bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parametric study of medium span bridges retrofitted with reinforced concrete jacketing
Authors: Jara J.M. , Montes O. , Olmos B.A. , Martínez G.
Published: January 2019

Most reinforced concrete (RC) bridges in many countries are medium-span length structures built in the last decades and designed for very low seismic forces. The evolution of seismic codes and the average age of the bridges require the evaluation of their seismic vulnerability. This study assesses the expected capacity, demand and damage of seismically deficient medium-length highway bridges, supported in frame-type piers using dynamic nonlinear methodologies. A parametric study of reinforced concrete retrofitted bridges with RC jacketing was conducted. The non-retrofitted structures are 30 m span simple supported bridges with pier heights in the range of 5–25 m. The main emphasis of the study is the assessment of the jacket parameters’ contribution to the seismic vulnerability of bridges. Particularly, it is quantified how jacket thickness and reinforcement ratio affect the probability of reaching a particular damage limit state. The retrofitted scheme includes three jacket thicknesses and three different longitudinal steel ratios. The results evaluate bridge demands and fragility curves to quantify the influence of RC jacketing on the seismic response of structures and allow to select the best jacket parameters that improve the expected seismic behavior of the bridge models. Additionally, the influence of model hysteresis degradation on the expected damage of retrofitted bridges was also determined.
Sugar intake interacts with temperature to influence reproduction and immunity in adult Culex pipiens mosquitoes
Authors: Ferguson L.V. , Beckett N.H. , French M.-C. , Campbell M.J. , Smith T.G. , Adamo S.A.
Published: January 2019

Disease transmission by insect vectors will depend on integrated physiological responses to interacting environmental variables. We explored how interactions between temperature and sucrose concentration affected immunity and fecundity, two variables that contribute to vectorial capacity, in Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 mosquitoes. We provided female C. pipiens with either 2% or 20% sucrose and exposed them to low (22 °C), moderate (25 °C), or high (30 °C) temperatures for 8 days. We then measured the strength of the melanization response in one subpopulation of females and the number of eggs laid as a measure of fecundity in another subpopulation. Temperature interacted with diet to weaken immunity under 2% sucrose at 22 and 25 °C. This effect disappeared at 30 °C, suggesting that high temperatures allowed mosquitoes to compensate for the effects of decreased sucrose. Conversely, increasing temperature increased egg production on a diet of 20% sucrose, but heat exposure on a diet of 2% sucrose decreased fecundity. Overall, we suggest that heat exposure requires investment in thermal protection, which may prompt reconfiguration of the immune system and (or) decreased investment in reproduction. Thus, our understanding of the effects of climate change rest on which physiological system we measure and under which combinations of stressors.
TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF BRAKE DISCS COATED WITH Cr2O3–40% TiO2 BY PLASMA SPRAYING
Authors: GÜNEY BEKİR , MUTLU İBRAHİM
Published: January 2019

In this study, the tribological properties of Cr2O3–40% TiO2 coating for brake disc materials were investigated in braking performances. Plasma spraying technique was used in order to deposit coating materials onto cast iron disc with ventilation channels substrate. The braking performances of discs were tested according to SAE J2430 test standard. Microstructures of discs were characterized by means of light microscope (LM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The surface hardness and roughness were measured with testers. In general, it is noted from the LM and SEM images that there was an infinite gradation between coating layer, binding material and the lamellar graphite cast iron and that bonding resistance was excellent. The coated disc exhibited less wear, approximately the same coefficient of friction and longer life than the uncoated disc. As a result, the coated disc could be a much better alternative for new-generation brake discs in the motor vehicles than the uncoated disc.
Shortening Effect on Buckling Behavior of Reddy Plates and Prismatic Plate Structures
Authors: Ruocco E. , Reddy J. N.
Published: January 2019

A closed-form solution based on the Reddy third-order shear deformation plate theory is proposed for the buckling of both flat and stiffened plates, simply supported on two opposite edges. The effect of the nonlinear strain–displacement terms, usually neglected under the von Kármán hypothesis, on the buckling of thick plates is investigated, and the equations governing the critical behavior considering the full Green–Lagrange strain tensor and the second Piola–Kirchhoff stress tensor are derived using the principle of minimum potential energy. The general Levy-type approach is employed, and the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed formulation is validated through direct comparison with analytical and numerical results available in the literature. The parametric analyses performed for different geometrical ratios show that the von Kármán hypothesis holds only for thin flat plates whereas it can significantly overestimate buckling loads for stiffened plates, for which the buckling mode entails comparable in-plane and out-of-plane displacements.
Large Deformation and Vibration Analysis of Microbeams by Absolute Nodal Coordinate Formulation
Authors: Li L. , Chen Y. Z. , Zhang D. G. , Liao W. H.
Published: January 2019

