The UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and its interpretation

This paper explores the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD) from a phenomenological perspective. It argues for complementing the predominant juridical approach to the CRPD with attention to the extra-juridical dimension of the constitution of its meaning. The core argument is that disabled people's collectives should be recognised and admitted as important stakeholders and contributors in the community of interpretation that gives the CRPD its meaning. After briefly introducing the CRPD, the first part of the paper highlights the ubiquity of interpretation and the limits of its juridical regulation. The second part explores some extra-juridical factors that influence the interpretation of the CRPD. Two cases are considered: the socially embedded materiality of the interpretive work of the CRPD Committee; and the politics of interpretation inherent in the CRPD's translation between languages. The latter is backed up by comparing the English, French, Russian and Bulgarian versions of several CRPD provisions. In conclusion, some methodological and programmatic inferences are drawn from the analysis. In particular, it is argued that disabled people's civic self-organising is indispensable for sustaining the interpretation of the CRPD along transformative and emancipatory lines.     

A model of the viscoelastic behavior of flowable resin composites prior to setting

Objective

The aim of this study is to develop fractional derivative models for the assessment of viscoelastic properties related to handling characteristics of dental resin composites belonging to two classes: flowable (Revolution Formula 2 and Filtek Ultimate) and posterior “bulk-fill” flowable base (Smart Dentin Replace).

Methods

Rheological measurements on all materials tested in this study were performed using dynamic oscillatory rheometer at temperature of 23 °C. A parallel plates module with a diameter of 20 mm was used to measure the properties of the resin composites tested. We developed two models to describe the obtained data: the generalized Newton model and the generalized Zener model (the so-called three parameter model). Both models contain fractional derivatives of Riemann–Liouville type. By determining the parameters of the model we were able to fit experimental data with high accuracy.

Results

Our results show that flowable “bulk-fill” resin-composite material (SDR) has distinct properties as compared to other two flowable resin composite materials (Revolution Formula 2 and Filtek Ultimate). Thus, previously found SDR properties as “bulk-fill” flowable base results in the fact that it is described by generalized Zener model (i.e., it has properties of solid like viscoelastic material).

Significance

Our model may be used to predict behavior of tested composites in different flow conditions. The SDR has initially small almost constant complex viscosity showing that it has good self-leveling property.     

Beitrag zur Erkennung der ätiologischen Faktoren bei Sterilität des Mannes unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Vibrationseffektes bei Traktorfahrern und einer Hepatomegalie

Bericht über 2 Beobachtungen von Subfertilität des Marines unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Vibration bei Traktorfahrern und einer unklaren Hepatomegalie als mögliche ursächliche Faktoren der Sterilität des Mannes.     

Emotional reactions to predictive testing in Alzheimer's disease and other inherited dementias

This work describes the reasons and emotional responses of healthy descendants after counseling for presenilin mutations in early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (EOFAD), tau mutations in familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and prion mutations in fatal familial insomnia (FFI). A multidisciplinary protocol following Huntington's disease counseling guidelines and a post-test follow-up program were developed to counsel healthy descendants of affected families. The psychological consequences, anxiety levels, and depression status were assessed through validated scales before and after disclosing the information. Nine people from three different families, one with EOFAD, another with FTD, and the other with FFI came for counseling. Their main reason for testing was to initiate early treatment in the future. Disclosing the information decreased anxiety in two carriers, increased it temporarily in one, and had no effect in another. All noncarriers felt relieved. Overall, after a mean of 30 months of follow-up, no negative psychological reactions were observed. All participants positively valued the program. Although preliminary, our observations suggest that predictive testing in EOFAD, FTD, and FFI is safe and may be of benefit when performed with a delicate approach under strict pretest counseling protocols and post-test follow-up programs. The emotional reactions were similar, although the diseases, their phenotype, and mutation characteristics were different.     

Circadian phase shifting, alerting, and antidepressant effects of bright light treatment

Bright light treatment is the most potent melatonin suppressor and circadian phase shifter and is a safe nonpharmacologic antidepressant for seasonal depression. In addition, bright light treatment may restore performance in conditions of sleep debt and misalignment between peak performance and the athletic event. This article discusses the therapeutic use of bright light treatment, its side effects, and mechanisms of action.     

Sleep-wake and other biological rhythms: functional neuroanatomy

Knowledge from traditional neuroanatomical techniques coupled with more recent advances in functional neuroimaging and molecular genetics have led to a better understanding of how structure relates to function of many biological rhythms. In this article we review the current state of knowledge of the functional neuroanatomy of sleep-wake and circadian rhythms and selected infradian rhythms (eg, menstrual and seasonal). We anticipate that progress in our understanding of the molecular biology of sleep and circadian rhythms will lead to the development of novel therapeutic and prophylactic approaches for improved health and quality of life, and for maintaining performance levels during adverse conditions.