bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic systematics of day geckos, genus Phelsuma, based on molecular and morphological data (Squamata: Gekkonidae)
Authors: ROCHA SARAH , RÖSLER HERBERT , GEHRING PHILIP-SEBASTIAN , GLAW FRANK , POSADA DAVID , HARRIS D. JAMES , VENCES MIGUEL
Published: December 2018

We review the intrageneric systematics of day geckos, genus Phelsuma (Squamata: Sauria: Gekkonidae) in the light of a recently published multigene phylogeny, and provide an overview of 19 selected chromatic, morphological and behavioural characters for all currently recognized species and subspecies in the genus. To replace previous attempts of dividing the genus into phenetic species assemblages, we propose the following monophyletic species groups and summarize the morphological characters that partly support this grouping: Phelsuma barbouri group (P. barbouri, P. pronki); P. dubia group (P. berghofi, P. dubia, P. flavigularis, P. hielscheri, P. malamakibo, P. modesta, P. nigristriata, P. ravenala); P. mutabilis group (P. borai, P. breviceps, P. mutabilis); P. cepediana group (P. borbonica, P. cepediana, P. guentheri, P. guimbeaui, P. inexpectata, P. ornata, P. rosagularis as well as the extinct species P. edwardnewtonii and P. gigas); P. astriata group (P. astriata, P. sundbergi); P. madagascariensis group (P. abbotti, P. grandis, P. guttata, P. kochi, P. madagascariensis, P. parkeri, P. seippi and probably P. masohoala); P. lineata group (P. antanosy, P. comorensis, P. kely, P. lineata, P. pusilla, P. quadriocellata and probably P. hoeschi); P. laticauda group (P. laticauda, P. pasteuri, P. robertmertensi, P. v-nigra); P. klemmeri group (P. klemmeri); P. andamanense group (P. andamanense) and P. standingi group (P. standingi). Due to their equivocal placements based on different molecular markers, we refrain from assigning P. serraticauda and P. vanheygeni to any of these species groups at this time. We complement the molecular data with new trees based on partial sequences of the 16S rRNA gene for the P. madagascariensis- and P. lineata groups and propose to elevate P. lineata dorsivittata and P. quadriocellata parva to full species rank as P. dorsivittata and P. parva.
Contribution to the knowledge of the weevil subgenus Arammichnus Gozis, genus Otiorhynchus Germar (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from Sicily and the Sicilian islands
Authors: BAVIERA COSIMO , MAGNANO LUIGI
Published: December 2018

New data are presented on the taxonomy and distribution of some species of Otiorhynchus Germar, subgenus Arammichnus Gozis, in Sicily. Otiorhynchus (Arammichnus) ferrarii Miller is recorded from Sicily for the first time. Three new species are described: Otiorhynchus (Arammichnus) vagans n. sp., Otiorhynchus (Arammichnus) pseudosetosulus n. sp., and Otiorhynchus (Arammichnus) adrianus n. sp. The number of known Otiorhynchus (Arammichnus) species thereby rises to 66; 25 of which are present in Sicily and the lesser Sicilian islands.
New records of Dipsocoromorpha, Cimicomorpha and Pentatomomorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from Argentina
Authors: DELLAPÉ PABLO MATÍAS , CARPINTERO DIEGO LEONARDO , MELO MARÍA CECILIA
Published: December 2018

Twenty species of Heteroptera belonging to seven families are recorded for the first time for Argentina: Ceratocombidae (1 sp.), Reduviidae (1 sp.), Miridae (4 sp.), Nabidae (5 sp.), Largidae (2 sp.), Rhyparochromidae (4 sp.), Berytidae (1 sp.), Colobathristidae (1 sp.) and Pachygronthidae (1 sp.). The following genera represent new records from Argentina: Astemmoplitus, Bathycles, Tenuicoris, Pseudopamera (Rhyparochromidae), Diascopoea (Colobathristidae). A new synonym in the family Largidae is established: Largus umbrosus Distant is considered a junior synonym of Largus trochanterus Signoret.
The nymph of Tortopus harrisi Traver (Ephemeroptera: Polymitarcyidae)
Authors: MOLINERI CARLOS , SIEGLOCH ANA E. , RIGHI-CAVALLARO KARINA O.
Published: December 2018

Polymitarcyidae is a family of burrowing mayflies (Ephemeroptera: Ephemeroidea) distributed throughout the world but with highest diversity in the Neotropics. Tortopus Needham & Murphy, with a Panamerican distribution, is known from twelve species described in the adult stage. Nymphs are only known for three species: T. puella (Pictet), T. obscuripennis Domínguez and T. sarae Domínguez, and present a rather homogeneous morphology (Molineri 2008). They were firstly described for T. puella by Scott et al. (1959) and later Molineri (2008) described the other two. Both studies reported that these species burrow U-shaped tunnels in clay banks of rivers and streams, thus preventing them from being sampled in most limnological studies (that use surbers, drags, or drift nets).
Redefinition of Leptobasis Selys with the synonymy of Chrysobasis Rácenis and description of L. mauffrayi sp. nov. from Peru (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)
Authors: GARRISON ROSSER W. , VON ELLENRIEDER NATALIA
Published: December 2018

