bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Wearable Inertial Sensors to Estimate Kinematic Parameters and Variability in the Table Tennis Topspin Forehand Stroke
Authors: Bańkosz Ziemowit , Winiarski Sławomir
Published: May 2020

The study examined kinematic parameters and their inter- and intrasubject variability in the topspin forehand of seven top-level table tennis players. A wireless inertial measurement unit (IMU) system measured the movement of the playing hand to analyze the Ready position, Backswing, and Forward events, and a racket-mounted piezoelectric sensor captured the racket-ball Contact. In a four-phase cycle (Backswing, Hitting, Followthrough, and Back to Ready position), body sensors recorded the cycle and phase duration; angles in the sagittal plane at the shoulder, elbow, and wrist of the playing hand and at the knee joints; and acceleration of the playing hand at the moment of racket-ball contact. The coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated to determine the variability of kinematic parameters within and between players. The observed variability in stroke time duration was low (CV<20%) indicating constancy. The small-to-medium intraindividual variability of angles (CV<40%) indicates that each player used a broadly repeatable technique. The large intraindividual variability in movement was probably functional (i.e., motor adjustment and injury avoidance). Interindividual and intraindividual variability of knee and elbow angles was low; wrist extension was the most variable parameter (CV>40%) for all tasks, and shoulder joint variability was medium-to-large. Variability in hand acceleration was low (CV<20%). Individual players achieved relatively constant hand acceleration at the moment of contact, possibly because angular changes at one joint (e.g., shoulder) could be compensated for by changes at another (e.g., wrist). These findings can help to guide the teaching-learning process and to individualize the training process.
A Genetic Optimization Algorithm Based on Adaptive Dimensionality Reduction
Authors: Kuang Tai , Hu Zhongyi , Xu Minghai
Published: May 2020

With the rise of big data in cloud computing, many optimization problems have gradually developed into high-dimensional large-scale optimization problems. In order to address the problem of dimensionality in optimization for genetic algorithms, an adaptive dimensionality reduction genetic optimization algorithm (ADRGA) is proposed. An adaptive vector angle factor is introduced in the algorithm. When the angle of an individual’s adjacent dimension is less than the angle factor, the value of the smaller dimension is marked as 0. Then, the angle between each individual dimension is calculated separately, and the number of zeros in the population is updated. When the number of zeros of all individuals in a population exceeds a given constant in a certain dimension, the dimension is considered to have no more information and deleted. Eight high-dimensional test functions are used to verify the proposed adaptive dimensionality reduction genetic optimization algorithm. The experimental results show that the convergence, accuracy, and speed of the proposed algorithm are better than those of the standard genetic algorithm (GA), the hybrid genetic and simulated annealing algorithm (HGSA), and the adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA).
Analytical Bending Solutions of Orthotropic Rectangular Thin Plates with Two Adjacent Edges Free and the Others Clamped or Simply Supported Using Finite Integral Transform Method
Authors: Xu Qian , Yang Zhong , Ullah Salamat , Jinghui Zhang , Gao Yuanyuan
Published: May 2020

For the first time, the finite integral transform method is introduced to explore the accurate bending analysis of orthotropic rectangular thin plates with two adjacent edges free and the others clamped or simply supported. Previous solutions mostly focused on plates with simply supported and clamped edges, but the existence of free corner makes the solution procedure much complex to solve by conventional inverse/semi‐inverse methods. Compared with the conventional methods, the employed method eliminates the need to preselect the deflection function, which makes it more reasonable and theoretical for calculating the mechanical responses of the plates. Moreover, the approach used can also analyze static problems of moderately thick plates and thick plates with the same boundary conditions investigated in this article. Finally, comprehensive analytical results obtained in this paper illuminate the validity of the proposed approach by comparing with the previous literature and finite element method by using (ABAQUS) software.
Relationship between Long Noncoding RNA H19 Polymorphisms and Risk of Coronary Artery Disease in a Chinese Population: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Hu Wei-na , Ding Han-xi , Xu Qian , Zhang Xue-ying , Yang Da-tong , Jin Yuan-zhe
Published: May 2020

