bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria with a Distinct Molecular Signature Diagnosed Ten Years after Allogenic Bone Marrow Transplantation for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Santagostino Alberto , Lombardi Laura , Dine Gerard , Hirsch Pierre , Misra Srimanta Chandra
Published: February 2019

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinurea (PNH) is a rare disorder of complement regulation due to somatic mutation of PIGA (phosphatidylinositol glycan anchor) gene. We herewith report a case who developed a symptomatic PNH long after an allogenic marrow transplant. Some reasonable arguments concerning the origin of PNH clone have been discussed. The molecular studies revealed presence of JAK2 and TET2 mutations without a BCOR mutation. The literature review has been performed to probe into the complex interplay of autoimmunity and clonal selection and expansion of PNH cells, which occurs early in hematopoietic differentiation. The consequent events such as hypoplastic and/or hemato-oncologic features could further be explained on the basis of next-generation sequencing (NGS) studies. Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare clonal disorder of hematopoietic stem cells, characterized by a somatic mutation of the phosphatidylinositol glycan-class A (PIGA). The PIGA gene products are crucial for biosynthesis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors, which attaches a number of proteins to the plasma membrane of the cell. Amongst these proteins, the CD55 and CD59 are complement regulatory proteins. The CD55 inhibits C3 convertase whereas the CD59 blocks the membrane attack complex (MAC) by inhibiting the incorporation of C9 to MAC. The loss of complement regulatory protein renders the red cell susceptible to complement-mediated lysis leading to intravascular and extravascular hemolysis. The intravascular hemolysis explains most of the morbid clinical manifestations of the disease. The clinical features of syndrome of PNH are recurrent hemolytic episodes, thrombosis, smooth muscle dystonia, and bone marrow failure; other important complications include renal failure, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The most used therapies were blood transfusions, immunosuppressive, and steroid. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation was also practiced. At present, the therapy of choice is eculizumab (Soliris, Alexion Pharmaceuticals), a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks activation of the terminal complement at C5. The limiting factor for this therapy is breakthrough hemolysis and the frequent dosing schedule. Ravulizumab (ALXN1210) is the second generation terminal compliment inhibitor which seems to provide a sustained control of hemolysis without breakthrough hemolysis and with a longer dosing interval.
Effects of Dendrobium Officinale Polysaccharides on Brain Inflammation of Epileptic Rats
Authors: Zhang Lin , Peng Hua , Xu Jin , Xu Yixin , Yin You , He Bin , Zhuang Jianhua
Published: February 2019

Objective. To investigate the effects of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides (DOPS) on the expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α and the MKP-1/MAPK signal pathway. Methods. PTZ-induced epileptic rat models were established. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: the control group, the DOPS group, the model group, and the DOPS intervention group. RT-PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in the hippocampi of all groups; western blot was used to measure the protein expression of IL-1β and TNF-α and phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, p38, and MKP-1 in the hippocampi of all groups at weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4 after modeling. Results. At weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4 after modeling, there were no significant differences between the control group and the DOPS group in the mRNA and protein expression of IL-1β and TNF-α and phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, p38, and MKP-1 (all P>0.05); the mRNA and protein expression of IL-1β and TNF-α and phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 were significantly increased, while the phosphorylation of MKP-1 was decreased in the model group compared with the control group. The mRNA and protein expression of IL-1β and TNF-α and phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 were significantly decreased, while the phosphorylation of MKP-1 was increased in the DOPS intervention group compared with the model group. Conclusion. DOPS can reduce PTZ-induced brain inflammation and seizures of epileptic rats by inhibiting IL-1β, TNF-α, and MAPK signal pathways.
Model Tests of Earth Pressure on Buried Rigid Pipes and Flexible Pipes underneath Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
Authors: Ma Qiang , Ku Zhun , Xiao Henglin
Published: February 2019

To obtain the optimal load‐reduction scheme and calculation method of earth pressure on the crown of the pipe, the load‐reduction efficiency of rigid pipe and flexible pipe with different thicknesses and layers of expanded polystyrene (EPS) is investigated by model tests, and the law of load reduction is obtained by analyzing the earth pressure and the displacements of the filling around the pipe. The test results show that the earth pressure is obviously reduced with EPS laying on the crown of pipe, and the load‐reduction efficiency is increased to be constant with increasing of EPS thickness. In the case that the summation thickness of EPS is constant, the load‐reduction efficiency of EPS with two layers spread on the pipe is higher than that of one layer only. Compared with the rigid pipe, the load‐reducing effect of flexible pipe is more significant. Based on the data obtained from the model tests, the nonlinear earth pressure calculation formula obtained from regression analysis is adopted, and the results from it are compared with the existing formula consequences of the earth pressure on the buried pipe. The results show that the earth pressure calculated by nonlinear earth pressure theory is on the brink of that tested in the field. The research results can provide references for selection of load‐reduction measures and calculation of earth pressure on the crown of the pipe.
Predicting Survival in Patients Undergoing Resection for Locally Recurrent Retroperitoneal Sarcoma: A Study and Novel Nomogram from TARPSWG
Authors: Raut Chandrajit P. , Callegaro Dario , Miceli Rosalba , Barretta Francesco , Rutkowski Piotr , Blay Jean-Yves , Lahat Guy , Strauss Dirk C. , Gonzalez Ricardo , Ahuja Nita , Grignani Giovanni , Quagliuolo Vittorio , Stoeckle Eberhard , De Paoli Antonino , Pillarisetty Venu G. , Nessim Carolyn , Swallow Carol J. , Bagaria Sanjay , Canter Robert , Mullen John , Gelderblom Hans J. , Pennacchioli Elisabetta , van Coevorden Frits , Cardona Kenneth , Fiore Marco , Fairweather Mark , Gronchi Alessandro
Published: February 2019

Purpose:

The role of surgery for first relapse locally recurrent retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS-LR1) is uncertain. We report outcomes of the largest RPS-LR1 series and propose a new prognostic nomogram.