Chrysobasis is synonymized with Leptobasis. The latter is diagnosed by the combination of rounded frons, CuP reaching hind margin of wing, CuA relatively short, and supplementary pretarsal claw reduced to vestigial, and by the presence on the distal segment of the genital ligula of a pair of chitinized, flap-like, movable processes directed posteriorly. A new species from Peru, L. mauffrayi, is described, and illustrations, maps, and keys for all Leptobasis species are provided.
Gonioctena koryeoensis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae), a new species from Korea, with a description of immature stages
Authors: CHO HEE WOOK , LEE JONG EUN
Published: December 2018

Gonioctena koryeoensis sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae) is described based on adults, larvae, and pupae collected from the southeastern Korean Peninsula. The new species is easily distinguished from related species by coloration, size, length ratio of antennal segments, and shape of aedeagus. The larva and pupa are also distinguished from all other known species by the tubercle pattern and the apical processes of the ninth abdominal segment, respectively. Notes on distribution, host plant, and ovoviviparity are included.
A new species of Thraulodes Ulmer (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) from Southeastern Brazil
Authors: GONÇALVES INÊS C. , DA-SILVA ELIDIOMAR R. , NESSIMIAN JORGE L.
Published: December 2018

A new species of the mayfly genus Thraulodes Ulmer is described based on specimens from the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil. Nymph and imagos from both sexes are described. The new species can be easily recognized by abdominal and legs color pattern whether from nymphs or imagos.
Csiromedusa medeopolis: a remarkable Tasmanian medusa (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Narcomedusae) comprising a new family, genus and species
Authors: GERSHWIN LISA-ANN , ZEIDLER WOLFGANG
Published: December 2018

An unusual new species of narcomedusa from Tasmania is described. It differs from all other species of narcomedusae in having two whorls of tentacles, as well as a beveled opening in the apical surface containing peculiar ‘sky-scraper-like’ protruding structures, which we have interpreted as gonads. We place this unusual form in its own family, the Csiromedusidae fam. nov. Knowledge about its basic biology and ecology is currently lacking. We provide a comparative table of features of the families of Narcomedusae, as well as a summary of characters observed in known juvenile and larval stages of species of Narcomedusae.
Two new species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Amphipoda, fam. Niphargidae) from the Frasassi cave system in Central Italy
Authors: KARAMAN GORDAN S. , BOROWSKY BETTY , DATTAGUPTA SHARMISHTHA
Published: December 2018

Two new subterranean species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Niphargus montanarius, n. sp. and N. frasassianus, n. sp. (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Gammaridea, Niphargidae) from the Frasassi cave system in Genga, the Marches, Italy, are described and figured, and their taxonomic status within the genus Niphargus is discussed.
Morphological and systematic reassessment of †Knightia brasiliensis Woodward, 1939 (Teleostei: Clupeiformes) from the Pliocene of Parnaíba Basin, northeastern Brazil
Authors: DE FIGUEIREDO FRANCISCO J.
Published: December 2018

†Knightia brasiliensis, a small clupeoid fish found in the Tertiary beds of Nova Iorque, State of Maranhão (Brazil), is morphologically redescribed in detail. It is separated from nominal species of †Knightia, including the type-species †Knightia eoceana from the Lower Eocene of Wyoming, mainly by the absence of dorsal scutes, presence of two supramaxillae, and one epural, and is therefore placed in a new genus, †Paleopiquitinga gen. nov. The caudal skeleton of †Paleopiquitinga gen. nov. shows some advanced features (one epural, parhypurapophysis, and pleurostyle) in comparison with other well-known fossil clupeomorphs from the Cretaceous and Tertiary of South America and Africa, and a combination of features indicates the placement of †Paleopiquitinga gen. nov. within the family Clupeidae. Although uncertainties about polarity of characters within the Clupeidae render the relationships of †Paleopiquitinga gen. nov. difficult to establish at present, certain features indicate a close relationship with the extant Atlantic and East-Pacific genus Lile.
New armored spiders of the family Tetrablemmidae from China
Authors: LIN YUCHENG , LI SHUQIANG
Published: December 2018

Five new species of the family Tetrablemmidae, occurring in the southern China, are described and illustrated: i.e., Lehtinenia arcus sp. nov., Shearella sanya sp. nov. from tropical shrub in Hainan Island, and Indicoblemma cruxi sp. nov., Singaporemma bifurcata sp. nov., Tetrablemma nandan sp. nov. from caves of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The genera Indicoblemma, Shearella and Singaporemma are reported in China for the first time. All type specimens are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing.
Species of Ancistrus (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) from Ecuador, with the description of a new species from the Amazon River Basin
Authors: PROVENZANO R. FRANCISCO , BARRIGA-SALAZAR RAMIRO
Published: December 2018