Background/Aim. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major health problem that has high morbidity and mortality around the world. In recent years, long noncoding RNA H19 has been reported to affect the proliferation and apoptosis of vascular cells, which directly or indirectly results in atherosclerosis. We performed a case-control study to explore the relationship between H19 gene polymorphisms (rs2735971, rs2839698, and rs3024270) and the risk of CAD. Methods. We collected 732 samples from Liaoning Province, China, and three polymorphisms in long noncoding RNA H19 were genotyped using the KASP platform. Results. Our data showed that H19 rs2735971 and rs3024270 variant genotypes were associated with a decreased risk of CAD (rs2735971, P=0.003, odds ratio OR=0.6195, 95% confidence interval=0.44−0.84; rs3024270, P=0.030, OR=0.65, 95% confidence interval=0.44−0.96). No significant association with the risk of CAD was found for H19 rs2839698 polymorphism (P>0.05). In haplotype analysis, H19 polymorphisms of rs2735971-rs2839698-rs3024270 A-C-C haplotype reduced the risk of CAD by 0.61-fold (P=0.004, OR=0.61, 95% confidence interval=0.43–0.86). In addition, we found that rs2839698 interacted with smoking (Pinteraction=0.027), and according to multifactor dimensionality reduction analysis, the three-factor model including H19 rs2839698-smoking-drinking was the best model for the risk of CAD (testing balanced accuracy=0.6979). Conclusion. Our study demonstrated that some genotypes of H19 rs2735971 and rs3024270 polymorphisms, as well as rs2735971-rs2839698-rs3024270 A-C-C haplotype, were associated with the risk of CAD in a Chinese population, and these genotypes have the potential to be biomarkers for predicting CAD risk. We also found that rs2735971-rs2839698-rs3024270 A-C-C may have a significantly lower risk of CAD. The recessive genetic model of rs3024270 could predict the severity of CAD.
Blockade of Cell Volume Regulatory Protein NKCC1 Increases TMZ-Induced Glioma Apoptosis and Reduces Astrogliosis
Authors: Luo Lanxin , Guan Xiudong , Begum Gulnaz , Ding Dawei , Gayden Jenesis , Hasan Md Nabiul , Fiesler Victoria M. , Dodelson Jacob , Kohanbash Gary , Hu Baoli , Amankulor Nduka M. , Jia Wang , Castro Maria G. , Sun Baoshan , Sun Dandan
Published: May 2020

Glioma is one of the most common primary malignant tumors of the central nervous system accounting for approximately 40% of all intracranial tumors. Temozolomide is a conventional chemotherapy drug for adjuvant treatment of patients with high-risk gliomas, including grade II to grade IV. Our bioinformatic analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas datasets and immunoblotting assay show that SLC12A2 gene and its encoded Na+-K+-2Cl− cotransporter isoform 1 (NKCC1) protein are abundantly expressed in grade II–IV gliomas. NKCC1 regulates cell volume and intracellular Cl− concentration, which promotes glioma cell migration, resistance to temozolomide, and tumor-related epilepsy in experimental glioma models. Using mouse syngeneic glioma models with intracranial transplantation of two different glioma cell lines (GL26 and SB28), we show that NKCC1 protein in glioma tumor cells as well as in tumor-associated reactive astrocytes was significantly upregulated in response to temozolomide monotherapy. Combination therapy of temozolomide with the potent NKCC1 inhibitor bumetanide reduced tumor proliferation, potentiated the cytotoxic effects of temozolomide, decreased tumor-associated reactive astrogliosis, and restored astrocytic GLT-1 and GLAST glutamate transporter expression. The combinatorial therapy also led to suppressed tumor growth and prolonged survival of mice bearing GL26 glioma cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that NKCC1 protein plays multifaceted roles in the pathogenesis of glioma tumors and presents as a therapeutic target for reducing temozolomide-mediated resistance and tumor-associated astrogliosis.
Elderly Non-GCB Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patient Responding to Lenalidomide after Epicardial Relapse: A Case Report
Authors: Gentilini Marianna , Casadei Beatrice , Broccoli Alessandro , Argnani Lisa , Cavo Michele , Zinzani Pier Luigi
Published: May 2020

There is an unmet clinical need for elderly or unfit diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation. Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory agent with antitumor activity in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with an acceptable toxicity profile and manageable side effects. A 79-year-old Caucasian male with non-germinal center B-cell-like DLBCL achieved complete remission (CR) after first-line treatment with seven out of eight scheduled cycles of a polychemotherapy containing anthracycline, which had to be discontinued early due to the onset of atrial fibrillation. After 5 months, the patient had an early epicardial relapse. He underwent lenalidomide considering age, cardiological comorbidities, and chronic renal failure. After the third cycle, he achieved CR, confirmed at restaging after the sixth cycle of treatment. Lenalidomide was safe and well tolerated in a patient with atrial fibrillation developed after an anthracycline-based regimen and a relapse of the DLBCL. Moreover, this regimen was effective in a case with a rare extranodal involvement of the epicardium.
The Pathology of Amyloidosis in Classification: A Review
Authors: Picken Maria M.
Published: May 2020