This investigation uses the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF) method to solve statics and dynamics of microbeams for the first time. A comprehensive model for the investigation of statics and dynamics of microbeams by using gradient deficient elements of the ANCF and modified couple stress theory (MCST) is developed. The vibration equations of a planar hub-microbeam system with constant angular rotations are derived considering the static equilibrium. Accuracy of the ANCF method for microbeams is demonstrated. Large deformation problems of cantilever microbeams are solved and the influences of material length scale on beam deformation are studied. When the beam thickness becomes smaller, the deflection of the microbeam calculated by the current model is smaller, and the size effect becomes more significant. The size effect only has influence on the bending vibration of the microbeam. The variations of the angular speed as well as the scale parameter can trigger frequency veering phenomena. The present work could be used in dynamic or vibration predictions for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) with both large displacements and large deformations.
Solnhofener Plattenkalk
: a heritage stone of international significance from Germany
Authors: Kölbl-Ebert M. , Cooper B. J.
Published: January 2019

In Bavaria (Germany), between Solnhofen and Kelheim, numerous quarries allow utilization of a thinly plated Upper Jurassic limestone known in German as the
Solnhofener Plattenkalk
and in English as Solnhofen Limestone. Here limestone slabs have been quarried for centuries and it is not necessary to cut the limestone with a saw as it can be split conveniently into thin and even slabs or sheets which are used for floor tiles and wall cladding. Thick slabs of especially fine quality have been used for lithography. This later utilization began in the late eighteenth century with lithographic Solnhofen Limestone soon being marketed worldwide. The industry continues on a smaller scale today. Slabs are quarried by hand so as not to break them, accounting for their high price. Because of this ‘gentle’ quarrying method, fossils have also been found. Although rare, over time many Solnhofen fossil specimens have found their way into natural history museums throughout the world. Most noteworthy is the early bird
Archaeopteryx
. Given its utilitarian usage worldwide as a lithographic stone, and its sale for centuries as floor tiles, coupled with its being a source of unique fossils,
Solnhofener Plattenkalk
is recommended here as a Global Heritage Stone Resource.
Tensor Completion Algorithms in Big Data Analytics
Authors: Song Qingquan , Ge Hancheng , Caverlee James , Hu Xia
Published: January 2019

Tensor completion is a problem of filling the missing or unobserved entries of partially observed tensors. Due to the multidimensional character of tensors in describing complex datasets, tensor completion algorithms and their applications have received wide attention and achievement in areas like data mining, computer vision, signal processing, and neuroscience. In this survey, we provide a modern overview of recent advances in tensor completion algorithms from the perspective of big data analytics characterized by diverse variety, large volume, and high velocity. We characterize these advances from the following four perspectives: general tensor completion algorithms, tensor completion with auxiliary information (variety), scalable tensor completion algorithms (volume), and dynamic tensor completion algorithms (velocity). Further, we identify several tensor completion applications on real-world data-driven problems and present some common experimental frameworks popularized in the literature along with several available software repositories. Our goal is to summarize these popular methods and introduce them to researchers and practitioners for promoting future research and applications. We conclude with a discussion of key challenges and promising research directions in this community for future exploration.
Kir4.1/Kir5.1 in the DCT plays a role in the regulation of renal K+excretion
Authors: Su Xiao-Tong , Ellison David H. , Wang Wen-Hui
Published: January 2019

The aim of this mini review is to provide an overview regarding the role of inwardly rectifying potassium channel 4.1 (Kir4.1)/Kir5.1 in regulating renal K+excretion. Deletion of Kir4.1 in the kidney inhibited thiazide-sensitive NaCl cotransporter (NCC) activity in the distal convoluted tubule (DCT) and slightly suppressed Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2) function in the thick ascending limb (TAL). Moreover, increased dietary K+intake inhibited, whereas decreased dietary K+intake stimulated, the basolateral potassium channel (a Kir4.1/Kir5.1 heterotetramer) in the DCT. The alteration of basolateral potassium conductance is essential for the effect of dietary K+intake on NCC because deletion of Kir4.1 in the DCT abolished the effect of dietary K+intake on NCC. Since potassium intake-mediated regulation of NCC plays a key role in regulating renal K+excretion and potassium homeostasis, the deletion of Kir4.1 caused severe hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis under control conditions and even during increased dietary K+intake. Finally, recent studies have suggested that the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) and bradykinin-B2 receptor (BK2R) are involved in mediating the effect of high dietary K+intake on Kir4.1/Kir5.1 in the DCT.
Surge of corticocardiac coupling in SHRSP rats exposed to forebrain cerebral ischemia
Authors: Tian Fangyun , Liu Tiecheng , Xu Gang , Ghazi Talha , Sajjad Azeem , Farrehi Peter , Wang Michael M. , Borjigin Jimo
Published: January 2019