To elucidate the species of the genus Ancistrus that inhabit freshwater systems of Ecuador, cataloged lots of the Fish Collection, Museo de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional (MEPN), in Quito, were analyzed. Four species were identified: Ancistrus alga (Cope, 1872), A. malacops (Cope, 1872), A. clementinae Rendahl, 1937, and a new species that herein is described. Ancistrus clementinae inhabits aquatic systems of the Pacific slope, mostly in the Guayas River drainage. The other three species live in freshwater systems that drain to the Amazon River Basin. Ancistrus alga inhabit the northern and central portions of eastern Ecuador. Ancistrus malacops has a broad distribution from north to south, but is absent from the Santiago River. Both species occasionally live in sympatry. The new species is restricted to the Santiago River, in Morona-Santiago province. Each species has unique external morphological features and/or a coloration pattern that allow unambiguous identification, at least of males. This paper provides a description of the new species, and a re-description and images of the other three.
New species and new record of Thraulodes Ulmer, 1920 (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae: Atalophlebiinae) from Brazil
Authors: BOLDRINI RAFAEL , DANTAS HANNA ASHLEY TAVARES PONTES , LIMA LUCAS RAMOS COSTA
Published: December 2018

A new species of the mayfly genus Thraulodes is described based on specimens from the state of Roraima, Brazil. The male imago of Thraulodes rodrigoi sp. nov. is described and the new species can be easily recognized by: forewing with one weakly marked cross veins basal to bullae; femora of forelegs with an apical transversal band brown heavily marked and one submedian macula; styliger plate triangular with a medial rounded projection; and penes short and wide, without lateral pouch. Thraulodes sternimaculatus Lima, Mariano & Pinheiro, 2013 is also reported for the first time in Piauí State.
Reconstructing the Drizzle Mode of the Raindrop Size Distribution Using Double-Moment Normalization
Authors: Raupach Timothy H. , Thurai Merhala , Bringi V. N. , Berne Alexis
Published: December 2018

Commonly used disdrometers tend not to accurately measure concentrations of very small drops in the raindrop size distribution (DSD), either through truncation of the DSD at the small-drop end or because of large uncertainties on these measurements. Recent studies have shown that, as a result of these inaccuracies, many if not most ground-based disdrometers do not capture the “drizzle mode” of precipitation, which consists of large concentrations of small drops and is often separated from the main part of the DSD by a shoulder region. We present a technique for reconstructing the drizzle mode of the DSD from “incomplete” measurements in which the drizzle mode is not present. Two statistical moments of the DSD that are well measured by standard disdrometers are identified and used with a double-moment normalized DSD function that describes the DSD shape. A model representing the double-moment normalized DSD is trained using measurements of DSD spectra that contain the drizzle mode obtained using collocated Meteorological Particle Spectrometer and 2D video disdrometer instruments. The best-fitting model is shown to depend on temporal resolution. The result is a method to estimate, from truncated or uncertain measurements of the DSD, a more complete DSD that includes the drizzle mode. The technique reduces bias on low-order moments of the DSD that influence important bulk variables such as the total drop concentration and mass-weighted mean drop diameter. The reconstruction is flexible and often produces better rain-rate estimations than a previous DSD correction routine, particularly for light rain.
The Turn Toward Self-Responsibility in Current Societies: Differences, Challenges, and Perspectives
Authors: Frericks Patricia , Höppner Julia
Published: December 2018

Current societies have undergone a many-faceted but also general turn toward self-responsibility. This is hardly contested, as shown by societal analyses of different kinds. Up to now though, the literature on self-responsibility has either focused on specific areas of society or hardly discussed the concept in sociological depth. In this special issue, we aim to do both. From a broad sociological and societal perspective the special issue analyses differences and communalities in the turn toward self-responsibility and highlights the challenges and perspectives it presents. The aim is a new discussion of the concept of self-responsibility that draws on actors’ embeddedness in institutional environments and emphasizes the consequences of the development for individuals and societies.
Rethinking Self-Responsibility: An Alternative Vision to the Neoliberal Concept of Freedom
Authors: Pendenza Massimo , Lamattina Vanessa
Published: December 2018

In current societies, the freedom of the individual is at the center of mainstream public and political debate. For neoliberals, the individual is conceived as an unattached, self-responsible market player. However, this perspective has highly destructive consequences for societies. We contrast this conception of the individual with that of Durkheim, endorsing Durkheim’s. Our thesis is that the neoliberal notion of the individual, freedom, society, and the State rejects any idea of responsibility—of one individual toward others, of the State toward individuals, and even of individuals toward themselves—emphasizing the absolute autonomy of the individual. For neoliberals, society is an environment in which a new kind of individual is formed, whose modus vivendi is focused on self-entrepreneurship and the obsessive acquisition of resources to achieve success in a competitive system. In contrast, Durkheim highlights the moral nature of society and the reciprocal obligations of individuals. For him, the individual is part of the State, not against it, and, consequently, he considers neither the individual nor the State as subordinate to economic freedom and the needs of the market. Thus, Durkheim emphasizes a social vision with regard to freedom, justice, solidarity, and the responsibility of the individual and the State based on his perception that human behavior operates within particular fields of action that are formed by various social engagements.
Behavioral Changes to Repeated Takeovers in Highly Automated Driving: Effects of the Takeover-Request Design and the Nondriving-Related Task Modality
Authors: Roche Fabienne , Somieski Anna , Brandenburg Stefan
Published: December 2018

Objective:

We investigated drivers’ behavior and subjective experience when repeatedly taking over their vehicles’ control depending on the design of the takeover request (TOR) and the modality of the nondriving-related task (NDRT).