Background: The amyloidoses are a rare and heterogeneous group of disorders that are characterized by the deposition of abnormally folded proteins in tissues ultimately leading to organ damage. The deposits are mainly extracellular and are recognizable by their affinity for Congo red and their yellow-green birefringence under polarized light. Current classification of amyloid in medical practice is based on the amyloid protein type. To date, 36 proteins have been identified as being amyloidogenic in humans. Summary: in clinical practice, it is critical to distinguish between treatable versus non-treatable amyloidoses. Moreover, amyloidoses with a genetic component must be distinguished from the sporadic types and systemic amyloidoses must be distinguished from the localized forms. Among the systemic amyloidoses, AL continues to be the most common amyloid diagnosis in the developed world; other clinically significant types include AA, ALECT2, and ATTR. The latter is emerging as an underdiagnosed type in both the hereditary and wild-type setting. Other hereditary amyloidoses include AFib, several amyloidoses derived from apolipoproteins, AGel, ALys, etc. In a dialysis setting, systemic amyloid derived from β2 microglobulin (Aβ2M) should be considered, although a very rare hereditary variant has also been reported; several amyloidoses may be typically associated with aging and several iatrogenic types have also emerged. Determination of the amyloid protein type is imperative before specific therapy can be implemented and the current methods are briefly summarized. A brief overview of the target organ involvement by amyloid type is also included. Key Messages: (1) Early diagnosis of amyloidosis continues to pose a significant challenge and requires the participation of many clinical and laboratory specialties. (2) Determination of the protein type is imperative before specific therapy can be implemented. (3) While mass spectrometry has emerged as the preferred method of amyloid typing, careful application of immune methods is still clinically useful but caution and experience, as well as awareness of the limitations of each method, are necessary in their interpretation. (4) While the spectrum of amyloidoses continues to expand, it is critical to distinguish between those that are currently treatable versus those that are untreatable and avoid causing harm by inappropriate treatment.
Longitudinal Changes in Kidney Function Estimated from Cystatin C and Its Association with Mortality in Elderly Women
Authors: Malmgren Linnea , McGuigan Fiona E. , Christensson Anders , Akesson Kristina E.
Published: May 2020

Background/Aims: Prospective data on age-related changes in kidney function are required, especially since the current Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) definition has been suggested to classify a large number of elderly people with CKD. Objective: This study, a complement to our previous Cr-based study in the same cohort, is aimed at evaluating cystatin C (cysC)-based changes in kidney function during aging in older women and analyzing the association between CKD and mortality through 10 years of follow-up. Methods: cysC was available in 981 women from the Osteoporosis Prospective Risk Assessment (OPRA) cohort, all aged 75 years on entry. Reinvestigations were made after 5 (n = 685) and 10 years (n = 365). Kidney function was estimated (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]) using Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration cysC and Caucasian, Asian, Pediatric, and Adult cysC equations and the change in function calculated. Women were staged equivalent to CKD stage 1, 2, 3a, or 3b–5 according to the KDIGO classification. Mortality risk was estimated for 5-year or 10-year follow-up time using Cox proportional hazard analyses (reference category, CKD stages 1 and 2). Results: Mortality risk for women with the worst kidney function (CKD stages 3b–5) increased during both 5-year follow-up times compared to that for women in stages 1 and 2 (age 75–80 years: adjusted Hazard Ratio [HRadj] 3.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.3–6.5; age 80–85 years: HRadj 1.7, 95% CI 1.0–2.7). In contrast, women in stage 3a had increased risk only in the first 5-year follow-up (HRadj 1.7, 95% CI 1.0–3.0, age 75–80 years). Change in kidney function amounted to a loss of 1.9 (±1.4) mL/min/1.73 m2 per year during the 10-year follow-up, and at age 85 years, 4 of every 5 women had an eGFR equivalent to CKD. Conclusion: In the future, an age-adapted definition of CKD, lowering the threshold for CKD in the elderly, may be beneficial to avoid overdiagnosis of CKD.
Meningocele of the Internal Auditory Canal Requiring Facial-Nerve Decompression
Authors: Liaw Jeffrey , Isildak Huseyin
Published: May 2020

In this case report, we present the case of a 14-month-old boy with a history of left facial palsy which developed at a very young age. CT of the temporal bone revealed a cystic lesion of the left petrous apex, and sedated auditory testing revealed a profound hearing loss on the same side. Following his first episode of left facial palsy, his symptoms nearly fully resolved and he was lost to follow-up. However, he was seen 5 months later due to recurrent and sudden left-sided facial paralysis. MRI was performed due to suspicion of an epidermoid cyst. The patient was subsequently taken to the operating room for facial-nerve decompression. Intraoperatively, no obvious cystic lesion was identified. Tissue biopsied from the internal auditory canal demonstrated benign glial tissue and fibrous tissue consistent with a meningocele.
Illustrated field keys to the bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of Taiwan
Authors: Huang Joe Chun-Chia , Ho Ying-Yi , Kuo Hao-Chih
Published: May 2020