Sudden death is an important but underrecognized consequence of stroke. Acute stroke can disturb central control of autonomic function and result in cardiac dysfunction and sudden death. Previous study showed that bilateral common carotid artery ligation (BCCAL) in the spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rat strain (SHRSP) is a well-established model for forebrain ischemic sudden death. This study aims to investigate the temporal dynamic changes in electrical activities of the brain and heart and functional interactions between the two vital organs following forebrain ischemia. EEG and ECG signals were simultaneously collected from nine SHRSP and eight Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. RR interval was analyzed to investigate the cardiac response to brain ischemia. EEG power and coherence (CCoh) analysis were conducted to study the cortical response. Corticocardiac coherence (CCCoh) and directional connectivity (CCCon) were analyzed to determine brain-heart connection. Heart rate variability (HRV) was analyzed to evaluate autonomic functionality. BCCAL resulted in 100% mortality in SHRSP within 14 h, whereas no mortality was observed in WKY rats. The functionality of both the brain and the heart were significantly altered in SHRSP compared with WKY rats after BCCAL. SHRSP, but not WKY rats, exhibited intermittent surge of CCCoh, which paralleled the elevated CCCon and reduced HRV, following the onset of ischemia until sudden death. Elevated brain-heart coupling invariably associated with the disruption of the autonomic nervous system and the risk of sudden death. This study may improve our understanding of the mechanism of forebrain ischemia-induced sudden death.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates a marked surge of corticocardiac coupling in rats dying from focal cerebral ischemia, consistent with our earlier data in rats exposed to fatal asphyxia. Since the bidirectional electrical signal coupling (corticocardiac coherence) and communication (corticocardiac connectivity) between the brain and the heart are only identified in dying animals, they could be used as potential biomarkers to predict the risk of sudden death.
Effect of Cilostazol on the Pharmacokinetics of Simvastatin in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Kim Jung-Ryul , Jung Jin Ah , Kim Seokuee , Huh Wooseong , Ghim Jong-Lyul , Shin Jae-Gook , Ko Jae-Wook
Published: January 2019

Purpose. We evaluated potential drug-drug interactions between cilostazol and simvastatin, both CYP3A substrates, in healthy subjects. Methods. An open-label, two-period, fixed-sequence clinical study was conducted. Seventeen subjects were given a single oral dose of simvastatin 40 mg on day 1 and multiple oral doses of cilostazol 100 mg twice daily on days 2 to 5 followed by a single dose of cilostazol and simvastatin on day 6. Plasma concentrations of simvastatin and its active metabolite, simvastatin acid, were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for pharmacokinetic assessment. Moreover, serum lipid profiles under fasting conditions were determined. Results. The geometric mean ratios of the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time infinity of simvastatin combined with cilostazol to that of simvastatin alone were 1.64 (90% CI, 1.38-1.95) for simvastatin and 1.31 (1.04-1.66) for simvastatin acid. In addition, coadministration with cilostazol significantly increased the maximum concentration of simvastatin and simvastatin acid, up to 1.8-fold and 1.6-fold, respectively. However, the effects of a single dose of simvastatin on serum lipid profiles were not affected notably when simvastatin was coadministered with cilostazol. Conclusions. Multiple doses of cilostazol increased the systemic exposure of simvastatin and simvastatin acid following a single dose of simvastatin.
Occurrence of Anticyclonic Tornadoes in a Topographically Complex Region of Mexico
Authors: Carbajal Noel , León-Cruz José F. , Pineda-Martínez Luis F. , Tuxpan-Vargas José , Gaviño-Rodríguez Juan H.
Published: January 2019

Tornadoes are violent and destructive natural phenomena that occur on a local scale in most regions around the world. Severe storms occasionally lead to the formation of mesocyclones, whose direction or sense of rotation is often determined by the Coriolis force, among other factors. In the Northern Hemisphere, more than 99% of all tornadoes rotate anticlockwise. The present research shows that, in topographically complex regions, tornadoes have a different probability of rotating clockwise or anticlockwise. Our ongoing research programme on tornadoes in Mexico has shown that the number of tornadoes is significantly higher than previously thought. About 40% of all tornadoes occur in the complex topographic region of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Data collected (from Internet videos) on the rotation of tornadoes formed in this region showed that about 50% of them rotated in a clockwise direction, contradicting tornado statistics for most of North America. Time series of the helicity parameter showed that tornadoes formed in topographically complex areas exhibited different behaviours compared to those formed in plains that are related with supercell systems.
The Effect of Puncture Sites of Portal Vein in TIPS with ePTFE-Covered Stents on Postoperative Long-Term Clinical Efficacy
Authors: Chen Si-liang , Hu Peng , Lin Zhi-peng , Zhao Jian-bo
Published: January 2019

Purpose. To evaluate the effect of puncture sites of the portal vein in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) on long-term clinical efficacy. Methods. A retrospective review was performed, including consecutive 171 patients who underwent TIPS with ePTFE-covered stents. All patients were divided into 3 groups according to the puncture site of the portal vein: intrahepatic bifurcation of the portal vein (group A, n=88), right branch of the portal vein (group B, n=48), and left branch of the portal vein (group C, n=35). The Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to assess the effect of different puncture sites on primary patency, the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), and survival. Results. The primary restenosis rate was 29.8% (51/171). The total HE rate was 31.6% (54/171). The cumulative death rate was 19.3% (33/171). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that group C versus group A, group C versus group B, and group A versus group B were significantly different on the primary restenosis rate, respectively (χ2 = 11.49, P=0.001; χ2 = 4.54, P=0.033; and χ2 = 4.12, P=0.046), and group C is better than the other two groups. What is more, group C versus group A and group C versus group B were significantly different on the incidence of HE, respectively (χ2 = 8.07, P=0.004; χ2 = 9.44, P=0.002), and group C is better than the other two groups. There was no significant difference on survival. Conclusion. Choosing the left branch of the portal vein as the puncture site to create the shunt in TIPS with ePTFE-covered stents may decrease the incident of primary restenosis and HE significantly.
Numerical Approach for the Computation of Preliminary Post-Newtonian Corrections for Laser Links in Space
Authors: Gambi Jose M. , Garcia del Pino Maria L. , Mosser Jonathan , Weinmüller Ewa B.
Published: January 2019

