliti Myrto
Published: February 2018

The proper parts of face lattices of convex polytopes are shown to satisfy a strong form of the Cohen-Macaulay property, namely that removing from their Hasse diagram all edges in any closed interval results in a Cohen-Macaulay poset of the same rank. A corresponding notion of edgewise Cohen-Macaulay connectivity for partially ordered sets is investigated. Examples and open questions are discussed.
On the $x$-coordinates of Pell equations which are Fibonacci numbers
Authors: Luca Florian , Togbé Alain
Published: February 2018

For an integer $d>2$ which is not a square, we show that there is at most one value of the positive integer $x$ participating in the Pell equation $x^2-dy^2=\pm 1$ which is a Fibonacci number.
THE GENERAL FACTOR OF PERSONALITY: HISTORY OF AN INTERDISCIPLINARY VENTURE
Authors: Caselles Antonio , Micó Joan C , Amigó Salvador
Published: February 2018

The General Factor of Personality (GFP) is a new psychological approach of the study of the human personality that is based on the idea that, as in the case of General Intelligence, there is a personality super-factor that agglutinates and represents all the other aspects of personality. Therefore, it can be considered as a system of personality subsystems, or a global and integrated system of all the different components from the personality.