Bats of Taiwan, comprising 38 species in total, are biogeographically unique (11 endemic species and 16 endemic subspecies), taxonomically diverse (six families), and play crucial ecosystem roles as seed dispersers or insect suppressors.  Many of these bat species were, nevertheless, scientifically described from or newly recorded in Taiwan during the last 20 years, rendering limited knowledge hitherto gained regarding their fundamental ecology and population statuses.  To aid ecological research and thus benefit conservation of Taiwan’s bat diversity, we constructed illustrated field keys to all 38 species.
Caregiver Influences on Eating Behaviors in Young Children
Authors: Wood Alexis C. , Blissett Jacqueline M. , Brunstrom Jeffrey M. , Carnell Susan , Faith Myles S. , Fisher Jennifer O. , Hayman Laura L. , Khalsa Amrik Singh , Hughes Sheryl O. , Miller Alison L. , Momin Shabnam R. , Welsh Jean A. , Woo Jessica G. , Haycraft Emma ,   the American Heart Association Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health; Council on Epidemiology and Prevention; Council on Lifelong Congenital Heart Disease and Heart Health in the Young; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and Stroke Council
Published: May 2020

A substantial body of research suggests that efforts to prevent pediatric obesity may benefit from targeting not just
what
a child eats, but
how
they eat. Specifically, child obesity prevention should include a component that addresses reasons why children have differing abilities to start and stop eating in response to internal cues of hunger and satiety, a construct known as
eating self‐regulation
. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding how caregivers can be an important influence on children's eating self‐regulation during early childhood. First, we discuss the evidence supporting an association between caregiver feeding and child eating self‐regulation. Second, we discuss what implications the current evidence has for actions caregivers may be able to take to support children's eating self‐regulation. Finally, we consider the broader social, economic, and cultural context around the feeding environment relationship and how this intersects with the implementation of any actions. As far as we are aware, this is the first American Heart Association (AHA) scientific statement to focus on a psychobehavioral approach to reducing obesity risk in young children. It is anticipated that the timely information provided in this review can be used not only by caregivers within the immediate and extended family but also by a broad range of community‐based care providers.
In What Scenarios Does a Mobile Stroke Unit Predict Better Patient Outcomes?
Authors: Holodinsky Jessalyn K. , Kamal Noreen , Zerna Charlotte , Ospel Johanna M. , Zhu Luke , Wilson Alexis T. , Hill Michael D. , Goyal Mayank
Published: May 2020

Background and Purpose—

The mobile stroke unit (MSU) brings imaging and thrombolysis to patients in the field. The MSU has the potential to decrease time from onset to thrombolysis; however, this depends on the location of the patient, the MSU, and the hospital. The MSU will only be able to treat a small subset of patients it is dispatched to. Using conditional probability modeling, we evaluate in which scenarios the MSU exhibits clear benefit over the direct-to-mothership method.

Methods—

Previously published conditional probability models for drip-and-ship versus mothership transport were modified to reflect MSU workflow. It was assumed that the MSU was dispatched from the endovascular therapy center. Eight scenarios were generated, varying treatment efficiency on the MSU and at the endovascular therapy center and the threshold for dispatching the MSU (low threshold: low treatment rate but few missed patients; high threshold: higher treatment rate, potential for missed treatment opportunities).

Results—

The relative difference in outcomes between the MSU and mothership was small. Geographic areas where the MSU is superior to mothership increase in size as treatment time on the MSU decreases. When a high-threshold dispatch system is used, the area where the MSU is superior decreases, but the relative difference in predicted outcomes between the MSU and mothership increases. The largest relative difference favoring the MSU was found in areas where the patient would forgo access to alteplase, based upon a 4.5-hour treatment threshold, using mothership transport.

Conclusions—

There are few scenarios where MSU transport predicts substantially superior outcomes to the mothership method when the MSU is dispatched from the endovascular therapy center. Outcomes using the MSU are maximized when dispatch criteria that maximize patients eligible for thrombolysis treatment are used and treatment times on the MSU are short relative to those of the endovascular therapy center.
Time Matters
Authors: Requena Manuel , Olivé Marta , García-Tornel Álvaro , Rodríguez-Villatoro Noelia , Deck Matías , Juega Jesús , Boned Sandra , Muchada Marian , Piñana Carlos , Coscojuela Pilar , Pagola Jorge , Rodríguez-Luna David , Hernández David , Rubiera Marta , Molina Carlos A. , Tomasello Alejandro , Ribo Marc
Published: May 2020

Background and Purpose—

Direct transfer to angiography-suite (DTAS) protocol is a promising measure to improve onset to recanalization time in patients who undergo endovascular treatment. The magnitude of the improvement of good outcome rates in function of time depends of several factors. We aim to analyze the benefit of DTAS according to time from symptom onset.