Experimental Design:

Patients with consecutive RPS-LR1 without distant metastases who underwent resection at 22 centers (2002–2011) were included. Endpoints were disease-free and overall survival (DFS, OS) and crude-cumulative-incidence (CCI) of local/distant recurrence from second surgery. Nomograms predicting DFS and OS from second surgery were developed and validated (calibration plots); discrimination was assessed (Harrell C index).

Results:

Of 684 patients identified, full prognostic variable data were available for 602. Initial surgery for primary RPS was performed at our institutions in 188 patients (31%) and elsewhere in 414 (69%). At a median follow-up of 119 months [Interquartile range (IQR), 80–169] from initial surgery and 75 months (IQR 50–105) from second surgery, 6-year DFS and OS were 19.2% [95% confidence interval (CI), 16.0–23.0%] and 54.1% (95% CI, 49.8–58.8%), respectively. Recurrence patterns and survival probability were histology-specific, with liposarcoma subtypes having the highest 6-year CCI of second local recurrence (LR, 60.2%–70.9%) and leiomyosarcoma (LMS) having higher 6-year CCI of distant metastasis (DM, 36.3%). Nomograms included age at second surgery, multifocality, grade, completeness of second surgery, histology, chemotherapy/radiotherapy at first surgery, and number of organs resected at first surgery. OS and DFS nomograms showed good calibration and discriminative ability (C index 0.70 and 0.67, respectively).

Conclusions:

We developed nomograms to predict DFS and OS for patients undergoing RPS-LR1 resection. Nomograms provide individualized, disease-relevant estimations of survival for RPS-LR1 patients and assist in clinical decisions.
A Phase II Randomized Study of Neoadjuvant Letrozole Plus Alpelisib for Hormone Receptor-Positive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Negative Breast Cancer (NEO-ORB)
Authors: Mayer Ingrid A. , Prat Aleix , Egle Daniel , Blau Sibel , Fidalgo J. Alejandro Pérez , Gnant Michael , Fasching Peter A. , Colleoni Marco , Wolff Antonio C. , Winer Eric P. , Singer Christian F. , Hurvitz Sara , Estévez Laura García , van Dam Peter A. , Kümmel Sherko , Mundhenke Christoph , Holmes Frankie , Babbar Naveen , Charbonnier Laure , Diaz-Padilla Ivan , Vogl Florian D. , Sellami Dalila , Arteaga Carlos L.
Published: February 2019

Purpose:

Addition of alpelisib to fulvestrant significantly extended progression-free survival in PIK3CA-mutant, hormone receptor–positive (HR+) advanced/metastatic breast cancer in the phase III SOLAR-1 study. The combination of alpelisib and letrozole also had promising activity in phase I studies of HR+ advanced/metastatic breast cancer. NEO-ORB aimed to determine whether addition of alpelisib to letrozole could increase response rates in the neoadjuvant setting.

Patients and Methods: Postmenopausal women with HR+, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, T1c-T3 breast cancer were assigned to the PIK3CA-wild-type or PIK3CA-mutant cohort according to their tumor PIK3CA status, and randomized (1:1) to 2.5 mg/day letrozole with 300 mg/day alpelisib or placebo for 24 weeks. Primary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR) and pathologic complete response (pCR) rate for both PIK3CA cohorts.

Results:

In total, 257 patients were assigned to letrozole plus alpelisib (131 patients) or placebo (126 patients). Grade ≥3 adverse events (≥5% of patients) in the alpelisib arm were hyperglycemia (27%), rash (12%), and maculo-papular rash (8%). The primary objective was not met; ORR in the alpelisib versus placebo arm was 43% versus 45% and 63% versus 61% in the PIK3CA-mutant and wild-type cohorts, respectively. pCR rates were low in all groups. Decreases in Ki-67 were similar across treatment arms and cohorts. In PIK3CA-mutant tumors, alpelisib plus letrozole treatment induced a greater decrease in phosphorylated AKT versus placebo plus letrozole.

Conclusions:

In contrast to initial results in advanced/metastatic disease, addition of alpelisib to 24-week neoadjuvant letrozole treatment did not improve response in patients with HR+ early breast cancer.
A Prospective Targeted Serum Metabolomics Study of Pancreatic Cancer in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Jiao Li , Maity Suman , Coarfa Cristian , Rajapakshe Kimal , Chen Liang , Jin Feng , Putluri Vasanta , Tinker Lesley F. , Mo Qianxing , Chen Fengju , Sen Subrata , Sangi-Hyghpeykar Haleh , El-Serag Hashem B. , Putluri Nagireddy
Published: February 2019