Background:

Previous research has shown that taking over vehicle control after highly automated driving provides several problems for drivers. There is evidence that the TOR design and the NDRT modality may influence takeover behavior and that driver behavior changes with more experience.

Method:

Forty participants were requested to resume control of their simulated vehicle six times. The TOR design (auditory or visual-auditory) and the NDRT modality (auditory or visual) were varied. Drivers’ takeover behavior, gaze patterns, and subjective workload were recorded and analyzed.

Results:

Results suggest that drivers change their behavior to the repeated experience of takeover situations. An auditory TOR leads to safer takeover behavior than a visual-auditory TOR. And with an auditory TOR, the takeover behavior improves with experience. Engaging in the visually demanding NDRT leads to fewer gazes on the road than the auditory NDRT. Participants’ fixation duration on the road decreased over the three takeovers with the visually demanding NDRT.

Conclusions:

The results imply that (a) drivers change their behavior to repeated takeovers, (b) auditory TOR designs might be preferable over visual-auditory TOR designs, and (c) auditory demanding NDRTs allow drivers to focus more on the driving scene.

Application:

The results of the present study can be used to design TORs and determine allowed NDRTs in highly automated driving.
Quiet struggles: Migrant farmworkers, informal labor, and everyday resistance in Canada
Authors: Cohen Amy , Hjalmarson Elise
Published: December 2018

Utilizing James C. Scott’s germinal concept of everyday resistance, we examine the subtle, daily acts of resistance carried out by Mexican and Jamaican migrant farmworkers in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia. We argue that despite finding themselves in situations of formidable constraint, migrant farmworkers utilize a variety of “weapons of the weak” that undermine the strict regulation of their employment by employers and state authorities. We also argue that everyday forms of resistance are important political acts and as such, they warrant inclusion in scholarly examinations. Indeed, by reading these methods neither as “real” resistance nor as political, we risk reproducing the same systems of power that de-legitimize the actions, agency, and political consciousness of subaltern and oppressed peoples. After a brief discussion on the concept of everyday resistance, we provide an overview of Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP), establishing the conditions that drive migrant workers to resist and drawing connections between the regulatory framework of the SAWP, the informality of the agricultural sector, and migrant labor. Finally, we examine specific instances of resistance that we documented over 3 recent years through ethnographic fieldwork and as community organizers with a grassroots migrant justice organization. We assert the importance of situating migrants’ everyday acts of resistance at the center of conceptualizations of the broader movement for migrant justice in Canada and worldwide.
You don’t see the world through the same eyes any more: The impact of sexual offending work on police staff
Authors: Parkes Ruth , Graham-Kevan Nicola , Bryce Jo
Published: December 2018

This paper examines the experiences of police staff in England who work with sexual offence material (SOM). Eleven officers completed a questionnaire then took part in semi-structured interviews. The data were analysed in two stages: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to illuminate the ‘lived experience’ of participants, and establish a theme structure. Clinical models of workplace trauma were then employed to explore the theme ‘Impact of working with sexual offending’. Impact includes cognitive intrusions and increased suspiciousness. The authors identify where officers’ accounts intersect with nascent symptoms of both Vicarious Traumatisation (McCann and Pearlman, 1990) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Vibration characteristics of yarn in the tufted carpet machine
Authors: Shuang Huang , Yang Xu
Published: December 2018

To control the yarn vibration in a reasonable range and to improve the quality of tufted carpet, it is very important to understand the vibration characteristics of yarn correctly. The transverse vibration equation of yarn is established using Newton’s second law in different paths, and then the yarn vibration characteristic curves in different regions are obtained. Firstly, the yarn path is divided and the optimal constitutive model of tufted carpet yarn is determined. Secondly, the transverse vibration is built by analyzing the force of yarn means. Then, the partial differential equation of yarn vibration is simplified as an ordinary differential equation by the Galerkin truncation method. The equation is solved numerically by using the Runge–Kutta method, obtaining the yarn amplitude in different regions. The vibration characteristics of the yarns after the jacquard parts are emphatically analyzed, and the effects of the speed, tension and damping coefficient on the vibration characteristics of yarns are also discussed. Finally, the results are verified by experiments.
Our political moment: political responsibility and leadership in a globalized, fragmented age
Authors: Beardsworth Richard
Published: December 2018

National interest and national security need to be reconfigured so as to accommodate a state’s response to global threats and challenges. This requires in turn addressing the following paradox: the pooling and ceding of sovereignty must be made in the very name of national sovereignty. The article maintains that it is one of the foremost challenges of political responsibility and political leadership today to assume this paradox and thereby align national and global interests and practices. The alignment can, it is suggested, effectively oppose sovereigntism and nationalism, on one hand, and abstract global governance, on the other. To promote this alignment, the article advances a renewed understanding of state responsibility to citizenship under conditions of globalization.
Alteration of Serum Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines and Polysomnographic Indices after Uvulopalatal Flap Surgery in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Mutlu Murad , Vuralkan Erkan , Akin Istemihan , Firat Hikmet , Ardic Sadik , Akaydin Sevgi , Miser Ece
Published: December 2018

