bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Concrete conservation: outstanding challenges and potential ways forward
Authors: Macdonald Susan , Arato Goncalves Ana Paula
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present current challenges in concrete conservation and how the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) is responding to these challenges. The Concrete Conservation Project initiated by the GCI is aimed at advancing the practice of conserving historic concrete structures through the creation and dissemination of information.

Design/methodology/approach

The scope of the project was defined through discussions in experts meetings, development of annotated bibliography and literature review. The project proposes to face the identified issues with the dissemination of information on case studies, development of guidance documents, training opportunities and scientific research.

Findings

Despite the existing well-established repair industry for concrete structures generally, current data on concrete repair do not meet the needs of conservation professionals, there is little information on the efficacy and durability of existing repair solutions, shortage of training opportunities, and there is a lack of technical guidelines focused on concrete conservation.

Originality/value

Conserving concrete is a nascent area of preservation practice facing multiple challenges. Reinforced concrete is the most commonly used building material of the twentieth century. As the heritage of the twentieth century is increasingly recognized as worthy of conservation, conserving concrete has become a priority. The history of this material reveals a story of innovation, radical advancement in material and structural engineering, and correspondingly daring responses by architects, together creating a huge array of reinforced concrete structures from the ordinary to the extraordinary.
Influence of interpersonal and institutional trusts on welfare state support revisited
Authors: Habibov Nazim , Auchynnikava Alena , Luo Rong , Fan Lida
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the effects of interpersonal and institutional trust on welfare state support in the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union (FSU).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use micro-data from two rounds of a multinational survey conducted in these countries in 2010 and 2016. The outcome variable of interest is the willingness to pay more taxes to support the welfare state. The authors define the welfare state broadly, and focus on support for three main domains of the welfare state, namely, support for the needy, public healthcare and public education. Binomial regression is used to establish influence of interpersonal and institutional trust on welfare state support.

Findings

The authors find that both interpersonal and institutional trust have positive influences on strengthening support for the welfare state against a number of alternative explanations for public support for the welfare state. These positive effects remain the same for all three domains under investigation, namely, helping the needy, public healthcare and public education. Furthermore, these positive effects were observed both in the relatively less developed countries of the FSU and in the more developed Eastern European countries. Moreover, the positive effects of interpersonal and institutional trust on support for the needy, public healthcare and public education were found to grow over time.

Research limitations/implications

The findings indicate that the benefits of nurturing social capital will likely be substantial. Decision-makers, politicians, welfare state administrators and multinational founders (e.g. the UN and World Bank) should acknowledge the role played by trust in influencing the citizenry’s support for the allocation of financial resources toward the development and maintenance of the welfare state. The findings imply that welfare state reforms could prove be more effective within a social context where levels of trust are high. Thus, special attention should be paid to initiatives aimed at developing strategies to build trust.

Practical implications

Social welfare reforms in post-communist transitional countries may fail without active strategies aimed at nurturing institutional trust. One way to nurture institutional trust is through making additional efforts at enhancing the levels of accountability and transparency within a society as well as through increasing citizen engagement. Another way to build increased levels of trust is to take part in a variety of initiatives in good governance put forth by multinational initiatives.

Originality/value

As far as the authors know, this is the first paper which studies effect of interpersonal and institutional trust on support of the welfare state using a large and diverse sample of 27 countries over the period of five years. This is the first study which focuses on post-communist countries where trust is inherently low.
Aircraft sound exposure leads to song frequency decline and elevated aggression in wild chiffchaffs
Authors: Wolfenden Andrew D. , Slabbekoorn Hans , Kluk Karolina , de Kort Selvino R.
Published: August 2019

The ubiquitous anthropogenic low‐frequency noise impedes communication by masking animal signals. To overcome this communication barrier, animals may increase the frequency, amplitude and delivery rate of their acoustic signals, making them more easily heard. However, a direct impact of intermittent, high‐level aircraft noise on birds’ behaviour living close to a runway has not been studied in detail.

We recorded common chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybita songs near two airports and nearby control areas, and we measured sound levels in their territories at Manchester Airport. The song recordings were made in between aircraft movements, when ambient sound levels were similar between airport and control populations. We also conducted playback experiments at the airport and a control population to test the salience of airport, and control population specific songs.

In contrast to the general pattern of increased song frequency in noisy areas, we show that common chiffchaffs at airports show a negative relationship between noise exposure level and song frequency.

Experimental data show that chiffchaffs living near airports also respond more aggressively to song playback.