To examine the association between metabolic deregulation and pancreatic cancer, we conducted a two-stage case–control targeted metabolomics study using prediagnostic sera collected one year before diagnosis in the Women's Health Initiative study. We used the LC/MS to quantitate 470 metabolites in 30 matched case/control pairs. From 180 detectable metabolites, we selected 14 metabolites to be validated in additional 18 matched case/control pairs. We used the paired t test to compare the concentrations of each metabolite between cases and controls and used the log fold change (FC) to indicate the magnitude of difference. FDR adjusted q-value < 0.25 was indicated statistically significant. Logistic regression model and ROC curve analysis were used to evaluate the clinical utility of the metabolites. Among 30 case/control pairs, 1-methyl-l-tryptophan (L-1MT) was significantly lower in the cases than in the controls (log2 FC = −0.35; q-value = 0.03). The area under the ROC curve was 0.83 in the discrimination analysis based on the levels of L-1MT, acadesine, and aspartic acid. None of the metabolites was validated in additional independent 18 case/control pairs. No significant association was found between the examined metabolites and undiagnosed pancreatic cancer.
Pembrolizumab for Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma in Patients Older than 85 Years of Age
Authors: Chanal Johan , Kramkimel Nora , Ratour Carole , Aractingi Selim , Guégan Sarah , Avril Marie-Françoise
Published: February 2019

Background: Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitors (pembrolizumab and nivolumab) have been approved for the treatment of advanced melanoma. Over the past decades, patients older than 85 years represent an expanding group of patients in developed countries. In France, 25% of melanomas are diagnosed in patients older than 75 years. Objective: To perform a monocentric retrospective study of patients older than 85 years and treated with pembrolizu­mab for unresectable or metastatic melanoma in order to evaluate tolerance and potential benefits of this immunotherapy. Methods: Medical records of patients treated with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab between January 2015 and January 2018 were reviewed. Results: Nine patients (6 women and 3 men) older than 85 years were included in the study. The mean age was 89.6 (85–97) years at inclusion. All patients were PS 0 or 1. The mean number of infusions was 4 (1–12). However, most patients were not able to tolerate the 4-infusion schedule. One patient refused the second infusion for personal reasons. Seven patients had grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events. Conclusion: These results indicate that pembrolizumab treatment in patients older than 85 years may induce responses but is associated with a high risk of toxicity and impaired autonomy.
Novel Complex Interactions between Mitochondrial and Nuclear DNA in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Schulmann Anton , Ryu Euijung , Goncalves Vanessa , Rollins Brandi , Christiansen Michael , Frye Mark A. , Biernacka Joanna  , Vawter Marquis P.
Published: February 2019

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been associated with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). This review examines recent publications and novel associations between mitochondrial genes and SZ and BD. Associations of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial variants with SZ were found using gene- and pathway-based approaches. Two control region mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) SNPs, T16519C and T195C, both showed an association with SZ and BD. A review of 4 studies of A15218G located in the cytochrome B oxidase gene (CYTB, SZ = 11,311, control = 35,735) shows a moderate association with SZ (p = 2.15E-03). Another mtDNA allele A12308G was nominally associated with psychosis in BD type I subjects and SZ. The first published study testing the epistatic interaction between nuclear-encoded and mitochondria-encoded genes demonstrated evidence for potential interactions between mtDNA and the nuclear genome for BD. A similar analysis for the risk of SZ revealed significant joint effects (34 nuclear-mitochondria SNP pairs with joint effect p ≤ 5E-07) and significant enrichment of projection neurons. The mitochondria-encoded gene CYTB was found in both the epistatic interactions for SZ and BD and the single SNP association of SZ. Future efforts considering population stratification and polygenic risk scores will test the role of mitochondrial variants in psychiatric disorders.
CAR-Expressing Natural Killer Cells for Cancer Retargeting
Authors: Kloess Stephan , Kretschmer Anna , Stahl Lilly , Fricke Stephan , Koehl Ulrike
Published: February 2019

Since the approval in 2017 and the outstanding success of Kymriah® and Yescarta®, the number of clinical trials investigating the safety and efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor-modified autologous T cells has been constantly rising. Currently, more than 200 clinical trials are listed on clinicaltrial.gov. In contrast to CAR-T cells, natural killer (NK) cells can be used from allogeneic donors as an “off the shelf product” and provide alternative candidates for cancer retargeting. This review summarises preclinical results of CAR-engineered NK cells using both primary human NK cells and the cell line NK-92, and provides an overview about the first clinical CAR-NK cell studies targeting haematological malignancies and solid tumours, respectively.
Cryopreservation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells: Emerging Assays, Cryoprotectant Agents, and Technology to Improve Outcomes
Authors: Hornberger Kathlyn , Yu Guanglin , McKenna David , Hubel Allison
Published: February 2019

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) therapy is widely used to treat a growing number of hematological and non-hematological diseases. Cryopreservation of HSCs allows for cells to be transported from the site of processing to the site of clinical use, creates a larger window of time in which cells can be administered to patients, and allows sufficient time for quality control and regulatory testing. Currently, HSCs and other cell therapies conform to the same cryopreservation techniques as cells used for research purposes: cells are cryopreserved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at a slow cooling rate. As a result, HSC therapy can result in numerous adverse symptoms in patients due to the infusion of DMSO. Efforts are being made to improve the cryopreservation of HSCs for clinical use. This review discusses advances in the cryopreservation of HSCs from 2007 to the present. The preclinical development of new cryoprotectants and new technology to eliminate cryoprotectants after thawing are discussed in detail. Additional cryopreservation considerations are included, such as cooling rate, storage temperature, and cell concentration. Preclinical cell assessment and quality control are discussed, as well as clinical studies from the past decade that focus on new cryopreservation protocols to improve patient outcomes.
History and Future of Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology Blood Donor Testing
Authors: Roth Willi Kurt
Published: February 2019