The aim of the current study was to compare the changes in polysomnographic indices and serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), cystatin C, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who were treated surgically via a uvulopalatal flap (UPF) technique. Twenty-five patients (14 men, 11 women), average age 46.2 ± 9.3 years, who underwent UPF surgery were included in this study. Serum biochemical analyses and polysomnographic examinations were performed before and 6 months after the surgery. Pre- and postoperative values of apnea hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), and minimum oxygen concentrations, as well as serum levels of CRP, cystatin C, TNF-α, and ICAM-1 were compared. Comparison of variables before and after UPF surgery demonstrated that AHI (p = 0.001), ODI (p < 0.001) and oxygen saturation (p < 0.001) were significantly improved. In addition, serum levels of CRP (p = 0.036), cystatin C (p = 0.005), TNF-α (p < 0.001), and ICAM-1 (p < 0.001) were significantly reduced 6 months after surgery. Our results suggest that UPF is an effective surgical method that alleviates the severity of OSA. Moreover, it may have the potential to prevent the development of atherosclerosis by attenuating the inflammatory process induced by activation of inflammatory mediators such as CRP, TNF-α, ICAM-1, and cystatin C.
Is Malignant Otitis Externa on the Increase? A Retrospective Review of Cases
Authors: Bhasker Diana , Hartley Angela , Agada Frank
Published: December 2018

We performed a retrospective review of all patients with malignant otitis externa (MOE) treated in our center between July 2004 and December 2012 to evaluate the current epidemiology in our region and to ascertain causative factors associated with the perceived increase in the number of cases diagnosed. Eleven patients were identified (5 men and 6 women), with a mean age of 77 years (range: 38 to 97 years). Diabetes was present in 36%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the causative organism in 64% of cases; all pathogens were sensitive to ciprofloxacin. We noted a significant increase in the diagnostic frequency of MOE during the study period (p = 0.0027) No obvious causative factors were identified. Due to the mortality associated with this condition, further studies are required to establish national trends.
Radiofrequency Turbinate Volume Reduction vs. Radiofrequency-Assisted Turbinectomy for Nasal Obstruction Caused by Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy
Authors: Kumar Saumitra , Anand Trivender Singh , Pal Indranil
Published: December 2018

Radiofrequency procedures are a well-accepted treatment for nasal obstruction. We conducted a randomized, noncontrolled study to compare the effectiveness of submucosal bipolar radiofrequency turbinate volume reduction (RFTVR) and bipolar radiofrequency-assisted turbinectomy (RFaT) in patients presenting with nasal obstruction caused by inferior turbinate hypertrophy. A total of 30 patients—15 males and 15 females, aged 15 to 60 years (mean: 32)—were randomly divided into one of the two homogeneous treatment groups. Outcomes were determined by comparisons of subjective symptom scores on a visual analog scale and by anterior active rhinomanometry at postoperative days 7, 14, and 28 and again at 6 months post-operatively. Both groups demonstrated significant and similar improvements in nasal airway function both subjectively and objectively. However, we noted that the incidence of adverse effects and postoperative morbidity was higher in the RFaT group. Therefore, we conclude that when surgery is indicated, RFTVR is the preferred treatment for nasal obstruction secondary to inferior turbinate hypertrophy. RFaT is equally effective, but it is associated with a slightly higher incidence of adverse effects.
The Protective Effect of Intratympanic Dexamethasone on Streptomycin Ototoxicity in Rats
Authors: Göl Aylin , Şengül Engin , Yılmaz Beyhan , Özkurt Fazıl Emre , Akdağ Mehmet , Keleş Ayşenur , Topçu İsmail
Published: December 2018

The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the protective role of intratympanically administered dexamethasone on the inner ears of rats that were exposed to streptomycin ototoxicity. Twenty-four adult Wistar albino rats were separated into 4 groups: Group 1 (only streptomycin), Group 2 (only intratympanic dexamethasone), Group 3 (streptomycin and intratympanic dexamethasone), and Group 4 (streptomycin and intratympanic saline). All rats were evaluated with distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) tests before the start of treatment and on the day it ended. On the 45th day, after the final DPOAE tests, animals of all groups were sacrificed under general anesthesia. The differences between the amplitudes of DPOAE results were determined, and hearing results were statistically analyzed. Also, the cochleas of each rat were histopathologically evaluated under a light microscope with hematoxylin and eosin staining. In the intratympanic dexamethasone group it was observed that cochlear hair cells were mostly protected. No significant difference was seen between the DPOAE results before and after treatment (p > 0.05). On the other hand, loss was observed in the hearing functions and hair cells of the rats that received streptomycin and streptomycin plus intratympanic saline (p < 0.05). In the streptomycin plus intratympanic dexamethasone group, the cochlear hair cells were partially protected. A significant difference was observed when the DPOAE results (DP-grams) of the streptomycin plus intratypmanic dexamethasone group were compared to those of the streptomycin plus intratympanic saline group (p < 0.05). After the experimental study, ototoxic effects of the administration of streptomycin and intratympanic dexamethasone were observed on the rats’ cochlear hair cells. We conclude that intratympanic dexamethasone has protective effects against this cochlear damage in rats.
Impact of a Pediatric Anesthesiologist on Operating Room Efficiency during Pediatric Tonsillectomies and Adenotonsillectomies
Authors: Dewyer Nicholas A. , Kram Yoseph A. , Long Stephen , Russell Marika D.
Published: December 2018