Methods—

Retrospective case-control study of 174 consecutive DTAS cases matched with 175 patients initially transferred to computed tomography (directly transferred to computed tomography) from February 2016 to June 2019. To obtain comparable groups on admission, cases and controls were matched by occlusion location, age (±2 years), baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (±2 points), and time from symptoms onset to hospital arrival (±30 minutes). We analyzed the rate of good functional outcome at 3 months (modified Rankin Scale score, 0–2) and safety variables stratified in less or more than 3 hours from onset to arrive.

Results—

There were no significant differences regarding age, sex, or baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score. Median door-to-groin time was shorter in the DTAS patients (16 [3–21] minutes versus 70 [41.5–98.5];
P
<0.01). DTAS patients presented lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at 24 hours (9 [3.5–17] versus 14 [5–19];
P
=0.01) and a lower rate of symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation (4.6% versus 10.9%,
P
<0.03). At 90 days, DTAS patients had a higher rate of good functional outcome (43% versus 29%; odds ratio, 1.81 [95% CI, 1.14–2.87];
P
=0.01). Better outcome in DTAS was observed in patients admitted in the 0 to 3 hours form onset window (n=156, odds ratio 2.63 [95% CI, 1.31–5.28];
P
<0.01), but not in patients admitted in the 3 to 6 hours window (n=193, odds ratio, 1.37 [95% CI, 0.72–2.60];
P
=0.2).

Conclusions—

DTAS seems a feasible and safe strategy to improve functional outcome in patients who undergo endovascular treatment mainly within 3 hours from symptoms onset.
Leucoagaricus callainitinctus—a new species of Leucoagaricus section Piloselli (Agaricaceae) from tropical India

Authors: LATHA K. P. DEEPNA , RAJ K. N. ANIL , MANIMOHAN PATINJAREVEETTIL
Published: May 2020

An interesting species of lepiotaceous fungi, Leucoagaricus callainitinctus sp. nov., is described from Kerala State, India based on morphology and molecular phylogeny. This species is distinguished by basidiocarps that turn dark turquoise on bruising/handling or reacting with NH4OH. A phylogenetic study was conducted based on Maximum likelihood analysis of nrITS sequences. In the phylogram, the new species nested as a distinct lineage in a group, which consisted predominantly of members of section Piloselli of the genus Leucoagaricus. A comprehensive description, photographs of the basidiocarps and the microscopic structures, comparisons with phenetically similar and phylogenetically related species and a phylogram showing the placement of the new species are provided.
Late Pleistocene Red Sea Mollusca: 1. Polyplacophora
Authors: DELL’ANGELO BRUNO , LANDAU BERNARD M. , SOSSO MAURIZIO , TAVIANI MARCO
Published: May 2020

This study describes the chiton fauna (Mollusca, Polyplacophora) from the marine Pleistocene coral reef deposits bordering the Red Sea coast and dating to the last interglacial epoch (Marine Isotopic Substage 5e, MIS5e). Twenty-one species were identified, of which only three were previously known from the Pleistocene of the Red Sea (Lucilina sueziensis, Acanthopleura vaillantii and Acanthochitona penicillata). Eight are recorded as fossil for the first time. Six are described as new (Lucilina confusa n. sp., L. aqabaensis n. sp., L. aegyptiaca n. sp., L. colantonii n. sp., “Onithochiton” vandingeneni” n. sp., and Acanthochitona interglacialis n. sp.) and two are assigned at generic level (Callochiton sp. and Craspedochiton sp.). Four of these new species (Lucilina confusa n. sp., L. aegyptiaca n. sp., L. colantonii n. sp. and “Onithochiton” vandingeneni n. sp.) are still living in the Red Sea, bringing to 28 the number of extant species known from the Red Sea. These Pleistocene Red Sea assemblages represent the most diverse chiton fauna yet reported from any interglacial deposit worldwide.
Validation of Xiphopenaeus dincao Carvalho-Batista, Terossi, Zara, Mantelatto & Costa and Xiphopenaeus baueri Carvalho-Batista, Terossi, Zara, Mantelatto & Costa (Decapoda: Penaeidae) from western Atlantic
Authors: CARVALHO-BATISTA ABNER , TEROSSI MARIANA , ZARA FERNANDO J. , MANTELATTO FERNANDO L. , COSTA ROGÉRIO C.
Published: May 2020