The introduction of blood donor screening by virus nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) in the mid to late 1990s was driven by the so-called AIDS and hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic, with thousands of recipients of infected blood products and components. Plasma fractionators were the first to introduce NAT testing besides pathogen reduction procedures, to reduce the virus transmission risk through their products. To achieve a similar safety standard, NAT was then also introduced for labile blood components. German transfusion centres were the first to start in-house NAT testing of their donations in pools of up to 96 samples for HCV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). Years later the diagnostics industry provided commercial HCV and HIV-1 and later HBV NAT tests on automated platforms. NAT tests for HIV-2, hepatitis A virus, and Parvovirus B19 followed, again driven by transfusion centres with their in-house tests. When severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus (SARS-CoV) and West Nile Virus emerged it was the NAT that enabled the manufacturers and transfusion centres to instantly introduce sensitive and specific screening tests. Subsequent automation including sample preparation has significantly reduced the costs and complexity of the procedure and made it affordable to middle income countries as well. Currently more than 60 million donations per year are NAT tested worldwide and the remaining residual risk of virus transmission by blood components and products could be reduced to almost zero. Automation rendered possible the reduction of pool size in conjunction with increased throughput and sensitivity. Thus, antibody and antigen testing may be dispensable in the long run, particularly in the combination of NAT testing with pathogen reduction. There are new technologies on the horizon like digital droplet PCR, next-generation sequencing, lab-on-a-chip, and digital antigen assays, which are comparably sensitive. However, each of these has limitations, either in throughput, costs, automation, time to result, specificity, or the need for NAT as an integral part of the technology. Thus, NAT is still the shortest and most efficient means to the result. Donor screening NAT also contributed significantly to our knowledge on how fast viruses replicate, and on the respective diagnostic window. In conjunction with animal and patient studies, we have learned more about the minimal infectious dose and the epidemics in the donor population.
Heller Myotomy for Epiphrenic Diverticula Compared to Nondiverticula Esophageal Motility Disorders, A Single Institution Experience and Appraisal of Patient Characteristics, High-Resolution Manometry and Outcomes
Authors: McDonald James D. , Jacobs John , Saad Adham , Richter Joel E. , Velanovich Vic
Published: February 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare demographics, symptoms, prior interventions, operation, and outcomes of patients who underwent Heller myotomy for esophageal motility disorders and epiphrenic diverticulectomy with Heller myotomy. Methods: We identified all patients who underwent Heller myotomy for esophageal motility disorders with and without esophageal diverticulectomy over an 80-month period. Primary data points included patient demographics, presenting symptoms, prior intervention, high-resolution manometry, surgery performed with rate of laparoscopic, conversion to open, and open procedures; postoperative complications, and symptom resolution. Results: Over the study period, 308 Heller esophagomyotomy operations were performed on 301 patients. Of these, 277 cases were without epiphrenic diverticula and 31 included diverticula. One patient with an asymptomatic epiphrenic diverticulum did not undergo surgery was included, for a total of 32 diverticula patients. Six patients in the non-diverticula group and 1 in the diverticula group required a second operation for recurrent symptoms or residual diverticulum. The diverticula group was significantly older, had different manometry findings, required more open operations, and had longer length of stay. The diverticula group had a lower frequency of patients with prior interventions, but similar postoperative leaks, higher overall postoperative complications, and no difference in reported symptomatic improvement. Conclusions: Esophageal diverticula patients have a unique profile compare to patients with non-diverticula motility disorders. Operations are more complex, with increased complication rate and a longer length of stay. In spite of this, there is no statistically significant difference in symptomatic outcomes between the groups.
Multiple Approaches to Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Hereditary Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Mutation Carriers
Authors: Schouten Tijn M. , de Vos Frank , van Rooden Sanneke , Bouts Mark J. R. J. , van Opstal Anna M. , Feis Rogier A. , Terwindt Gisela M. , Wermer Marieke J. H. , van Buchem Mark A. , Greenberg Steven M. , de Rooij Mark , Rombouts Serge A. R. B. , van der Grond Jeroen
Published: February 2019

Background

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (
CAA
) is a major cause of lobar intracerebral hemorrhage in elderly adults; however, presymptomatic diagnosis of
CAA
is difficult. Hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis–Dutch type (
HCHWA
‐D) is a rare autosomal‐dominant disease that leads to pathology similar to sporadic
CAA
. Presymptomatic
HCHWA
‐D mutation carriers provide a unique opportunity to study
CAA
‐related changes before any symptoms have occurred. In this study we investigated early
CAA
‐related alterations in the white matter.

Methods and Results

We investigated diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (
dMRI
) data for 15 symptomatic and 11 presymptomatic
HCHWA
‐D mutation carriers and 30 noncarrier control participants using 4 different approaches. We looked at (1) the relation between age and global
dMRI
measures for mutation carriers versus controls, (2) voxel‐wise d
MRI
, (3) independent component‐clustered
dMRI
measures, and (4) structural connectomics between presymptomatic or symptomatic carriers and controls. Fractional anisotropy decreased, and mean diffusivity and peak width of the skeletonized mean diffusivity increased significantly over age for mutation carriers compared with controls. In addition, voxel‐wise and independent component‐wise fractional anisotropy, and mean diffusivity, and structural connectomics were significantly different between
HCHWA
‐D patients and control participants, mainly in the periventricular frontal and occipital regions and in the occipital lobe. We found no significant differences between presymptomatic carriers and control participants.