We conducted a retrospective case review to determine if the presence of an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) fellowship-trained pediatric anesthesiologist improves efficiency during pediatric tonsillectomies and adenotonsillectomies in hospitals that do not have dedicated pediatric operating rooms and, if so, to determine which specific anesthesia practices might account for such a difference. We reviewed the charts of all patients aged 12 years and younger who had undergone a tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy from Jan. 1, 2008, through Aug. 1, 2013, at San Francisco General Hospital. A total of 75 cases met our eligibility criteria. We compiled information on patient demographics, surgical time, anesthesia time, and anesthesia practices. Our primary study outcome was the amount of anesthesia-controlled time (ACT), which is the sum of time spent in induction and emergence. Cases were grouped according to whether the operation was staffed by an ACGME fellowship-trained pediatric anesthesiologist or a general anesthesiologist. Data were analyzed for 1 pediatric anesthesiologist and 23 general anesthesiologists. We found that ACT was significantly shorter during the cases staffed by the ACGME fellowship-trained pediatric anesthesiologist, although there were no major differences in anesthesia practices between the types of anesthesiologist. We suggest that staffing pediatric tonsillectomy operations with a fellowship-trained pediatric anesthesiologist may be an effective strategy for increasing operating room efficiency.
Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Head and Neck Area: Oncologic Treatment and Plastic-Reconstructive Options
Authors: Veit Johannes A. , Thierauf Julia , Hoffmann Thomas K. , Greve Jens , Rotter Nicole , Schuler Patrick J. , Scheithauer Marc O.
Published: December 2018

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck area is a rare malignant tumor with acceptable short-term but mediocre long-term prognosis. Radical tumor excision with clear resection margins, and sometimes resection of the facial nerve due to perineural growth, remains the fundamental therapy. We present 3 distinct clinical cases and discuss the current therapeutic options with special focus on plastic-reconstructive techniques. For reconstruction, the full armament of local and free flaps, as well as prosthetics, may be necessary. Adjuvant radiotherapy increases local control in advanced stages or close resection margins. However, systemic treatment options are limited. Further multicenter clinical trials are necessary due to the rare occurrence of the tumor.
Results of Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Gulati Sat Paul , Wadhera Raman , Khurana Ashok Kumar , Singh Nidhi , Kalra Vijay , Ghai Anju
Published: December 2018

We conducted a prospective interventional study to evaluate the role of endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy in children. Our study population was made up of 20 patients—18 boys and 2 girls, aged 2 to 12 years (mean: 5.3)—who presented with signs and symptoms suggestive of nasolacrimal duct blockage that was refractory to conventional medical treatment. In all cases, blockage was confirmed by nasolacrimal duct syringing that demonstrated regurgitation from the opposite punctum. The primary outcome measures for success were resolution of symptoms and duct patency on lacrimal irrigation. At 6 months, 17 patients (85%) experienced complete symptomatic relief, 1 (5%) had partial relief, and 2 (10%) reported no relief. Moreover, the nasolacrimal duct was patent in 17 patients, partially patent in 2, and blocked in 1. We conclude that endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy is a safe and effective procedure in children with nasolacrimal duct blockage when medical therapy and probing have been unsuccessful.
Positron-Emission Tomography Enhancement after Vocal Fold Injection Medialization
Authors: Grant Nazaneen , Wong Richard J. , Kraus Dennis H. , Schoder Heiko , Branski Ryan C.
Published: December 2018

The potential for the misinterpretation of positron-emission tomography (PET) scans in the context of a possible malignancy has been confirmed in a case report showing increased 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake after unilateral vocal fold augmentation medialization. We sought to expand these findings by investigating FDG uptake in a larger cohort of patients via a retrospective chart review. We examined the records of 15 adults—8 men and 7 women—who had undergone vocal fold augmentation for unilateral vocal fold paralysis and at least one subsequent PET scan. The differences in PET standard uptake value (SUV) between the injected and noninjected vocal folds were assessed via the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. A Spearman rank correlation coef-ficient was then used to estimate the relationship between differences in PET uptake and the length of time between the injection and the follow-up PET scan. The mean SUV of the injected vocal folds was 3.70, and the mean in the noninjected folds was 2.97. The difference did not achieve statistical significance (p = 0.34). In addition, the rank correlation coefficient with regard to the association between the difference in PET uptake and the duration between injection and PET was −0.24, suggesting an inverse relationship. However, the correlation coefficient did not differ significantly from zero (p = 0.34). We conclude that PET uptake after vocal fold augmentation medialization is variable and that it can increase substantially. This information should be considered in the context of the diagnostic accuracy of malignancy on PET.
Myiasis in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: Seldom Described but Commonly Seen
Authors: Girardi Fábio Muradás , Scrofernecker Maria Lúcia
Published: December 2018