Two systems of Earth-centered inertial Newtonian orbital equations for a spherical Earth and three systems of post-Newtonian nonlinear equations, derived from the second post-Newtonian approximation to the Earth Schwarzschild field, are used to carry out a performance analysis of a numerical procedure based on the Dormand-Prince method for initial value problems in ordinary differential equations. This procedure provides preliminary post-Newtonian corrections to the Newtonian trajectories of middle-size space objects with respect to space-based acquisition, pointing, and tracking laser systems, and it turns out to be highly efficient. In fact, we can show that running the standard adaptive ode45 MATLAB routine with the absolute and relative tolerance, TOLa = 10−16 and TOLr = 10−13, respectively, provides corrections that are final within the eclipses caused by the Earth and close to final during the noneclipse phases. These corrections should be taken into account to increase the pointing accuracy in implementing the space-to-space laser links required for ablation of designated objects or communications between space terminals.
Functionalisation of Virus-Like Particles Enhances Antitumour Immune Responses
Authors: Kramer Katrin , Al-Barwani Farah , Baird Margaret A. , Young Vivienne L. , Larsen David S. , Ward Vernon K. , Young Sarah L.
Published: January 2019

Virus-like particles (VLP) from the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) can deliver tumour antigens to induce anticancer immune responses. In this study, we explored how RHDV VLP can be functionalised to enhance the immune response by increasing antigen loading, incorporating linkers to enhance epitope processing, and targeting receptor-mediated internalisation of VLP. RHDV VLP were developed to deliver up to three copies of gp10025–33which contained proteasome cleavable linkers to target the correct processing of the epitope. Addition of mono- and dimannosides, conjugated to the surface of the gp100 VLP, would utilise a second pathway of internalisation, mannose receptor mediated, to further augment antigen internalised by phagocytosis/macropinocytosis.In vitrocell culture studies showed that a processing linker at the C-terminus of the epitope (gp100.1LC) induced enhanced T-cell activation (7.3 ng/ml interferon- (IFN-)γrelease) compared to no linker (3.0 ng/ml IFN-γ) or the linker at the N-terminus (0.8 ng/ml IFN-γ). VLP delivering two (gp100.2L) or three (gp100.3L) gp100 epitopes induced similar high T-cell activation (7.6 ng/ml IFN-γ) compared to gp100.1LC. Anin vivocytotoxicity assay and a therapeutic tumour trial confirmed that mice vaccinated with either gp100.2L or gp100.3L induced a specific antitumour immune response. Mannosylation of the gp100.2L VLP further enhanced the generated immune response, demonstrated by prolonged survival of mice vaccinated with dimannosylated gp100.2L VLP (D-gp100.2L) by 22 days compared to gp100.2L-vaccinated mice. This study showed that functionalisation of RHDV VLP by addition of an epitope-processing linker and mannosylation of the surface facilitates the efficacy of VLP as vaccination vectors for tumour immunotherapy.
Radiologic Diagnosis and Hospitalization among Children with Severe Community Acquired Pneumonia: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Hassen Meiron , Toma Alemayehu , Tesfay Mulugeta , Degafu Eyoel , Bekele Solomon , Ayalew Freshwork , Gedefaw Abel , Tadesse Birkneh Tilahun
Published: January 2019

Objectives. This study was designed to assess the role of chest radiography for the diagnosis of pneumonia and assess the association of clinical characteristics with radiologic findings and predictors of hospitalization among children with severe community acquired pneumonia. Methods. A prospective study was conducted on 122 children between ages of 3 month and 14 years admitted to pediatric emergency unit with diagnosis of severe pneumonia from September 1st to November 30th, 2017. Eligible children were subjected to chest radiography which was read by two senior radiologists independently (R1 and R2). Disagreements between R1 and R2 were resolved by a third senior radiologist (R3). Level of agreement between radiologists was assessed using Cohen’s kappa coefficient. Clinical and laboratory parameters which could explain the variability in the duration of hospital stay were assessed using a linear regression mode. Independent predictors were assessed using multiple linear regression. Results. The median age of the cohort was 10.0 months (interquartile range (IQR): 6.75–24.0); 76 (62.3%) were male. Nearly half, 63 (51.6%) did not have radiologic evidence of pneumonia. There was low level of agreement between R1 and R2 in reporting consolidation (kappa=0.435, p-value≤0.001), haziness (kappa=0.375, p-value≤0.001), and infiltration (kappa=0.267, p-value=0.008). Children with higher recorded temperature were more likely to have radiologic abnormalities suggesting pneumonia (p-value=0.033). The median duration of hospitalization was 3 days (IQR: 1-4 days); 118 (96.7%) were discharged with improvement. Height-for-age z-score (Coef.=0.203, R2=0.041, p-value=0.027); and hemoglobin level (Coef.=-0.249, R2=0.062, p-value=0.006) explained 4.1% and 6.2% of the variability in the duration of hospital stay, respectively. Conclusion. Radiologic evidence of pneumonia was absent in half of the children with severe pneumonia. There was low agreement between senior radiologists in reporting chest radiographic findings, potentially necessitating harmonization activities to uniformly implement the WHO guidelines in reading chest radiographs.
Real-Time Vehicle Detection Using Cross-Correlation and 2D-DWT for Feature Extraction
Authors: Zaarane Abdelmoghit , Slimani Ibtissam , Hamdoun Abdellatif , Atouf Issam
Published: January 2019