Since the decrease in song frequency results in increased overlap with aircraft noise, these findings cannot be explained as an adaptation to improve communication. The increased levels of aggression suggest that chiffchaffs, like humans, might be affected behaviourally by extreme noise pollution. These findings should influence environmental impact assessments for airport expansions globally.
“An auxiliary, not an usurper”: John Saunders, Temperance, and Secularisation
Authors: Starling Nicole
Published: August 2019

In his influential account of the political history of early colonial Australia, Michael Roe identified the temperance movement of the 1830s–1840s as a pivotal factor in the secularisation of Australian culture and institutions. The belief system that drove the movement, he argued, was not traditional Christian doctrine but a “new faith” of “moral enlightenment.” In this article I test the validity of Roe's claim, drawing on the work of a more recent generation of historians and sociologists who have argued for more “porous” and “reciprocal” accounts of concepts such as reason, religion, the Enlightenment, and the secular. Its focus is on the writings and activities of John Saunders, whose endeavours on behalf of the temperance cause were such that he was described by his contemporaries as the “life and soul” of the society, the “father” of the movement, and the “apostle of temperance.” It examines the role played by key Enlightenment motifs such as improvement, optimism, reason and cooperation within the rhetoric of Saunders's writings and the reasoning that informed his actions, exploring the various and complicated ways in which he articulated the relationship between evangelical religious conviction and the quest for the common good.
Molecular Identification of Necrophagous Dermestes Species in South Korea Using Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit I Nucleotide Sequences (Genus Dermestes)
Authors: Jang Hari , Shin Sang Eon , Youm Kyu Jin , Karagozlu Mustafa Zafer , Kim Chang Bae , Ko Kwang Soo , Park Seong Hwan
Published: August 2019

Species identification of necrophagous insects found on a dead body is an essential key in applying medicolegal entomology to the estimation of postmortem interval (PMI). Due to limited morphological identification of insect evidence, several studies have identified species using molecular information such as DNA markers. While considerable cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequence data of necrophagous fly species have been collected and annotated, those of necrophagous beetle species have not. Since necrophagous beetles such as Dermestes species have a larval period longer than that of flies, beetles are useful in even the late decomposition phase in estimating minimum PMI. To obtain the full‐length COI gene sequences of six Dermestes species collected from South Korea, we designed primers for polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing. The obtained full COI nucleotide sequences were used for performing phylogenic analysis and comparison with previously reported sequences. The results demonstrated that the COI gene sequences could be used to identify forensically important Dermestes species in South Korea.
Clinical Application of Apheresis in Very Small Dogs Weighing <8 kg to Pediatric Patients
Authors: Sekiguchi Tomoko , Vigani Alessio , Ripoll Alexandra Z , Taylor Scott , Culler Christine , Suter Steven E
Published: August 2019

Apheresis in low body weight children and adolescents is challenging due to a variety of technical and clinical issues including vascular access, low total blood volume, and hypotension. Although dogs have been a valuable preclinical model for apheresis, the procedure can be challenging since many pure‐bred dogs are extremely small. Therefore, apheresis in these very small breeds presents very similar challenges as seen when performing the procedure in very low body weight people. We describe apheresis of four very small dogs, weighing from 4.6 to 7.6 kg, using either a COBESpectra and Spectra Optia apheresis system (Terumo BCT, Lakewood, CO, USA). Two dogs underwent large volume leukapheresis to collect mononuclear cells in preparation for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and two dogs underwent therapeutic plasma exchange to treat an immune‐mediated disease. In all cases, a dual‐lumen hemodialysis catheter placed in the jugular vein provided adequate machine inlet and return flow rates. Machine priming was necessary to maintain hemodynamic stability during the beginning of the procedure, and rinseback was avoided for the same reason. Anticoagulant citrate dextrose solution, solution A was used for the large volume leukapheresis procedures and a combination of anticoagulant citrate dextrose solution, solution A and heparin was used for the therapeutic plasma exchange procedures. As such, serum iCa levels were regularly monitored and 10% calcium gluconate constant rate infusions were used to prevent citrate toxicity. All dogs completed the aphereses with no life‐threatening adverse events. We conclude that aphereses in very small dogs is feasible if close attention is paid to hemodynamic stability and citrate toxicity.
What National Decision‐makers Need From The IPCC: Special Reports With New Insights
Authors: Sanwal Mukul , Wang Can , Zheng Xinzhu , Yang Xinran
Published: August 2019

What decision‐makers in countries want to know from science is more than just an understanding of what is a good and environmentally aware society, or the human dimensions of global change. They also want to know how to achieve comparable levels of human wellbeing keeping within global ecological limits. In the absence of agreed criteria on who has to do what, global cooperation as well as national action now needs new insights for potential policy choices and these could come from Special Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Risk factors and cancer recurrence associated with postoperative complications after thoracoscopic lobectomy for clinical stage I non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Nakada Takeo , Noda Yuki , Kato Daiki , Shibasaki Takamasa , Mori Shohei , Asano Hisatoshi , Matsudaira Hideki , Hirano Jun , Odaka Makoto , Ohtsuka Takashi
Published: August 2019

Background

Minimally invasive thoracoscopic lobectomy is the recommended surgery for clinical stage I non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors, including sarcopenia, for postoperative complications in patients undergoing a complete single‐lobe thoracoscopic lobectomy for clinical stage I NSCLC, as well as the impact of complications on disease‐free survival.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated 173 patients with pathologically‐diagnosed NSCLC who underwent curative thoracoscopic lobectomies between April 2013 and March 2018. Sarcopenia was assessed using the psoas muscle index calculated from preoperative computed tomography images at the third lumbar vertebral level.