Conclusions

The d
MRI
technique is sensitive in detecting alterations in symptomatic
HCHWA
‐d carriers but did not show alterations in presymptomatic carriers. This result indicates that d
MRI
may be less suitable for identifying early white matter changes in
CAA
.
A Revisit of Infinite Population Models for Evolutionary Algorithms on Continuous Optimization Problems
Authors: Song Bo , Li Victor O.K.
Published: February 2019

Infinite population models are important tools for studying population dynamics of evolutionary algorithms. They describe how the distributions of populations change between consecutive generations. In general, infinite population models are derived from Markov chains by exploiting symmetries between individuals in the population and analyzing the limit as the population size goes to infinity. In this article, we study the theoretical foundations of infinite population models of evolutionary algorithms on continuous optimization problems. First, we show that the convergence proofs in a widely cited study were in fact problematic and incomplete. We further show that the modeling assumption of exchangeability of individuals cannot yield the transition equation. Then, in order to analyze infinite population models, we build an analytical framework based on convergence in distribution of random elements which take values in the metric space of infinite sequences. The framework is concise and mathematically rigorous. It also provides an infrastructure for studying the convergence of the stacking of operators and of iterating the algorithm which previous studies failed to address. Finally, we use the framework to prove the convergence of infinite population models for the mutation operator and the k-ary recombination operator. We show that these operators can provide accurate predictions for real population dynamics as the population size goes to infinity, provided that the initial population is identically and independently distributed.
Three new species of Telmatoscopus Eaton, 1904 (Diptera, Psychodidae) from Brazil
Authors: BRAVO FREDDY , SOUZA ISYS , SANTOS CLAUDINEY BIRAL DOS , FERREIRA ADELSON LUIZ
Published: February 2019

Three new species of Telmatoscopus auct. (nec Eaton, 1904) from Brazil are described, one from Paraná State, southern Brazil, and two from Espírito Santo State, southeastern Brazil. Ten species of Telmatoscopus s. l. are currently known from the Neotropical region, including the three new species described here. An identification key for males of all Neotropical species of Telmatoscopus s. l. is presented.
A new Chinese Mesozoic dragonfly clarifies the relationships between Rudiaeschnidae and Cymatophlebiidae (Odonata: Aeshnoptera)
Authors: LI YONGJUN , NEL ANDRÉ , REN DONG , ZHANG BINGLAN , PANG HONG
Published: February 2019

A very well preserved fossil specimen of Rudiaeschna limnobia Ren and Guo, 1996, is described and diagnosis for Rudiaeschna is emended. Its clear morphological structures, including body characters, clarify and confirm the affinities of Rudiaeschna and the Rudiaeschnidae with Cymatophlebia Deichmüller, 1886, and the Cymatophlebiidae, previously inferred only through venational characters.
The Indian species of Liophloeothrips Priesner (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae) with one new species
Authors: TYAGI KAOMUD , KUMAR VIKAS
Published: February 2019

Liophloeothrips Priesner is a small genus of leaf-feeding Phlaeothripidae that is related to the widespread genera Gynaikothrips and Liothrips. A key is presented to distinguish these three genera, together with a key to, and review of, the 13 species now recognized in Liophloeothrips from India. Liophloeothrips acaciae sp. n. is described from Karnataka State, collected from the dry flowers, leaves and bark of Acacia auriculiformis. Liophloeothrips tenebrosus Ananthakrishnan & Jagadish is placed as a new synonym of L. pavettae Ananthakrishnan & Jagadish. A lectotype is designated for Liophloeothrips cecidii Ananthakrishnan 1964.
The planthopper genus Epora Walker (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Tropiduchidae) from China with description of one new species
Authors: MEN QIU-LEI , FENG JI-NIAN , QIN DAO-ZHENG
Published: February 2019

The three Chinese species of the tropiduchid genus Epora Walker are revised, including one new species, E. biprolata sp. nov. from Hainan Province, China. Morphological description or diagnoses and illustrations for Chinese Epora and an identification key for all nine species worldwide are provided.
Eogyropsylla sedzimiri sp. nov. from Eocene Baltic amber with a key to the species of the fossil genus Eogyropsylla Klimaszewski, 1993 (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Psylloidea)
Authors: DROHOJOWSKA JOWITA
Published: February 2019

A new species, Eogyropsylla sedzimiri sp. nov. from Eocene Baltic amber is described. Illustrations of head, thorax, forewing, hind wing, antennae, legs and female terminalia are given. A key to the species of the fossil genus Eogyropsylla Klimaszewski, 1993 is also provided.
On the genus Raphidrilus Monticelli, 1910 (Polychaeta: Ctenodrilidae) with description of two new species
Authors: MAGALHÃES WAGNER F. , BAILEY–BROCK JULIE H. , DAVENPORT JENNIFER S.
Published: February 2019

Raphidrilus harperi sp. nov., is described from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) in Venice, Florida from sediments consisting of coarse sands and shell hash. Raphidrilus hawaiiensis sp. nov., is described from Oahu’s shallow waters and inhabits a successful invasive alga in Waikiki and sandy sediments adjacent to ocean outfalls in Barbers Point and Sand Island, off Honolulu. The genus Raphidrilus is emended, the distinctness between the genera Raricirrus and Raphidrilus is confirmed and keys to all recognized genera of Ctenodrilidae and species of Raphidrilus are given.
The Leptobrachium (Anura: Megophryidae) of the Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam, with description of a new species
Authors: STUART BRYAN L. , ROWLEY JODI J. L. , TRAN DAO THI ANH , LE DUONG THI THUY , HOANG HUY DUC
Published: February 2019