Nowadays, real-time vehicle detection is one of the biggest challenges in driver-assistance systems due to the complex environment and the diverse types of vehicles. Vehicle detection can be exploited to accomplish several tasks such as computing the distances to other vehicles, which can help the driver by warning to slow down the vehicle to avoid collisions. In this paper, we propose an efficient real-time vehicle detection method following two steps: hypothesis generation and hypothesis verification. In the first step, potential vehicles locations are detected based on template matching technique using cross-correlation which is one of the fast algorithms. In the second step, two-dimensional discrete wavelet transform (2D-DWT) is used to extract features from the hypotheses generated in the first step and then to classify them as vehicles and nonvehicles. The choice of the classifier is very important due to the pivotal role that plays in the quality of the final results. Therefore, SVMs and AdaBoost are two classifiers chosen to be used in this paper and their results are compared thereafter. The results of the experiments are compared with some existing system, and it showed that our proposed system has good performance in terms of robustness and accuracy and that our system can meet the requirements in real time.
Preparative Separation of Three Monoterpenes from Perilla frutescens var. crispa Using Centrifugal Partition Chromatography
Authors: Nam Bomi , Paudel Sunil Babu , Kim Jin-Baek , Jin Chang Hyun , Lee Dongho , Nam Joo-Won , Han Ah-Reum
Published: January 2019

Three monoterpenes, namely, 9-hydroxy isoegomaketone (1), isoegomaketone (2), and perilla ketone (3), were successfully separated from the supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extract of the leaves of Perilla frutescens var. crispa (cv. Antisperill; Lamiaceae) by centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC). To obtain large quantities of these materials required for studies on their mechanism of action and in vivo effectiveness in inflammation, we used CPC because of its high loading capacity and reproducibility to purify the three compounds. Compound 1 (2.60 mg, 96.7% purity at 254 nm) was purified from 500 mg of the SC-CO2 extract of P. frutescens var. crispa (cv. Antisperill), using a two-phase solvent system comprising n-hexane/ethyl acetate/ethanol/water (5:5:5:5 v/v) in a descending mode. As compounds 2 (56.1 mg, 97.6% purity at 254 nm) and 3 (78.6 mg, 96.1% purity at 254 nm) are highly volatile and difficult to recover from an aqueous mobile phase after purification during the drying process, they were obtained from the same amount of the processed extract in an ascending mode using the upper organic phase as the mobile phase (n-hexane/ethyl acetate/ethanol/water, 8:2:8:2 v/v). The structures of compounds 1–3 were confirmed by 1H- and 13C-NMR analysis. Thus, based on our findings, we recommend centrifugal partition chromatography as a powerful technique for purifying the active principal compounds 1 and 2 from the leaves of P. frutescens var. crispa.
Parents’ Perceptions of the Challenges to Helping Their Children Maintain or Achieve a Healthy Weight
Authors: Bleich Sara N. , Gorski Findling Mary T. , Blendon Robert J. , Ben-Porath Eran , SteelFisher Gillian K.
Published: January 2019

Introduction. Parents play a critical role in their children’s weight. This paper examines parents’ perceptions about the challenges to helping their kids maintain or achieve a healthy weight. Methods. We analyzed data in 2017 from a U.S. telephone poll conducted during October-November 2012 among parents or caregivers of children aged 2–17 years using a nationally representative sample of households. It included 667 White, 123 Black, and 167 Hispanic parents. Multiple logistic regressions were used to examine parent perceptions about the individual- and environmental-level challenges to helping their children maintain or achieve a healthy weight. Results. Overall, 45% of children have parents who reported challenges helping the child eat to maintain or achieve a healthy weight, and 35% have parents who reported challenges for exercise. According to parents, most children consumed snacks between 3 pm and bedtime during the school week (83%), and 63% of those children had an unhealthy snack. Parents did not express much concern about unhealthy snacks; 80% of children had parents who said that they did not mind since their child generally ate healthy food. Children with Hispanic and Black parents were more likely than those with White parents to have parents reporting environment challenges, such as unhealthy foods in schools. Conclusions. Helping children maintain a healthy weight through diet is a problem for many parents, regardless of their race or ethnicity. Differences by race/ethnicity in parent perceptions of food environment challenges to helping their child maintain or achieve a healthy weight suggest possible areas for future interventions.
Constant Degradation of the Androgen Receptor by MDM2 Conserves Prostate Cancer Stem Cell Integrity
Authors: Vummidi Giridhar Premkumar , Williams Karin , VonHandorf Andrew P. , Deford Paul L. , Kasper Susan
Published: January 2019