Results

Complications developed in 38 (22%) patients, including 21 with prolonged air leak. In univariate analysis, the significant risk factors for complications were advanced age, male sex, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, lower cholinesterase, lower albumin, higher creatinine level, pleural adhesion, operative time ≥ five hours, nonadenocarcinoma cancer, and larger tumor size. Multivariate analysis showed that age ≥ 75 years (P = 0.002) and pleural adhesion (P = 0.026) were significant independent risk factors for complications. Compared with the patient group without complications, postoperative complications were independently associated with shorter disease‐free survival (P = 0.01).

Conclusions

Advanced age and pleural adhesion were independent risk factors for complications after complete single‐lobe thoracoscopic lobectomies for clinical stage I NSCLC, and postoperative complications were statistically associated with poor prognosis. Surgical teams should ensure an experienced surgeon leads the operation for patients at higher risk to avoid prolonged postoperative hospitalization and a possible poor prognosis.
Clinical practice guideline on prevention of rhabdomyolysis induced acute kidney injury: Endorsement by the Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine
Authors: Chew Michelle S. , Rehn Marius , Olkkola Klaus T. , Örn Sverrisson Kristinn , Yli‐Hankala Arvi , Møller Morten Hylander
Published: August 2019

The Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine Clinical Practice Committee endorses the recent DASAIM/DSIT guideline for prevention of rhabdomyolysis‐induced acute kidney injury. However, we emphasize the low quality of evidence with only weak recommendations for all interventions, highlighting that further research is very likely to have an important impact on the confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimates.
Depth to the airway lumen at the level of the cricothyroid membrane measured by ultrasound
Authors: Athanassoglou Vassilis , Hughes‐Jones Hannah , Hadjipavlou George , Teoh Wendy H. , Kristensen Michael S. , Vanner Richard
Published: August 2019

Background

Knowing the likely depth to the airway before emergency cricothyroidotomy may improve success in cases where it cannot be measured. Our aim was to measure the depth to the airway at the cricothyroid membrane by ultrasound in a large group of adult patients.

Method

Prospective, observational study in two centres, Oxford and Gloucester. Patients presenting for a large variety of surgical operations were studied. Patients under 18 years; pregnant; critically ill; had a history of neck surgery were not included. Ultrasound examination was performed pre‐operatively while participants lay supine with their head and neck extended, with light transducer pressure. We measured depth to the airway lumen in mm; age; weight; height and sex.

Results

In total 352 patients were studied. We found that depth to the airway lumen strongly correlated with weight (r = 0.855, P < 0.001) and to a lesser extent body mass index (r = 0.781, P < 0.001). Statistical analysis produced an equation to predict upper 95% CI of depth to the airway from the patient's weight: Depth to the airway lumen in mm = (0.13 × weight in kg) + 0.86.

Conclusions

If ultrasound measurement is not possible before emergency cricothyroidotomy, the clinician could use our results to predict the depth to the airway by using the patient's weight. If the upper 95% CI were used as the depth of incision, it would enter the airway in 39 out of 40 patients of that weight, without damage to posterior structures in those with a shallower airway.
Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Meta‐Analysis of Epidemiological Studies
Authors: Du Taifeng , Chen Kangkang , Zheng Shukai , Bao Mian , Huang Yuanni , Wu Kusheng
Published: August 2019

Background

Alcohol consumption is increasing all over the world, but whether it is an independent factor affecting the occurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is inconsistent in many studies. We aimed to explore the association between alcohol consumption and NPC risk by integrating existing evidence in a meta‐analysis.

Methods

We searched for relevant articles published up to August 2018 in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge infrastructure (CNKI). The Newcastle–Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Odds ratios (ORs) or relative risks were pooled to estimate the associations between alcohol consumption and NPC risk.

Results

The meta‐analysis of cohort studies showed no significant association between alcohol consumption and NPC, but pooled results from case–control studies indicated that ever drinking increased the probability of NPC versus nondrinking (OR = 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01, 1.19). As compared with nondrinkers, high‐frequency drinking (≥7 times/wk) increased the NPC probability (OR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.53) and low‐frequency drinking (<7 times/wk) decreased the probability (OR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.94), as did shorter duration of drinking (<20 years) (OR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.49, 0.79). On subgroup analyses, significant pooled results were observed for studies with high quality, with hospital‐based controls and with adjustment for confounding factors, smoking, age, and sex.

Conclusions

The risk of NPC may increase with alcohol consumption. Ever drinking increased the risk versus nondrinking. Additionally, high‐frequency drinking increased the risk, but low‐frequency drinking decreased it to some extent. Further intensive studies based on well‐designed methods are needed to examine the association.
The prognostic role of catatonia, hallucinations, and symptoms of schizophrenia in acute and transient psychosis
Authors: López‐Díaz Á. , Fernández‐González J. L. , Lara I. , Crespo‐Facorro B. , Ruiz‐Veguilla M.
Published: August 2019

Objectives

To examine the prospective temporal stability of acute and transient psychotic disorders (ATPDs) and analyze whether there are clinical, psychopathological, or sociodemographic characteristics that predict ATPD diagnostic stability.