We sampled two forms of Leptobrachium in syntopy at the type locality of L. pullum at upper elevations on the Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam. The two forms differed in morphology (primarily in coloration), mitochondrial DNA, and male advertisement calls. One form closely agrees with the type series of L. pullum (but not to its original description due to error), and the other is described as new. Leptobrachium leucops sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by having small body size (males with SVL 38.8–45.2), the upper one-third to one-half of iris white, a blue scleral arc, a dark venter, and sexually active males without spines on the upper lip. Leptobrachium pullum and L. mouhoti, a recently described species from low-elevation slopes of the Langbian Plateau in eastern Cambodia, are morphologically divergent but genetically similar, warranting further investigation into geographic variation in the red-eyed Leptobrachium of southern Indochina.
Uropodina species from Vietnam (Acari: Mesostigmata)
Authors: KONTSCHÁN JENŐ , STARÝ JOSEF
Published: February 2019

Sixteen species of Uropodina were found in samples of soil mites from Vietnam, in the Institute of Soil Biology of the Biology Centre AS CR (Èesk Budìjovice, Czech Republic) and the Soil Zoology Collections of the Hungarian Natural History Museum (Budapest, Hungary). Five of them are known species — Angulobaloghia vietnamensis (Kontschán, 2008), Metagynella vietnamensis Hiramatsu, 1981, Uroobovella similitakensis Hirschmann, 1981, Uroobovella topali Hirschmann, 1981, and Uropoda hirschmanni Hiramatsu, 1977. Eleven species are described as new — Trachytes vietnamensis sp. nov., Dinychus serratus sp. nov., Trichouropoda aspera sp. nov., Uroobovella oviformis sp. nov., Uroobovella multisetosa sp. nov., Paradinychus pilosus sp. nov., Phymatodiscus kuni sp. nov., Uropoda setata sp. nov., Uropoda lichenicola sp. nov., Angulobaloghia scrobia sp. nov. and Depressorotunda (Depressorotunda) alveolata sp. nov. The genus Paradinychus is resurrected and three species are moved into this genus, as P. sumatrensis (Vitzthum, 1921) comb. nov. and P. fistulata (Hiramatsu, 1982) comb. nov. Keys to the species of the genus Paradinychus, to the Asian species of Trachytes and to the Uropoda spiculata species group are given.
Re-discovery and Re-description of Ansonia penangensis Stoliczka, 1870 (Anura: Bufonidae) from Penang Island, Malaysia
Authors: H. EVAN QUAH S. , GRISMER L. LEE , MUIN MOHD ABDUL , M.S. SHAHRUL ANUAR
Published: February 2019

Ansonia penangensis Stocliczka 1870 is re-discovered from its type locality in Penang Hill from Penang Island, Malaysia after more than a century. The species was previously known only from the type series; two adults and a larval series collected in 1898, and had not been recorded since. An expanded description of this species is provided, based on four recently acquired specimens and corroborate the morphological differences between Ansonia penangensis, A. malayana and A. jeetsukumarani, with which A. penangensis has been confused.
Proposal of Fiersiphontina gen. nov., redescription of Fiersiphontina sensillata comb. nov., and new data on the distribution of Spiniferaphonte (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Laophontidae)
Authors: BRUNO MARIA CRISTINA , Cottarelli Vezio
Published: February 2019

The taxonomic position and original description of Laophontina sensillata Wells & Rao, 1987 are reviewed based on specimens collected from the interstitial fauna of littoral coral sands of several islands of the Philippines and New Caledonia, and the species is designated as the type species of Fiersiphontina gen. nov. The new genus is proposed based on the total loss of sexual dimorphism in the P3 and P4 exopods, and the sexual dimorphism in P2 exopod. Fiersiphontina is highly adapted to the littoral interstitial habitat of coral sandy beaches, and is related to Laophontina Norman & T. Scott, 1905, Wellsiphontina Fiers, 1991 and Spiniferaphonte Gheerardyn & Fiers, 2007. The shared characteristics that indicate a strong affinity of Fiersiphontina to Spiniferaphonte are the robust, dorsally bent, and strongly sclerotised caudal seta V and the morphology of the genital field. The phylogenetic relationship of Spiniferaphonte and Fiersiphontina is also suggested by the analysis of the last ontogenetic phases of the species of the two genera. We re-describe here the adults of both sexes, describe the last three copepodid stages of Fiersiphontina sensillata (Wells & Rao, 1987) comb. nov., and provide notes on the biogeography of the four related genera, and on the ecology of Fiersiphontina and Spiniferaphonte.
Nomenclature changes in the mite families Neopygmephoridae and Pygmephoridae (Acari: Heterostigmata: Pygmephoroidea) with redescription of two little known species
Authors: KHAUSTOV ALEXANDR A.
Published: February 2019