Prostate cancer stem cells (CSC) are implicated in tumor initiation, cancer progression, metastasis, and the development of therapeutic-resistant disease. It is well known that the bulk of prostate cancer cells express androgen receptor (AR) and that androgens are required for prostate cancer growth, progression, and emergence of castration-resistant disease. In contrast, the small subpopulation of self-renewing CSCs exhibits an AR-negative (AR−) signature. The mechanisms underlying the absence of AR are unknown. Using CSC-like cell models isolated from clinical biopsy tissues, we identify the E3 ligase MDM2 as a key regulator of prostate CSC integrity. First, unlike what has been reported for the bulk of AR+ tumor cells where MDM2 regulates the temporal expression of AR during transcriptional activity, MDM2 in CSCs promoted the constant ubiquitination and degradation of AR, resulting in sustained loss of total AR protein. Second, MDM2 promoted CSC self-renewal, the expression of stem cell factors, and CSC proliferation. Loss of MDM2 reversed these processes and induced expression of full-length AR (and not AR variants), terminal differentiation into luminal cells, and cell death. Selectively blocking MDM2-mediated activity in combination with androgen/AR-targeted therapy may offer a novel strategy for eliminating AR− CSCs in addition to the bulk of AR+ prostate cancer cells, decreasing metastatic tumor burden and inhibiting the emergence of therapeutic resistance.

Significance: These findings provide a novel mechanistic aspect of prostate cancer cell stemness that advances our understanding of the diverse transcriptional activity that bypasses AR in contributing to therapeutic resistance, tumor progression, and metastasis.
Mean Corpuscular Volume and Mortality in Incident Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Dratch Alissa , Kleine Carola-Ellen , Streja Elani , Soohoo Melissa , Park Christina , Hsiung Jui-Ting , Rhee Connie M. , Obi Yoshitsugu , Molnar Miklos Z. , Kovesdy Csaba P. , Kalantar-Zadeh Kamyar
Published: January 2019

Background/Aims: Anemia is common in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). A proportion of patients present with macrocytic anemia, manifested by elevated mean corpuscular volume (MCV), which has been associated with worse outcomes in CKD patients. However, it is unknown whether elevated MCV is associated with higher mortality risk in incident hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study examined all-cause, cardiovascular, and infectious mortality associations with both baseline and time-varying MCV in 109,501 incident HD patients using Cox proportional hazards models with 3 levels of hierarchical multivariable adjustment. Odds ratios of high versus low baseline MCV were evaluated using logistic regression. Results: The mean age of patients was 65 ± 15 (standard deviation) years and the cohort was 44% female, 58% diabetic, and 31% African American. Higher MCV was associated with older age, female sex, non-Hispanic White race-ethnicity, alcohol consumption, and having a decreased albumin or protein intake. Patients with higher MCV levels (> 98 fL) had a higher all-cause, cardiovascular, and infectious mortality risk in both baseline and time varying models, and across all levels of adjustment. In the fully adjusted models, compared to a reference of MCV 92–< 94 fL, patients with a baseline MCV > 100+ fL had a 28% higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.28, 95% CI 1.22–1.34), 27% higher risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.18–1.36), and 18% higher risk of infectious mortality (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02–1.38). Associations of higher MCV with these adverse outcomes persisted across all examined subgroups of clinical characteristics. Conclusions: Higher MCV was associated with higher all-cause, cardiovascular, and infectious mortality in HD patients. Further investigation is necessary to understand the underlying nature of the observed association.
Platelet Protein Disulfide Isomerase Promotes Glycoprotein Ibα–Mediated Platelet-Neutrophil Interactions Under Thromboinflammatory Conditions
Authors: Li Jing , Kim Kyungho , Jeong Si-Yeon , Chiu Joyce , Xiong Bei , Petukhov Pavel A. , Dai Xiangrong , Li Xiaoyi , Andrews Robert K. , Du Xiaoping , Hogg Philip J. , Cho Jaehyung
Published: January 2019

Background:

Platelet-neutrophil interactions contribute to vascular occlusion and tissue damage in thromboinflammatory disease. Platelet glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα), a key receptor for the cell-cell interaction, is believed to be constitutively active for ligand binding. Here, we established the role of platelet-derived protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) in reducing the allosteric disulfide bonds in GPIbα and enhancing the ligand-binding activity under thromboinflammatory conditions.

Methods:

Bioinformatic analysis identified 2 potential allosteric disulfide bonds in GPIbα. Agglutination assays, flow cytometry, surface plasmon resonance analysis, a protein-protein docking model, proximity ligation assays, and mass spectrometry were used to demonstrate a direct interaction between PDI and GPIbα and to determine a role for PDI in regulating GPIbα function and platelet-neutrophil interactions. Also, real-time microscopy and animal disease models were used to study the pathophysiological role of PDI-GPIbα signaling under thromboinflammatory conditions.

Results:

Deletion or inhibition of platelet PDI significantly reduced GPIbα-mediated platelet agglutination. Studies using PDI-null platelets and recombinant PDI or Anfibatide, a clinical-stage GPIbα inhibitor, revealed that the oxidoreductase activity of platelet surface–bound PDI was required for the ligand-binding function of GPIbα. PDI directly bound to the extracellular domain of GPIbα on the platelet surface and reduced the Cys4-Cys17 and Cys209-Cys248 disulfide bonds. Real-time microscopy with platelet-specific PDI conditional knockout and sickle cell disease mice demonstrated that PDI-regulated GPIbα function was essential for platelet-neutrophil interactions and vascular occlusion under thromboinflammatory conditions. Studies using a mouse model of ischemia/reperfusion–induced stroke indicated that PDI-GPIbα signaling played a crucial role in tissue damage.