Method

We conducted a prospective, 2‐year, observational study of patients presenting a first‐episode ATPD. A multivariate logistic regression model was developed to identify independent variables associated with ATPD diagnostic stability. Well‐established predictive factors of diagnostic stability, as well as all the psychopathological features included in the ICD‐10 Diagnostic Criteria for Research (DCR) descriptions of ATPD, were analyzed.

Results

Sixty‐eight patients with a first episode of ATPD completed the study with a diagnostic stability rate as high as 55.9% (n = 38) at the end of the follow‐up period. Multivariate analysis revealed that diagnostic stability was independently significantly associated with the baseline presence of motility disturbances (OR = 6.86, 95% CI = 1.10–42.62; P = 0.039), the absence of hallucinations (OR = 5.75, 95% CI = 1.51–21.98; P = 0.010), and the absence of schizophrenic features (OR = 7.13, 95% CI = 1.38–36.90; P = 0.019).

Conclusion

A symptom checklist assessing these psychopathological features would enable early identification of those subjects whose initial ATPD diagnosis will remain stable over time.
Roles of Income Polarization, Income Inequality and Ethnic Fractionalization in Social Conflicts: An Empirical Study of Indonesian Provinces, 2002–2012
Authors: Indra  , Nazara Suahasil , Hartono Djoni , Sumarto Sudarno
Published: August 2019

Previous studies have cited inequality as a major factor relating to conflicts in Indonesia, while consideration of polarization and fractionalization as drivers of conflict is limited. The current paper examined the roles of three indices (polarization, inequality and fractionalization) in explaining the incidence of conflicts in Indonesian provinces over 2002–2012. This study used income (proxied by expenditure) differences to measure polarization and inequality, with subnational data as the unit of analysis. In addition, to complete the analysis, the present study used a variety of socioeconomic indicators as additional control variables. This paper verified that the high degrees of income polarization, ethnic fractionalization and income inequality are associated with the high probability of conflicts in Indonesian provinces. It also found that socioeconomic factors such as poverty, unemployment, population and natural resources, as well as some types of local government spending are significantly associated with conflicts.
Russia’s Arms Sales Policy After the Ukraine Sanctions
Authors: Kim Younkyoo , Blank Stephen
Published: August 2019

Russia sells arms primarily to enhance its influence abroad in key regions, e.g., the Middle East, East, and South Asia. Since the government is the primary customer for this sector’s goods, this sector does not risk collapse even if arms sales decline though arms sales bring vital foreign currency. But, the intervening motive between seeking enhanced global influence and maintaining the defense sector is the acquisition of elite rents since the arms trade offers multiple opportunities for corruption. We then focus on the impact of arms production and sales on international security. First that means looking at how Russia’s militarization and its increasing conversion into a mobilization state is affected by the ever growing importance of defense investment and production to the government and the economy. We then investigate the impact of arms sales on international security in Latin America, the Middle East, and East Asia.
“We are Rodrigo Duterte”: Dimensions of the Philippine Populist Publics' Vote
Authors: Arguelles Cleve V.
Published: August 2019

Populism is about populist publics as much as it is about populist leaders. Presently, they are pejoratively represented in public and academic conversations. Populist voting is mostly approached as a social pathology, especially in mainstream populism studies. This study is a contribution to the emerging tradition of extending empathetic approaches to the study of populist publics by interrogating how populist supporters make sense of their votes and politics through their own perspectives. Using a year‐long political ethnography of supporters of populist Philippine president Rodrigo Roa Duterte in a big slum community in Metro Manila, this research offers an intimate understanding of the electoral motivations of those who voted for him. Specifically, their vote for the populist Duterte is about making their everyday misery visible, bringing authenticity to politics, and overcoming bureaucratic inertia. Empirical observations in the field reveal the unique threefold representational, experiential, and action‐oriented dimensions of populist publics' vote in the Philippines.
The Democratic Securitization of Climate Change in India
Authors: Sahu Anjan Kumar
Published: August 2019

The concept of democratic securitization is an attempt to revise the theory of securitization. The theory has been widely criticized due to securitization theorists' predilection for undemocratic, elite‐driven, and illegal methods for addressing urgent threats. Such methods rely on the survival of an “issue,” including climate change. Discourses of threat and elite‐driven climate change policy are the accepted norms in the Indian political establishment, but such undemocratic processes and the exclusion of certain stakeholders in the policy processes are not appropriate for a democratic country like India. The alternative concept of democratic securitization of climate change policy seeks primarily to expand the concept of “audience” in the negotiation process in the climate change discourse in India. It also demonstrates how democratic engagement and the sharing of climate change knowledge can provide valuable insights into climate policy.
Genetic parenthood and causation: An objection to Douglas and Devolder’s modified direct proportionate genetic descent account
Authors: Palacios‐González César
Published: August 2019