The type materials of Neopygmephoridae and Pygmephoridae deposited in the Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia and the Museum of Zoology, I. Mechnikov Odessa National University, Ukraine were examined. Two genera and several species were synonymyzed. In the family Neopygmephoridae, the genus Heteropygmephrus Kurosa, 2002 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Aegiptophorus Sevastianov and Abo-Korah, 1984 and Heteropygmephorus onthophagi Kurosa, 2002 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Aegiptophorus shibinensis Sevastianov and AboKorah, 1984; Bakerdania uniseta Khaustov and Hajiqanbar, 2004 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Bakerdania tenuispina Sevastianov, 1974; Bakerdania nouri Sevastianov and Zahida Al Douri, 1989 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Bakerdania urbanensis Sevastianov, 1974; Bakerdania ptilophora Savulkina, 1978 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Bakerdania montana (Willmann, 1956). In the family Pygmephoridae, the genus Asiapygmephorus Khaustov and Chydyrov, 2003 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Mesopotamiophorus Sevastianov and Zahida Al Douri, 1991, and Asiapygmephorus paucisetosus (Sevastianov and Chydyrov, 1991) syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Mesopotamiophorus babylonicus Sevastianov and Zahida Al Douri, 1991; Pygmephorus scrobiculatus Sevastianov, 1975 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Pygmephorus stammeri Krczal, 1959; Pediculaster petrovanikitinae Sevastianov, Chydyrov and Marroch, 1994 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Pediculaster athiasae (Wicht, 1970); Pediculaster crassipedis Sevastianov and Chydyrov, 1994 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Pediculaster amerahae Sevastianot and Abo-Korah, 1984; Pediculaster monoufiensis Sevastianov and Abo Korah, 1985 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Pediculaster kneeboni (Wicht, 1970); Siteroptes dionusii Sevastianov and Abo-Korah, 1984 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Siteroptes rosae Sevastianov and Abo-Korah, 1984; Siteroptes tameri Sevastianov and Abo-Korah, 1984 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Siteroptes graminicola Mitrofanov, Shabanova and Sevastianov, 1984. Bakerdania urbanensis Sevastianov, 1974 and Neositeroptes rosae (Sevastianov and Abo-Korah, 1984) comb. nov. (transferred from Siteroptes) are redescribed.
Acidiella longipennis Hendel, the type species of Acidiella Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae: Trypetini), with recognition of two new allied species from Myanmar
Authors: HAN HO-YEON
Published: February 2019

The type species of the genus Acidiella Hendel is A. longipennis Hendel, which is known as a widely distributed species in South East Asia. Specimens of A. longipennis are rarely found in insect collections, but I was able to examine a number of Myanmar specimens collected by R. Malaise during the Swedish Expedition in 1934, and reported as A. longipennis by M. Hering in 1938. As a result, three related species were sorted out from these specimens. They look very much alike except for the dorsal abdominal patterns (difficult to see in dried specimens) and postabdominal structures. I here provide detailed descriptions of and a key to A. longipennis, A. spinipenis, sp. nov., and A. kambaitiensis, sp. nov. They are here defined as the A. longipennis species group based on a single synapomorphy: vesica of glans ventrally with 7–9 tiny spines. This is a unique characteristic never found in any other species of the tribe Trypetini as well as the family Tephritidae. I am providing this information as a starting point to refine the currently confused concept of the genus Acidiella.
A new species of the South American genus Arthurella Albuquerque (Diptera: Muscidae), with a key to species and new records
Authors: PATITUCCI LUCIANO DAMIÁN , MARILUIS JUAN CARLOS , ABALLAY FERNANDO HERNÁN
Published: February 2019

The monotypic genus Arthurella Albuquerque, 1954 was originally described for A. nudiseta with a distribution restricted to Chile and Argentina. We add one new species, Arthurella choelensis sp. nov., from the central part of Argentina, and new distribution records for A. nudiseta. Biological and distributional information is given for both species. An identification key to the species of the genus is provided.
Heteropodagrion croizati sp. nov. (Odonata: Megapodagrionidae) with a key to the known species of the genus
Authors: PÉREZ-GUTIÉRREZ LEÓN A. , MONTES-FONTALVO JENILEE M.
Published: February 2019

Heteropodagrion croizati sp. nov. is described and illustrated on the basis of two males and one female (holotype % : Colombia, Putumayo Dept., Mocoa, PNN Churumbelos (1° 09´40.93´´ N 76° 39´49.13´´ W) alt. 1000m, 28 i 2010. The new species is characterized by male paraproct surpassing length of cercus, genital ligula distally bilobulate, trumpet-shaped, and with laterally expanding distal lobes, and female with basal pale rings on all abdominal segments. A key for the known species of Heteropodagrion and the closely related Mesagrion leucorrhinum is provided.
Two new Neotropical species of oak gall wasps of the genus Loxaulus Mayr (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) from Panama
Authors: MEDIANERO ENRIQUE , NIEVES-ALDREY JOSÉ LUIS , MELIKA GEORGE
Published: February 2019

Two new species of Loxaulus Mayr, Loxaulus championi and Loxaulus panamensis (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) are described from Panama. Both new species induce galls on Quercus bumelioides Liebm. (Fagaceae, sect. Quercus, White Oaks). The diagnostic characters, gall descriptions, distribution, biological data and a key for the identification of the new species are given. The new species represent the first records of the genus Loxaulus outside North America.
A new Asian subgenus and species of Ischalia (Coleoptera: Ischaliidae) with an assessment of subgeneric concepts, revised world checklist, and keys to the subgenera and “blue elytra” species
Authors: YOUNG DANIEL K.
Published: February 2019

A new subgenus of Ischalia, Nitidischalia, and new species, Ischalia (Nitidischalia) barclayi, is described and illustrated from Sabah, Malaysia. Subgeneric concepts are discussed and an updated world checklist of subgenera and species is presented. A revised key to the Southeast Asian Ischalia species exhibiting blue elytra is also presented, as is a key to the subgenera of Ischalia.
Babamunida debrae, a new species of squat lobster (Crustacea: Anomura: Galatheoidea: Munididae) from the Hawaiian Islands
Authors: BABA KEIJI
Published: February 2019

A new species of squat lobster, Babamunida debrae, was found in shallow waters of the west coast of Hawai‘i. It is readily distinguished from all the other species of the genus by the presence of a pair of spines on the second abdominal tergite. Babamunida debrae is the second species of the genus from Hawaii and seventh species of the genus from the Indo-Pacific.
Tardigrada of Grand Cayman, West Indies, with descriptions of two new species of eutardigrade, Doryphoribius tessellatus (Hypsibiidae) and Macrobiotus caymanensis (Macrobiotidae)
Authors: MEYER HARRY A.
Published: February 2019