Conclusions:

Our results demonstrate that PDI-facilitated cleavage of the allosteric disulfide bonds tightly regulates GPIbα function, promoting platelet-neutrophil interactions, vascular occlusion, and tissue damage under thromboinflammatory conditions.
Two new species of the genus Arrenurus from Pohnpei, Federal States of Micronesia (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Arrenuridae)
Authors: SMIT HARRY
Published: January 2019

Two new species of the genus Arrenurus, A. cornuatus and A. kostkai are described from high elevation, head water streams on the island of Pohnpei, Micronesia.
A new family of trombidioid mites (Acari: Prostigmata) from Iran
Authors: SABOORI ALIREZA , WOHLTMANN ANDREAS , HAKIMITABAR MASOUD
Published: January 2019

Achaemenothrombium cyrusi gen. et sp. nov. (Acari, Prostigmata: Trombidioidea) is described and illustrated from larvae ectoparasitic on Catocala sp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from Tehran, Iran and Achaemenothrombium talebii (Karimi Irvanlou & Kamali, 2001) comb. nov. is redescribed. A new family, Achaemenothrombiidae is proposed for accommodating this genus. A key to families of larval Trombidioidea and to species of Achaemenothrombium (larva) is presented.
New free-living marine nematode species (Nematoda: Desmodoridae) from the coast of New Zealand
Authors: LEDUC D. , WHARTON D. A.
Published: January 2019

Pseudochromadora reathae n. sp. is described from intertidal sand in Otago Harbour (southern New Zealand), and Pseudodesmodora lacrima n. sp. is described from subtidal sediment in the Firth of Thames (northern New Zealand). Pseudochromadora reathae n. sp. differs from other species of the genus through the combination of the following characters: sexual dimorphism in the shape of the apertura amphidialis, no interdigitation of body annuli at level of lateral alae, presence of eight longitudinal rows of somatic setae, and conspicuous pre-cloacal supplements consisting of star-shaped projections flanked by two cuticularised pieces. Pseudodesmodora lacrima n. sp. is characterised by the presence of large unispiral amphids on amphidial plates, conspicuous ducts in the head region, low a values, and short cephalic setae.
Resurrection and redescription of Squalus suckleyi (Girard, 1854) from the North Pacific, with comments on the Squalus acanthias subgroup (Squaliformes: Squalidae)
Authors: EBERT DAVID A. , WHITE WILLIAM T. , GOLDMAN KENNETH J. , COMPAGNO LEONARD J. V. , DALY–ENGEL TOBY S. , WARD ROBERT D.
Published: January 2019

A taxonomic re-evaluation of the status of the North Pacific Squalus suckleyi (Girard, 1854) combining the use of meristic, morphological and molecular data reveal this species to be clearly distinct from the widespread Squalus acanthias (Linneaus, 1758). Differences in the external morphology between S. acanthias and S. suckleyi are subtle and are likely to be masked by intraspecific variation within individuals. However, we found S. suckleyi to differ from S. acanthias based on the following morphological and meristic characteristics: a short, broadly-rounded to acute snout; first dorsal-fin midpoint more posterior to pectoral-fin insertion; pelvic-fin origin closer to second dorsal fin than first dorsal fin; total vertebral counts average 99 (97–106). Molecular analysis of approximately 650 bp of the CO1 mitochondrial gene (DNA barcode region) showed separation of S. suckleyi and S. acanthias into two distinct genetic clades with 98% bootstrap support. Within species genetic diversities were 0.109±0.036% and 0.176±0.041% for S. suckleyi and S. acanthias respectively; between species diversity was 5– 6 fold greater at 0.765+0.307%. Squalus suckleyi is thus resurrected and a neotype for this endemic North Pacific Squalus species is designated.
Taxonomy of the genus Indoquedius Blackwelder (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae) of China with description of four new species
Authors: ZHAO ZONY-YI , ZHOU HONG-ZHANG
Published: January 2019

This paper studies the taxonomy of the genus Indoquedius Blackwelder occurring in China. Four new species are described: Indoquedius aculeus sp. nov. from Sichuan, I. bicornutus sp. nov. from Sichuan and Yunnan, I. nonparallelus sp. nov. from Yunnan and I. radius sp. nov. from Fujian. Altogether ten species of this genus are recorded now from China. The distribution map is also presented for all these species in the paper.
Blood sucking midges of Leptoconops (Holoconops Kieffer) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from India
Authors: MAZUMDAR ABHIJIT , SAHA NARAYAN C. , CHAUDHURI PRASANTA K.
Published: January 2019

Three new species, Leptoconops (Holoconops) brevistylus, L. (H.) fortipalpus and L. (H.) tenebrostigmatus of the subgenus Leptoconops (Holoconops Kieffer) are described from the Damodar valley of India. Previously, only two species, Leptoconops (Leptoconops) indicus (Kieffer) and L. (Styloconops) spinosiformis (Carter) were known from India.
Two new species and a new record of mealybugs (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae) from Iran
Authors: MOGHADDAM MASUMEH
Published: January 2019