Human myiasis is a parasitosis usually found in tropical and underdeveloped countries. It usually affects ulcerated lesions or devitalized tissues, developing after deposition of dipterous eggs. Patients with head and neck cancer are at risk to develop secondary myiasis. A representative percentage of those patients manifest with neglected and advanced tumors, usually in exposed areas and with necrotic tissues. Few case reports and small series constitute the available information about this parasitosis. Most studies have been conducted in patients with skin carcinomas, although myiasis has already been described in association with other head and neck malignancies. The authors present a series of 12 cases of myiasis secondary to head and neck cancer in addition to a literature review.
Long-Term Recurrence-Free Survival after an Unplanned Reduction in Radiotherapy for HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal SCC: Two Cases and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Liu Jason , Goldenberg David , Almokadem Salah , Crist Henry , Mackley Heath B.
Published: December 2018

There is currently no clear distinction between the treatment of HPV-positive and HPV-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). HPV-positive OPSCC has been demonstrated to be more radiosensitive than its HPV-negative counterpart. Despite this, patients with HPV-positive OPSCC continue to receive a full dose of radiation (70 Gy) outside clinical trials. However, this high dose comes with considerable morbidities, including severe mucositis, dysphagia, and xerostomia. We describe the cases of 2 patients with HPV-positive OPSCC who received two cycles of high-dose cisplatin at 100 mg/m2 on 3 separate days, along with concurrent radiotherapy at 50 Gy in 25 fractions for one and 46 Gy in 23 fractions for the other. During treatment, both patients experienced significant acute-phase toxicities—including grade 3 mucositis, grade 3 nausea, and grade 2 dermatitis—and their treatment regimen was stopped before its planned completion. Nevertheless, after a follow-up of 75 and 78 months, respectively, neither patient exhibited any evidence of disease. Late toxicities included grade 1 xerostomia, grade 1 pharyngeal-phase dysphagia, and grade 1 dysgeusia with some foods. We conclude that de-escalating the dose of radiation for HPV-positive patients by 30% and identifying which patients can safely be treated with this level of dose reduction warrants further study.
Cochlear Implant Electrode Array Exposure: A Delayed Complication
Authors: Mishu Christina , Klodd David A. , Redleaf Miriam
Published: December 2018

Exposure of the cochlear implant electrode array as a late complication has been reported rarely in the literature. A retrospective analysis revealed 4 patients presenting with exposure of their cochlear implant electrode arrays from 2 to 17 years after implantation. Data collected from these 4 patients were surgical implantation approach, type of implant, age at implant, interval between implant and complication, surgical correction of the problem, pathology at the time of correction, and length of follow-up after intervention. All 4 patients presented with otitis or mastoiditis. Each had undergone a transmastoid approach with facial recess and cochleostomy and full implant insertion. In 3 cases, the tympanic membrane had retracted to expose the electrode array. In 1 patient, the electrode array had eroded through the external canal, lateral to the facial recess. The exposed arrays were addressed surgically, including explantation/reimplantation for 1 patient. Cochlear implant electrode arrays can become exposed by relative migration of the array and the tympanic membrane. Implant surgeons and audiologists need to be aware of the possibility of this complication. Closure of the ear canal appears to be the most effective surgical intervention.
PlasmaBlade vs. Cold Dissection Tonsillectomy: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study in Adults
Authors: Yilmazer Rasim , Yazici Zahide Mine , Balta Meliksah , Erdim Ibrahim , Erdur Omer , Kayhan Fatma Tulin
Published: December 2018

We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical study to compare the efficacy and safety of the PlasmaBlade device and cold dissection for adult tonsillectomy. Our study group was made up of 20 patients—12 men and 8 women, aged 18 to 50 years (mean: 27.1)—who were undergoing a bilateral tonsillectomy. Each patient had one randomly chosen tonsil removed by the PlasmaBlade and the other by cold instrumentation. We compared the duration of surgery, the amount of intraoperative blood loss, the number of sutures required, the status of tonsillar fossa wound healing at 7 and 14 days postoperatively, the amount of postoperative pain, and postoperative complications. We found statistically significant differences in the amount of blood loss and the number of sutures in favor of the PlasmaBlade technique. No significant differences were observed in any of the other outcomes.
Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial using Best-Selling Smoking-Cessation Book
Authors: Foshee James P. , Oh Anita , Luginbuhl Adam , Curry Joseph , Keane William , Cognetti David
Published: December 2018

Our prospective, randomized, controlled trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the self-help book, The Easy Way to Stop Smoking, by Allen Carr, in promoting smoking cessation in patients with head and neck cancer. We assessed active smokers for their willingness to read a smoking cessation book. Participants were randomized to either receive the book from our department or recommended to purchase the book. All patients received smoking cessation counseling at recruitment. Phone surveys were conducted at short- and long-term intervals to determine if the patients had purchased and/or read the book and whether they were still smoking. One hundred twelve patients were recruited, 52 of whom completed follow-up surveys. Those who received the book for free were more likely to read the book (p = 0.05). Reading the book did not correlate with successful smoking cessation (p = 0.81). Some 26% of the 27 patients who received the book quit smoking compared with 32% of the 25 patients who were recommended the book (p = 0.76). Patients who indicated motivation to quit smoking were more likely to succeed. In our study, smoking cessation did not appear to be influenced by reading The Easy Way to Stop Smoking. Despite 80.8% of the cohort indicating at least a readiness to quit smoking at recruitment, only 28.8% of patients managed to achieve successful smoking cessation at long-term follow-up. Patient motivation remains an important factor in achieving long-term smoking abstinence. Quitting smoking remains a daunting challenge for patients, with multiple interventions likely needed to achieve cessation.
Can Lateral Nasopharyngeal Radiographs be used to Predict Eustachian Tube Dysfunction?
Authors: Hawley Karen , Vachhani Neil , Anne Samantha
Published: December 2018