Terrestrial tardigrades were collected from moss, lichen and leaf litter from Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands, West Indies. Six species were found. Milnesium tardigradum Doyère, 1840, Minibiotus intermedius (Plate, 1889), Paramacrobiotus areolatus (Murray, 1907) and P. richtersi (Murray, 1911) have been reported previously from other islands in the Caribbean Sea. Two species on Grand Cayman were new to science. Doryphoribius tessellatus sp. n. belongs to the ‘eveli- nae-group’, with two macroplacoids and cuticular gibbosities. In having two pairs of posterior gibbosities and cuticular depressions forming a reticular design, it is most similar to Doryphoribius quadrituberculatus Kaczmarek & Michalczyk, 2004 from Costa Rica. It differs from D. quadrituberculatus in its gibbosity sequence (III:4:2:2), the number of teeth, size of macroplacoids and details of the reticular design on the dorsal cuticle. Macrobiotus caymanensis sp. n. belongs to the ‘polyopus-group’ of species. It differs from other species of the group in having a shorter buccal tube, a more posterior stylet support insertion point and fewer, larger egg processes.
First description of the female of Acantholycosa logunovi (Araneae: Lycosidae)
Authors: FOMICHEV ALEXANDER A. , MARUSIK YURI M.
Published: February 2019

With 26 named species (Platnick 2011), Acantholycosa Dahl, 1908 is a relatively large Holarctic genus in the wolf spider subfamily Pardosinae Simon, 1898. Acantholycosa was recently revised and 17 species were described as new to science (Marusik et al. 2004). The majority of species occur in Northern Asia and the highest species diversity is known from the Altai-Sayan Mountain System (18 species) (Marusik et al., 2004). Among the newly described species was Acantholycosa logunovi Marusik, Azarkina & Koponen, 2004 from Altai in Russia. The female epigyne of this species was found to be remarkably similar to those of A. norvegica (Thorell, 1872), while male palp was similar to those in A. plumalis species group. While collecting spiders in Altai the senior author collected over a dozen specimens belonging to Acantholycosa of which one pair was in copula. Study of this material revealed that males were conspecific with figures of the holotype of A. logunovi, but that females were different from those illustrated by Marusik et al. (2004). The females described as A. logunovi by Marusik et al. (2004) are instead A. norvegica and therefore females of A. logunovi remained undescribed up until now. Here we describe the female of A. logunovi, provide comparisons with related species and add to the known localities of this species.
A review of the freshwater fishes of the Kimberley region of Western Australia
Authors: MORGAN DAVID L. , ALLEN GERALD R. , PUSEY BRADLEY J. , BURROWS DAMIEN W.
Published: February 2019

This paper provides an overview of the freshwater fishes of the remote and sparsely populated Kimberley region of Western Australia, an area that has been subject to minimal scientific surveys, most of which have occurred in the last 30 years. A total of 49 freshwater fish species are reported from the region, but this number will likely grow as a result of future discoveries. It is an endemic hotspot, with ~40% of the species found nowhere else; many of which are known from only a few localities. The fauna is dominated by members of the Terapontidae (10 species) and Eleotridae (10 species), followed by the Plotosidae (five species), Melanotaeniidae (five species), Atherinidae (four species) and Ambassidae (four species). Additionally, in terms of freshwater fishes of the Kimberley, there are two species each in the Toxotidae and Ariidae, and a single species from each of the Anguillidae, Clupeidae, Hemiramphidae, Belonidae, Apogonidae, Gobiidae and Soleidae. There are currently no introduced fishes found in any major catchments of the Kimberley, however, there are records of the Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) from Cape Leveque (Morgan et al. 2004c) and the Redclaw Crayfish (Cherax quadquicarinatus), which have recently been found within the Ord River basin (Doupé et al. 2004).
New species of quill mites (Acari, Cheyletoidea, Syringophilidae) and the first record of male for the genus Stibarokris
Authors: GLOWSKA ELIZA , SKORACKI MACIEJ
Published: February 2019

In this paper we describe a new quill mite species Stibarokris dastychi sp. nov., parasitizing Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus) (Pelecaniformes: Phalacrocoracidae) and the male of S. phoeniconaias Skoracki et OConnor, 2010 from American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber Linnaeus (new host). Additionally, the improved (including both female and male) diagnosis of the genus Stibarokris Kethley, 1970 and the key to all known species of this genus are given.
First description of the male of Notiocoelotes pseudolingulatus (Araneae: Agelenidae) from Hainan Island, China
Authors: HAN GUANG-XIN , ZHANG FENG , ZHANG ZHI-SHENG
Published: February 2019

The genus Notiocoelotes was established by Wang, Xu & Li, 2008. At present, it includes 11 species (Platnick 2011), all from Southeast Asia: China (Hainan Island), Laos, Thailand and Vietnam (Wang, Xu & Li, 2008; Liu & Li, 2010). While studying the Notiocoelotes species collected from Hainan Island, China, we found one male and two female Notiocoelotes specimens in the same locality. We identified the female as Notiocoelotes pseudolingulatus Liu & Li, 2010. The male specimen has habitus and markings very similar to the female of N. pseudolingulatus, and the characters of palpal organ conform to the genus Notiocoelotes. We therefore identified it as the male of N. pseudolingulatus, and describe it here. The format of the description and abbreviations of morphological terms follow that of Wang, Xu & Li, 2008.