Chorizococcus mirzayansi Moghaddam sp. n. and Phenacoccus betae Moghaddam sp. n. are described and illustrated in detail based on adult females from Iran. The species C. mirzayansi was collected on the leaves of Opuntia ficus-indica (Cactaceae) and P. betae was collected on the roots of Beta vulgaris (Betulaceae). The mealybug Phenacoccus perillustris Borchsenius is recorded from Iran for the first time. A key and a checklist are provided for the six species of Phenacoccus known from Iran.
A new spiny, prehensile-tailed species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Peninsular Malaysia with a preliminary hypothesis of relationships based on morphology
Authors: GRISMER L. LEE , ANUAR SHAHRUL , QUAH EVAN , MUIN MOHD ABDUL , ONN CHAN KIN , GRISMER JESSE L. , AHMAD NORHAYATI
Published: January 2019

A new species, Cyrtodactylus durio sp. nov., is described from northwestern Peninsular Malaysia on the basis of its head, body, limbs, and tail being extremely spinose as well as other unique combinations of squamation and color pattern. It is proposed that C. durio sp. nov. forms a clade with C. brevipalmatus, C. elok, C. spinosus, and C. stresemanni on the basis of having a spiny, prehensile tail and that it is the sister species of C. stresemanni based on unique caudal tuberculation. Cytrodactylus durio sp. nov. is the latest in a growing list of new species of amphibians and reptiles recently described from the Malay Peninsula, and Peninsular Malaysia in particular, that clearly underscores the need for continuing exploratory research in these regions.
Redescription of Cirriformia crassicollis (Kinberg, 1866) and Timarete hawaiensis (Hartman, 1956) new combination, (Polychaeta: Cirratulidae), endemic polychaetes to the Hawaiian Islands
Authors: MAGALHÃES WAGNER F. , BAILEY-BROCK JULIE H.
Published: January 2019

Cirriformia crassicollis (Kinberg 1866) and Timarete hawaiensis (Hartman 1956), new combination are redescribed. Cirriformia hawaiensis is here referred to the genus Timarete Kinberg 1866, because the branchial filaments on chaetigers 10–18 are shifted dorsally forming a dorsolateral bulge over the notopodia. T. hawaiensis and C. crassicollis are presently known only from the Hawaiian Islands and are commonly associated with changing ecosystems such as harbors and dense populations of tube worms.
Three holarctic new species of ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida)
Authors: NIEDBAŁA WOJCIECH , STARÝ JOSEF
Published: January 2019

Three new species of the ptyctimous mite families Synichotritiidae and Phthiracariidae, Synichotricha reticulata sp. nov. from North Carolina, USA, Phthiracarus paralaevigatus sp. nov. from Western Slovakia and Phthiracarus paralongulus sp. nov. from South Bohemia, the Czech Republic are described and figured. All species of the genus Synichotritia are presented and their distribution is discussed. Comparison with the most related species of the genera Synichotritia and Phthiracarus is discussed.
Twelve new species of Guimaraesiella (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae) from “babblers” (Passeriformes: Leiothrichidae, Pellorneidae, Timaliidae) with a description of a new subgenus and a key to its species
Authors: GUSTAFSSON DANIEL R. , CLAYTON DALE H. , BUSH SARAH E.
Published: January 2019

The chewing louse subgenus Cicchinella new subgenus is erected and described for species of Guimaraesiella Eichler, 1949, parasitizing Old World babblers (Leiothrichidae, Pellorneidae, Timaliidae). The subgenus is divided into three species groups based on chaetotaxy, head and genitalia of both sexes. Two species are redescribed: Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) sehri (Ansari, 1955) from Trochalopteron lineatum lineatum (Vigors, 1831) and T. lineatum setafer (Hodgson, 1836), and Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) avinus (Ansari, 1956) from Trochalopteron subunicolor subunicolor Blyth, 1843. In addition, 12 new species are described and illustrated: Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) falcifrons n. sp. from Actinodura cyanouroptera sordidior (Sharpe, 1888); Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) iuga n. sp. from Alcippe peracensis peracensis Sharpe, 1887; Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) gombakensis n. sp. from Turdinus abbotti abbotti (Blyth, 1845); Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) mcgrewi n. sp. from Alcippe morrisonia Swinhoe, 1863; Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) tenella n. sp. from Cyanoderma ruficeps davidi (Oustalet, 1899); Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) retusa n. sp. from Trochalopteron milnei sinianum Stresemann, 1930; Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) philiproundi n. sp. from Trochalopteron melanostigma schistaceum (Deignan, 1938) and Trochalopteron peninsulae Sharpe, 1887; Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) hannesundinae n. sp. from Heterophasia picaoides wrayi (Ogilvie-Grant, 1910); Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) pallidobrunneis n. sp. from Heterophasia melanoleuca melanoleuca (Blyth, 1859); Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) hampuslybecki n. sp. from Heterophasia auricularis (Swinhoe, 1864); Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) scottvillai n. sp. from Liocichla steerii Swinhoe, 1877 and Guimaraesiella (Cicchinella) ambusta n. sp. from Leiothrix argentauris rubrogularis Kinnear, 1925. A key to identify the species of Cicchinella, and both a checklist and a host-louse list of the species of Cicchinella known from the Old World babblers are provided.