In a recent publication Tom Douglas and Katrien Devolder have proposed a new account of genetic parenthood, building on the work of Heidi Mertes. Douglas and Devolder’s account aims to solve, among other things, the question of who are the genetic parents of an individual created through somatic cell nuclear transfer (i.e. cloning): (a) the nuclear DNA provider or (b) the progenitors of the nuclear DNA provider. Such a question cannot be answered by simply appealing to the folk account of genetic parenthood, according to which the genetic parents of an individual are those individuals who produced the egg and sperm, respectively, which fused to create the embryo. It cannot be so as in cloning there is no fertilization as such. In this article I critically examine Douglas and Devolder’s new account of genetic parenthood and demonstrate that it is vulnerable to counterexamples that exploit the lack of a condition specifying that genetic parents should cause a child’s coming into existence.
The surgical learning curve for endoscopic GreenLight™ laser enucleation of the prostate: an international multicentre study
Authors: Khene Zine‐Eddine , Peyronnet Benoit , Vincendeau Sébastien , Huet Romain , Gasmi Anis , Pradere Benjamin , Pasquie Marie , Tabatabaei Shahin , Ferrari Giovanni , Roupret Morgan , Mathieu Romain , Rijo Enrique , Gomez‐Sancha Fernando , Misrai Vincent
Published: August 2019

Objectives

To investigate the effect of surgical experience on the perioperative outcomes of endoscopic GreenLight™ (Boston Scientific Corporation, Marlborough, MA, USA) laser enucleation of the prostate (GreenLEP).

Subjects/Patients and Methods

A multicentre retrospective study of the first patients treated with GreenLEP by six surgeons was conducted. For each patient, surgical experience was coded as the total number of procedures performed by the surgeons before the patient's operation. The learning curve was analysed in terms of changes over time for the following variables: enucleation time, morcellation time, occurrence of intraoperative complications (IOCs), 3‐month postoperative International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) reduction, and the rate of Pentafecta achievement.

Results

In total, 922 patients were analysed. At multivariable regression analyses adjusted for case mix, surgical experience was associated with shorter enucleation and morcellation time (P < 0.001), lower IOC rate (P < 0.001), higher 3‐month postoperative reduction in IPSS (P = 0.004), and higher probability of Pentafecta achievement (P < 0.001). The relationship between surgical experience and enucleation time/IOCs appeared as non‐linear, with a steep slope reduction within the first 100 cases and a plateau observed after 200 cases, whilst the IPSS improved rapidly early in the learning curve process and plateaued after ~100 procedures. Finally, there was a linear improvement in Pentafecta achievement, with a plateau observed after 270 cases.

Conclusion

Surgical experience has a significant impact on the perioperative outcomes for GreenLEP procedures. After adjusting for patient and prostate characteristics, plateau results were achieved after a long learning curve. A more intensely mentored and structured training schedule might allow quicker and safer adoption of the procedure.
Mutations found in cell‐free DNAs of patients with malignant lymphoma at remission can derive from clonal hematopoiesis
Authors: Suehara Yasuhito , Sakata‐Yanagimoto Mamiko , Hattori Keiichiro , Kusakabe Manabu , Nanmoku Toru , Sato Taiki , Noguchi Masayuki , Chiba Shigeru
Published: August 2019

Cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) analysis to detect circulating tumor DNA has been focused on monitoring malignant lymphomas. However, clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP)‐associated mutations can also be detected by cfDNA analysis. Our aim is to investigate the origin of mutations detected in cfDNA among B‐cell lymphoma patients. MYD88/CD79B, DNMT3A, and TP53 were chosen as genes of interest, representing each of the following categories: lymphoma driver genes, CHIP‐related genes, and genes shared between lymphoma and CHIP. Seventy‐five B‐cell lymphoma patients were included in this retrospective study. Serum cfDNAs at time of complete metabolic response (CMR) were sequenced for TP53 (N = 75) and DNMT3A (N = 49). MYD88 p.L265P and CD79B p.Y196C/H mutations were analyzed in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients whose tumor samples were available (N = 29). Two and seven mutations in TP53 and DNMT3A, respectively, were detected in cfDNA at CMR. These mutations were detected in either bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC) or PBMC. Although four DNMT3A mutations were also detected in tumors, median variant allele frequencies in the tumors (<1.0%) were significantly lower than those in both BMMC (6.1%) and serum (5.2%) obtained before the therapy. Conversely, five MYD88 and three CD79B mutations detected in tumors were confirmed in cfDNA before therapy, but not in BMMC nor in cfDNA at CMR. Thus, all TP53 and DNMT3A mutations detected in cfDNA at remission seemed to originate from CHIP rather than from residual disease. Results of liquid biopsy should be carefully interpreted, especially in genes shared between lymphomas and CHIP.
Enhancing the antibacterial activity of PMAP‐37 by increasing its hydrophobicity
Authors: Zhou Jiangfei , Liu Yongqing , Shen Tengfei , Chen Liangliang , Zhang Cong , Cai Kairui , Liu Zhixin , Meng Xiangmiao , Zhang Ling , Liao Chengshui , Wang Chen
Published: August 2019