Two species of Penaeidae shrimp from western Atlantic were described by Carvalho-Batista et al. (2019) as Xiphopenaeus dincao and Xiphopenaeus baueri. The descriptions and figures presented by Carvalho-Batista et al. (2019) and the posterior author’s correction (Carvalho-Batista et al., 2020) characterize the species. However, the journal issue in which the description was published is online only, and the article with the new names did not include a Zoobank registration number (LSID), required for validation of new names in electronic-only publications (ICZN 2012). Thus, the names Xiphopenaeus dincao and Xiphopenaeus baueri, as published in Scientific Reports 9: 15281, is not available according the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999, 2012). Therefore, the present note serves to validate the names Xiphopenaeus dincao and Xiphopenaeus baueri by fulfilling ICZN conditions for nomenclatural availability. Type specimens of both species are deposited in Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Taxonomic remarks on the alpheid shrimp genus Triacanthoneus Anker, 2010, with description of a second eastern Pacific species (Malacostraca: Decapoda)
Authors: ANKER ARTHUR
Published: May 2020

The recently described alpheid genus Triacanthoneus Anker, 2010 is reassessed based on new material from the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Panama, and the southern Gulf of Mexico. Salmoneus armatus Anker, 2010 is tentatively transferred to Triacanthoneus and the latter genus is redefined. A new eastern Pacific species of Triacanthoneus is described based on a single specimen collected by scuba diving off Coiba Island on the Pacific coast of Panama. Triacanthoneus blanca sp. nov. is closely related to its only eastern Pacific congener, T. pacificus Anker, 2010, which is reported for the first time from the Las Perlas Islands in the Gulf of Panama. Morphological variation in T. toro Anker, 2010 is discussed on the basis of new topotypical material from Bocas del Toro, Panama, and a single specimen tentatively reported as T. cf. toro from Sisal, Mexico. An identification key to the seven currently known species of Triacanthoneus, with updated distributional and ecological information, as well as high-resolution colour photographs of four species are also provided.
Synopsis of the genus Pseudocriopsis (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
Authors: MONNÉ MARCELA L. , SOUZA DIEGO DE S. , DE MELLO AMANDA P. , MONNÉ MIGUEL A.
Published: May 2020

A synopsis of the flat-faced longhorned beetle genus Pseudocriopsis Melzer, 1931 is presented. Pseudocriopsis abare sp. nov. is described from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pseudocriopsis arthuri Audureau, 2017 is transferred to Leptostylus LeConte, 1852, as Leptostylus arthuri comb. nov.
Head & Heart: Promoting Holistic Biblical Engagement for Ordinary Christians
Authors: Hunt Cherryl
Published: May 2020

Studies with members of church congregations, and with those embarking on training for ministry, suggest that ordinary Christians being trained in critical biblical engagement perceive there to be two alternative approaches to engaging with the Bible. These are ‘academic’ or ‘intellectual’ stances, mediated by Christian ‘professionals’, and ‘inspirational’ or ‘contemplative’ routes, mediated through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This study examines such perceptions, historical understandings of the nature of biblical engagement, and discussion of this concept within contemporary academic circles; its aim is to propose strategies by which critical and confessional biblical engagement by ordinary Christians might be both integrated and holistic.
The Time Is Now
Authors: Mika Elizabeth
Published: May 2020

Like many Americans, I greeted Donald Trump’s presidential run announce-ment in 2015 with bemusement. However, my reaction changed quickly. Trump’s candidacy looked and sounded too familiar. Raised in communist Poland, the first post–World War II generation, I was in the cohort that grew up with the wounds of Nazism always vivid in our collective consciousness. The questions of good and evil, and the desire to understand our human capacity for compassion and cruelty, have preoccupied me as long as I can remember. Watching Trump pulverize his stunned opposition on both political sides to the wild enthusiasm of the expanding army of his supporters left little doubt in my mind about the outcome of the election. I imagined that, as it progressed, there would be a chorus of voices warning about the consequences of Trump’s inevitable presidency. Surely Americans understood the dangers in store for them—and if by any chance they did not, then experts in psychology and history would be able to warn them. Naively, I waited to see such warnings in mainstream media, but there were none. At best, we were treated to articles portraying Trump’s apparent narcissism as a personality trait typical for all politicians and not posing a threat to democracy or the world. He would pivot, the conventional wisdom went, and/or surround himself with qualified people. This reasoning, of course, turned out to be profoundly wrong.
Estimating the Effect of Competitiveness on Turnout across Regime Types
Authors: Eichhorn Kristin , Linhart Eric
Published: May 2020

Electoral turnout as an indicator of political participation, political equality and, thus, democratic performance is one of the most important variables in the study of elections. While numerous studies have contributed to the explanation of electoral turnout, the picture is still incomplete. Notably, a variable which pertains to the core of elections, the competitiveness of electoral races, is not fully understood yet. We contribute to filling this gap by accounting for different effects of competitiveness in democracies and autocracies, as well as against the background of varying institutional settings. Our analyses suggest that vote margins are a suitable measure of competitiveness, but only in democracies with plurality or majority electoral systems. Ex ante measures of competitiveness capture the concept of competitiveness more comprehensively and are applicable across electoral systems and regime types.
Corona Crisis and Inequality: Why Management Research Needs a Societal Turn
Authors: Bapuji Hari , Patel Charmi , Ertug Gokhan , Allen David G.
Published: May 2020