The objective of our case-control study was to determine whether craniofacial features on lateral nasopharyngeal radiographs (LNPRs) can predict eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). The study included patients seen in the otolaryngology clinic from 2005 to 2011. Patients 0 to 10 years old with pressure equalization tube (PET) placement and LNPR within 6 months were included. Measurements were compared with age-matched controls selected at random to identify craniofacial features associated with ETD. Using receiver operating curve methodology, selected measurements were used to correlate age, craniofacial features, and ETD. The study population consisted of 32 patients and 34 controls. No significant differences were found between groups on any individual measurement: cranial base angle; lengths of anterior, middle, and total skull base; mandible; hard and soft palates; sella–soft-palate tip; sella-posterior nasal spine; and nasopharyngeal and palatal airway. Further statistical analysis demonstrated that patients who required PETs were more likely to have shortened anterior cranial base and maxilla relative to mandibular length. Contrary to the findings of previous studies, no single measurement was found to identify craniofacial features that may select for children with ETD requiring PETs. However, younger patients with a smaller cranial base and/or maxilla relative to mandibular length are more likely to require PETs, implying persistent ETD.
Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Evaluating Dizziness in Patients with Scarred Orbital Content
Authors: Shlamkovitch Nathan , Eviatar Ephraim , Gavriel Haim
Published: December 2018

Our objective was to assess the capability of computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) to evaluate dizziness in blind patients who lack corneoretinal potential. We performed a retrospective analysis of 2 young blind subjects with intraorbital scarring who complained of dizziness and underwent CDP. Tests were carried out at our center for balance disorders using the NeuroCom's EquiTest System version 4.0. CDP demonstrated vestibular dysfunction and revealed it to be severe. We conclude that CDP can serve as a potentially reliable tool for assessing dizziness in blind patients who have no corneoretinal potential.
Neonatal Nasal Septal Deviation: Two Cases of Successful Early Surgical Intervention
Authors: Lawlor Claire M. , Grant Maria , Levy Joshua , Ananth Ashwin , Guarisco J. Lindhe
Published: December 2018

Neonatal nasal septal deviations can occur as a result of trauma in utero or during birth. They are associated with significant clinical implications, including respiratory distress and failure to thrive. The incidence and classification of these deformities are varied in the otolaryngology literature. Some authors advocate conservative observation, but no consensus on management has been reached. We present 2 cases of neonatal septal deviation that occurred during difficult deliveries. We repaired the defects with closed reduction in the operating room within the first 2 weeks of life to good effect.
Otolaryngic Manifestations of Cushing Disease
Authors: Kuan Edward C. , Peng Kevin A. , Suh Jeffrey D. , Bergsneider Marvin , Wang Marilene B.
Published: December 2018

Cushing disease is a relatively rare cause of Cushing syndrome secondary to a hyperfunctioning pituitary adenoma. In addition to signs and symptoms of hypercortisolism, Cushing disease may present with diverse otolaryngic manifestations, which may guide diagnosis and management. We performed a retrospective chart review of patients who were found to have Cushing disease and who underwent transnasal transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas between January 1, 2007, and July 1, 2014, at a tertiary academic medical center. There were 37 consecutive patients in this series with Cushing disease caused by a pituitary adenoma. Fifteen (41%) patients complained of visual changes. Five (14%) patients suffered from obstructive sleep apnea. Four (11%) patients had thyroid disease. Other symptoms included hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus, epistaxis, dysphagia, and salivary gland swelling. Although Cushing disease traditionally presents with classic “Cushingoid” systemic features, it also may present with various otolaryngic manifestations. A thorough workup by otolaryngologists is critical in the comprehensive management of these patients.
Myopericytoma of the Neck Originating in the Middle Scalene Muscle: A Case Report
Authors: Chaskes Mark B. , Bishop John W. , Bobinski Matthew , Farwell D. Gregory
Published: December 2018

We report a case of myopericytoma of the neck. A 23-year-old woman noticed a small, nontender mass in her left supraclavicular fossa. The mass had grown over a period of 5 months, prompting her to seek evaluation. On examination, no motor or sensory deficits were present. Imaging suggested that a mass had originated in the middle scalene muscle. Computed-tomography–guided core needle biopsy demonstrated a spindle-cell neoplasm with smooth-muscle differentiation. Complete surgical excision was performed. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluations of the tissue sample suggested a myopericytoma. Myopericytoma is an extremely rare tumor of the head and neck. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a myopericytoma originating in a scalene muscle.