With increasing resistance against conventional antibiotics, there is an urgent need to discover novel substances to replace antibiotics. This need provides an opportunity for the development of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). To develop new AMPs with effective and safe therapeutic effects, two PMAP‐37 analogs called PMAP‐37(R13‐I) and PMAP‐37(K20/27‐I) were designed to increase hydrophobicity. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and animal infection models were used to assess their antibacterial activity. The results showed that the minimal inhibitory concentrations of PMAP‐37(R13‐I) were lower than those of PMAP‐37 for two gram‐negative strains. Compared with PMAP‐37, PMAP‐37(K20/27‐I) not only inhibited the growth of most bacterial strains, but also exhibited antibacterial activity against Shigella flexneri CICC21534. In addition, PMAP‐37(K20/27‐I) exhibited pH and thermal stability. PMAP‐37(R13‐I) had a therapeutic effect only in mice infected with Salmonella typhimurium SL1344. However, PMAP‐37(K20/27‐I) exhibited the therapeutic effects, whether in the clinical symptoms, the tissue lesions, or the tissue bacterial loads and the survival rates in mice infected with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923 or S. typhimurium SL1344. Therefore, PMAP‐37(K20/27‐I) can be used as a substitute for antibiotics against infection with bacterial strains.
Effect of piezoelectric osteotomy on postoperative oedema and ecchymosis after rhinoplasty
Authors: Kim Do Hyun , Kang Haram , Jin Ho Jun , Hwang Se Hwan
Published: August 2019

Objectives

This study evaluated the efficacy of piezoelectric osteotomy in reducing oedema and ecchymosis during rhinoplasty via a systematic review with meta‐analysis.

Design and setting

Two authors independently searched the referenced databases. PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, the Web of Science, the Cochrane library and Google Scholar databases were systematically searched from inception to January 2019.

Participants

Sufficient data were retrieved for a meta‐analysis of six trials with a total of 327 patients.

Main outcome measures

They included studies that compared piezoelectric osteotomy (treatment groups) with conventional osteotomy (control group). The outcomes of interest were operative time, mucosal injury, oedema, ecchymosis and postoperative pain. Baseline study characteristics, quality of study, numbers of patients in the treatment and control groups and outcomes were extracted.

Results

Intraoperative mucosal injury was significantly lower in the treatment group vs the control group, but operative time was longer in the treatment group. Eyelid oedema and ecchymosis in the first seven days postoperatively were statistically decreased in the treatment group vs the control group. In addition, pain in the first three days postoperatively was statistically decreased in the treatment group vs the control group. However, in a subgroup analysis according to osteotomy visibility in the control group (blind osteotomy vs osteotomy under direct vision), there was no significant difference in oedema and ecchymosis between treatment and osteotomy under direct vision.

Conclusions

Piezoelectric osteotomy during rhinoplasty can reduce eyelid oedema and eyelid ecchymosis compared to conventional osteotomy. However, piezoelectric osteotomy had no significant advantages in terms of postoperative oedema and ecchymosis compared to osteotomy under direct vision.
Vocal fold nodules: A disorder of phonation organs or auditory feedback?
Authors: Lee Shao‐Hsuan , Yu Jen‐Fang , Fang Tuan‐Jen , Lee Guo‐She
Published: August 2019

Objective

Increasing evidence supports that auditory feedback of one's own voice closely relates to real‐time adjustments of vocal control. Previous studies highlighted that the low‐frequency modulations of below 3 Hz (LFM) embedded in vocal fundamental frequency (F0) showed a reflex‐like response to altered auditory inputs. However, the auditory feedback control of different vocal disorders remains unclear.

Design

A cross‐sectional, case‐controlled study.

Setting

A tertiary medical centre.

Participants

Sustained vocalisations of vowel/a/ from adult healthy controls and patients with vocal fold nodules, vocal fold polyps and vocal fold cysts, respectively. The vocalisations were made at a comfortable pitch and at the intensity of 70 ~ 80 dBC under the following four auditory conditions: natural hearing, 90‐dBC speech noise, 10‐dBC enhanced feedback of self‐produced voice and both the noise and voice feedback.

Main outcome measures

Power spectral analysis of F0 contour of sustained vowel.

Results

Patients with vocal fold nodules presented with different audio‐vocal feedback behaviour and audio‐vocal response to speech noise from the other two vocal pathologies of vocal fold polyp and vocal fold cyst as well as the healthy controls (P < .001, one‐way ANOVA).

Conclusion

The vocal fold nodules may be not only a vocal fold disease but also a disease caused by abnormal audio‐vocal feedback. Moreover, the distinct audio‐vocal feedback of vocal fold nodules could be revealed by power spectral analysis of vocal fundamental frequencies. Although further investigations are necessary, adjustments of audio‐vocal feedback behaviour may provide a new insight and benefit to the treatment of vocal fold nodules in the future.
A pediatric case of pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma with chromosomal copy number alterations in 15q and 17q and a novel NTRK3‐SCAPER gene fusion
Authors: Friedman Ben J. , Hernandez Simon , Fidai Chelsea , Jiang Angela , Shwayder Tor A. , Carskadon Shannon , Andea Aleodor A. , Harms Paul W. , Chitale Dhananjay , Palanisamy Nallasivam
Published: August 2019

Pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma (PEM) represents a group of rare, heavily pigmented melanocytic tumors encompassing lesions previously designated as “animal‐type melanomas” and “epithelioid blue nevi.” Despite the association of multiple such tumors in the setting of Carney complex, most cases of PEM occur spontaneously as solitary neoplasms in otherwise healthy patients. PEM may arise in both children and adults, and has a known propensity to spread to the regional lymph nodes. Despite this latter finding, recurrence at the biopsy site or spread beyond the lymph node basin is exceptionally uncommon. Although the molecular basis for PEM continues to be characterized, findings to date suggest that this category of melanocytic neoplasia has genetic alterations distinct from those seen in common nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spitz nevi, and melanoma. Herein, we present an in‐depth clinical, histopathologic, and molecular analysis of a case of PEM occurring on the scalp of a young African American girl found to have a novel NTRK3‐SCAPER gene fusion.
Peculiar vegetative tumor‐like genital herpes simplex nodules with brisk tissue eosinophilia in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection
Authors: Pomerantz Hyemin , Wang Hongbei , Heilman Edward R. , Sharon Victoria R. , Gottesman Silvija P.
Published: August 2019

Genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patient can present as a vegetative nodule. Clinical differential diagnoses of the nodule include condyloma latum, condyloma acuminatum, viral or fungal infection, and cutaneous neoplasms. Histological examination of herpetic nodules has been reported to show thick pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia with dense dermal lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and multifocal multinucleated cells with herpetic viral cytopathic changes. We report two patients with HIV presenting with vegetative tumor‐like HSV nodules with distinctive histopathologic pattern of inflammation that has not been described in the literature before. All samples displayed slightly acanthotic epidermis with focal ulceration, dense dermal sclerosis, scattered plasma cells, and a brisk lymphoeosinophilic infiltrate found dissecting between dense collagen bundles. This pattern of inflammation is an important clue that can guide the pathologist to look for focal herpetic viral changes in the epidermis, as patients with HIV possibly tend to amount a predominantly eosinophilic immune response in inflammatory skin conditions.
S2k guidelines for the treatment of psoriasis in children and adolescents – Short version part 1
Authors: Eisert Lisa , Augustin Matthias , Bach Sabine , Dittmann Martin , Eiler Renate , Fölster‐Holst Regina , Gerdes Sascha , Hamm Henning , Höger Peter , Horneff Gerd , von Kiedrowski Ralph , Philipp Sandra , Pleimes Marc , Schläger Martin , Schuster Volker , Staubach Petra , Weberschock Tobias , Werner Ricardo Niklas , Nast Alexander , Sticherling Michael
Published: August 2019

The present guidelines are aimed at residents and board‐certified physicians in the fields of dermatology, pediatrics, pediatric dermatology and pediatric rheumatology as well as policymakers and insurance funds. They were developed by dermatologists and pediatric dermatologists in collaboration with pediatric rheumatologists using a formal consensus process (S2k).

The guidelines highlight topics such as disease severity, quality of life, treatment goals as well as problems associated with off‐label drug therapy in children. Trigger factors and diagnostic aspects are discussed. The primary focus is on the various topical, systemic and UV‐based treatment options available and includes recommendations for use and treatment algorithms. Other aspects addressed herein include vaccinations in children and adolescents with psoriasis as well as various disease subtypes such as guttate psoriasis, diaper psoriasis, pustular psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Finally, we also provide recommendations for imaging studies and the diagnostic workup to rule out tuberculosis prior to initiating systemic treatment.

Note: This article constitutes part 1 of the Sk2 guidelines for the treatment of psoriasis in children and adolescents. Part 2 will be published in the next issue. It contains chapters on UV therapy, systemic treatment, tonsillectomy and antibiotics, vaccinations, guttate psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, complementary medicine, as well as imaging studies and diagnostic workup to rule out tuberculosis prior to systemic treatment.
Immunohistochemical analysis of Bcl‐2, nuclear S100A4, MITF and Ki67 for risk stratification of early‐stage melanoma – A combined IHC score for melanoma risk stratification
Authors: Jurmeister Philipp , Bockmayr Michael , Treese Christoph , Stein Ulrike , Lenze Dido , Jöhrens Korinna , Friedling Franziska , Dietel Manfred , Klauschen Frederick , Marsch Wolfgang , Fiedler Eckhard , von Laffert Maximilian
Published: August 2019

Background and objectives

Overall survival (OS) in patients with early‐stage malignant melanoma differs. To date, there are no established prognostic markers. We aimed to contribute to a better understanding of potential prognostic immunohistochemical markers for risk stratification.

Patients and methods

161 surgically resected early‐stage malignant melanomas (stage pT1 and pT2) were analyzed for expression of 20 different proteins using immunohistochemistry. The results were correlated with OS. The cohort was randomly split into a discovery and a validation cohort.

Results

High Bcl‐2 expression, high nuclear S100A4 expression as well as a Ki67 proliferation index of ≥ 20 % were associated with shorter OS. Strong MITF immunoreactivity was a predictor for favorable prognosis. A combination of these four markers resulted in a multi‐marker score with significant prognostic value in multivariate survival analysis (HR: 3.704; 95 % CI 1.484 to 9.246; p = 0.005). Furthermore, the score was able to differentiate a low‐risk group with excellent OS rates (five‐year survival rate: 100 %), an intermediate‐risk group (five‐year survival rate: 81.8 %) and a high‐risk group (five‐year survival rate: 52.6 %). The prognostic value was confirmed within the validation cohort.