As the world struggles to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, the stark inequalities in our societies have been laid bare, and the interplay between organizations and societies has also become evident yet again. This crisis underscores the need for management scholars to take a societal turn and examine how organizational practices interact with societal economic inequality. To illustrate this approach, we discuss organizational practices—corporate social responsibility, work design, recruitment and selection, and compensation management—that can contribute to the normalization, reinforcement, and reduction of economic inequalities in society. We conclude by calling on scholars of inequality, as well as of broader management research, to take a societal turn to enhance the relevance and impact of management research.
How can we trust a political leader? Ethics, institutions, and relational theory
Authors: Holdo Markus
Published: May 2020

That citizens can trust leaders in politics and the public sphere to be sincere and truthful helps to make democracy work. However, the idea of authentic communication raises both sociological and ethical questions. Scholars focusing on institutional conditions emphasize that audiences only have reasons to trust speakers that appear to have incentives to be truthful, unless they know them personally. However, theorists of ethics argue that authentic communication requires genuine commitment, which is conceptually at odds with self-interested reasoning. This article finds that both incentives and genuine commitment are necessary conditions for trustworthiness in speech, but neither is sufficient on its own. The problem is thus how to combine them. Examining the work of Habermas and Bourdieu, this article develops a relational perspective on authentic communication. It suggests that latent institutions can induce trust by making trustworthiness preferable, and still allow speakers to earn citizens’ trust through genuine ethical commitment.
The micro-politics of energy efficiency: An investigation of ‘eco-social interventions’ in western Switzerland
Authors: Bertho Béatrice , Sahakian Marlyne , Naef Patrick
Published: May 2020

Households have a role to play in the so-called ‘energy turn’ in Switzerland, a policy framework that calls for more efficient energy usage. Against this backdrop, this article critically analyses the mechanisms and running of a programme aimed at improving energy usage among low-income households in western Switzerland, bringing together both environmental and social objectives or what was termed an ‘eco-social intervention’. Based on ethnographic fieldwork and informed by a Foucauldian governmentality approach, the power dynamics of this programme are exposed, and its effect on the lived experience and subjectification of both household members and energy ambassadors are discussed. We argue that while presenting the appearance of technical rationality and political neutrality, this type of programme seeks to govern behaviours and leaves the ultimate responsibility for the protection of the environment on individuals, rather than promoting more collective and inclusive actions. Furthermore, we unravel how this programme participates in the reproduction of social differentiation by aiming at a particular social group, low-income households living in subsidised housing. We conclude with a discussion on how initiatives aimed at households could engage with the more complex arrangements of everyday life, rather than solely individual eco-gestures, while accounting for power dynamics.
Information processing costs and stock price informativeness: Evidence from the XBRL mandate
Authors: Huang Yuyun , Shan Yuan George , Yang Joey W
Published: May 2020

Using the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) mandate as a pseudo-natural experiment, we provide empirical evidence that reduction in information processing costs (IPC) leads to more informative stock price through two channels, the firm-specific information incorporation, and increased disclosures. We also find that younger firms with relatively shorter public disclosure history benefit more than older firms, supporting the conjecture that XBRL accelerates the information incorporation process and expedites market’s learning about younger firms faster. Our results are robust to alternative measures of price informativeness, individual batch tests, placebo tests, and potential bias from financial industry.

JEL Classification: G14, M41, M48
Urologic surgery and invasive procedures during coronavirus pandemic: Retrospective comparison of risk infection in a referral Covid hospital and in a free-Covid hospital
Authors: Antonio Maria Granata , Vasileios Petrainas , Giacomo Piero Incarbone , Ai Ling Loredana Romanò , Marco Rosso , Giulia Garelli , Stefania Ranzoni , Federica Marchesotti , Gregori Andrea
Published: May 2020

Introduction:

On 21 February 2020, ‘Luigi Sacco’ Hospital was identified as a Covid-19 referral Hospital in Lombardy. The Department of Urology of our Healthcare Institution consists of two Urology Units, one at ‘L.Sacco’ Hospital (hereinafter referred to as Covid-19 hospital) and one at ‘Fatebenefratelli’ Hospital (hereinafter referred to as Covid-19-free hospital). The Healthcare System’s Administration communicated to all personnel the implementation of a planned ‘biological risk protocol’ at the Covid-19 hospital, while the Covid-19-free hospital followed regular government recommendations. We evaluated the risk of Sars-Cov-2 infection in the patients treated for surgical or invasive urologic procedures during the epidemic in the two different hospitals.