Conclusions

Combined immunohistochemical analysis of Bcl‐2, nuclear S100A4, Ki67 and MITF could contribute to better risk stratification of early‐stage malignant melanoma patients.
Immunhistochemische Analyse von Bcl‐2, nukleärem S100A4, MITF und Ki67 zur Risikostratifizierung von Melanomen im Frühstadium – ein kombinierter immunhistochemischer Score
Authors: Jurmeister Philipp , Bockmayr Michael , Treese Christoph , Stein Ulrike , Lenze Dido , Jöhrens Korinna , Friedling Franziska , Dietel Manfred , Klauschen Frederick , Marsch Wolfgang , Fiedler Eckhard , von Laffert Maximilian
Published: August 2019

Hintergrund und Zielsetzung

Patienten mit malignen Melanomen im Frühstadium haben ein unterschiedliches Gesamtüberleben. Derzeit existieren keine etablierten prognostischen Marker. Unser Ziel war es, zu einem besseren Verständnis der potenziell prognostischen immunhistochemischen Marker für die Risikostratifizierung beizutragen.

Patienten und Methoden

161 operativ entfernte maligne Melanome (Stadien pT1 und pT2) wurden immunhistochemisch auf die Expression von 20 verschiedenen Proteinen untersucht. Die Ergebnisse wurden mit dem Gesamtüberleben korreliert. Die Kohorte wurde randomisiert in eine Entdeckungs‐ und eine Validierungskohorte aufgeteilt.

Ergebnisse

Eine hohe Bcl‐2‐Expression, eine hohe nukleäre S100A4‐Expression und ein Ki67‐Proliferationsindex von ≥ 20 % waren mit einem kürzeren Gesamtüberleben assoziiert. Eine starke MITF‐Immunreaktivität erwies sich als prädiktiv für eine gute Prognose. Die Kombination dieser vier Marker ergab einen Multimarker‐Score mit signifikantem prognostischem Wert in der multivariaten Überlebensanalyse (HR: 3,704; 95 %‐KI 1,484–9,246; p = 0,005). Zusätzlich gelang es mit dem Score, drei prognostische Gruppen zu identifizieren: eine Niedrigrisikogruppe mit sehr guten Gesamtüberlebensraten (Fünf‐Jahres‐Überlebensrate 100 %), eine Gruppe mit mittlerem Risiko (Fünf‐Jahres‐Überlebensrate 81,8 %) und eine Hochrisikogruppe (Fünf‐Jahres‐Überlebensrate 52,6 %). Der prognostische Aussagewert bestätigte sich in der Validierungskohorte.

Schlussfolgerungen

Die kombinierte immunhistochemische Analyse von Bcl‐2, nukleärem S100A4, Ki67 und MITF könnte zu einer besseren Risikostratifizierung bei Patienten mit malignen Melanomen im Frühstadium beitragen.
Transgenerational effects benefit offspring across diverse environments: a meta‐analysis in plants and animals
Authors: Yin Junjie , Zhou Ming , Lin Zeru , Li Qingshun Q. , Zhang Yuan‐Ye
Published: August 2019

The adaptive value of transgenerational effects (the ancestor environmental effects on offspring) in changing environments has received much attention in recent years, but the related empirical evidence remains equivocal. Here, we conducted a meta‐analysis summarising 139 experimental studies in plants and animals with 1170 effect sizes to investigate the generality of transgenerational effects across taxa, traits, and environmental contexts. It was found that transgenerational effects generally enhanced offspring performance in response to both stressful and benign conditions. The strongest effects are in annual plants and invertebrates, whereas vertebrates appear to benefit mostly under benign conditions, and perennial plants show hardly any transgenerational responses at all. These differences among taxonomic/life‐history groups possibly reflect that vertebrates can avoid stressful conditions through their mobility, and longer‐lived plants have alternative strategies. In addition to environmental contexts and taxonomic/life‐history groups, transgenerational effects also varied among traits and developmental stages of ancestors and offspring, but the effects were similarly strong across three generations of offspring. By way of a more comprehensive data set and a different effect size, our results differ from those of a recent meta‐analysis, suggesting that transgenerational effects are widespread, strong and persistent and can substantially impact the responses of plants and animals to changing environments.
Android application behavioural analysis for data leakage
Authors: Shrivastava Gulshan , Kumar Prabhat
Published: August 2019

An android application requires specific permissions from the user to access the system resources and perform required functionalities. Recently, the android market has experienced exponential growth, which leads to malware applications. These applications are purposefully developed by hackers to access private data of the users and adversely affect the application usability. A suitable tool to detect malware is urgently needed, as malware may harm the user. As both malware and clean applications require similar types of permissions, so it becomes a very challenging task to differentiate between them. A novel algorithm is proposed to identify the malware‐based applications by probing the permission patterns. The proposed method uses the k‐means algorithm to quarantine the malware application by obtaining permission clusters. An efficiency of 90% (approx.) is attained for malicious behaviour, which validates this work. This work substantiates the use of application permissions for potential applications in android malware detection.