Materials and methods:

At the Covid-19 hospital, 12 patients underwent surgery and 51 patients invasive diagnostic procedures between 22 February and 8 March 2020; in the same period, at the Covid-19-free hospital, 21 patients underwent surgery and 56 patients invasive diagnostic procedures. We compared the incidence of Sars-Cov-2 infection among the patients who were accessed in the two Urology Units in the period of different restrictive measures after the outbreak of the epidemic.

Results:

We registered no cases of Sars-Cov-2 infection in the patients hospitalized in that period in Covid-19 hospital, despite three cases of swab positivity in the Covid-19-free hospital.

Conclusion:

The early implementation of extraordinary measures to restrict the spread of the virus offers a good protection also in a Covid-19 referral Hospital. The adoption of safety measures may be considered even after the end of the pandemic in all the health systems.
The Treatise of the Vessels (Massekhet Kelim) and traditions concerning Eden and the gold of Parvaim
Authors: Akagi Kai
Published: May 2020

The Treatise of the Vessels identifies the gold of the Temple as gold of Parvaim from Eden. The idea that the Temple’s gold came from Eden is otherwise unattested, but it may have come from exegetical reflection on scriptural texts and traditions concerning gold and Eden. (1) The description of gold as “good” is unique to Gen 2 and 2 Chr 3. (2) A chain of scriptural texts could associate the gold of the Temple with Eden through linking Parvaim, Ophir, and Havilah. (3) Traditions concerning golden fruit could have contributed to associating the gold of the Temple with fruit trees in Eden. These intertexts and traditions not only provide examples of the kind of scriptural exegesis that may have been formative in the composition of the Treatise of the Vessels but also demonstrate similarity to more widely attested traditions concerning the gold of Parvaim, the Garden of Eden, and the Temple in the Midrash, Talmud, and Targum Pseudo-Jonathan. Recognizing such similarities may be an initial step in further consideration of the context of the text’s composition.
History of the opposition between psychogenesis and organogenesis in classic psychiatry: Part 2
Authors: Dimitriadis Yorgos
Published: May 2020

This paper is the second of two to explore historical concepts of causation in psychiatry. Psychogenesis (as opposed to organogenesis) is superficially attractive but ambiguous, as it can apply either to something that is produced by the psyche or alternatively to the effect on the psyche from external factors. The term endogenous may be contrasted to exogenous or reactive, but the meanings of each have become blurred and ambiguous. Difficulty also arises when contrasting the process versus comprehensibility of mental disorders, as the limits of what may be understood are imprecise. A fourth comparison is between temperament and constitution against types of reaction, and again there is a tendency to circularity. Finally, a way forward is suggested using the notion of psychosomatic brain diseases.
The Refined Middle-Range Theory on Women’s Leadership in Asian Culture
Authors: Im Eun-Ok , Wang Hsiu-Hung , Tsai Hsiu-Min , Sakashita Reiko , Oh Eui Geum , Lin Chia Chin , Kunaviktikul Wipada , Inouye Jillian , Huang Lian-Hua , Broome Marion E.
Published: May 2020

Introduction: Because virtually no theories were available to explain unique characteristics of Asian women’s leadership in nursing, a middle-range theory on women’s leadership in Asian culture was previously published. To reflect recent political and social changes in different countries, there is a necessity to refine the theory. The purpose of this article is to present the refined middle-range theory on Asian women’s leadership in nursing. Methodology: Using an integrative approach, the theory was further developed based on two major sources: literature reviews and exemplars/cases from six different countries. Results: The Refined Middle-Range Theory on Women’s Leadership in Asian Culture has two main domains: (a) leadership frames and (b) leadership contexts. The domain of leadership contexts has been extended with two additional main concepts including demographic contexts and health workforce/system contexts. Discussion: The refined theory is expected to guide Asian women’s leadership in nursing across the globe.
Hydrogen Sulfide Therapy Suppresses Cofilin-2 and Attenuates Ischemic Heart Failure in a Mouse Model of Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Nguyen Khoa , Chau Vinh Q. , Mauro Adolfo G. , Durrant David , Toldo Stefano , Abbate Antonio , Das Anindita , Salloum Fadi N.
Published: May 2020

Aims:

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) protects against ischemic and inflammatory injury following myocardial ischemia via induction of microRNA (miR)-21. We sought to determine whether H2S attenuates ischemic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and interrogate the role of cofilin-2, a target of miR-21, in this protective process.

Methods and Results:

Adult male mice underwent myocardial infarction (MI) by coronary artery ligation after baseline echocardiography. Following MI, mice were treated with Na2S (100 μg/kg/day; intraperitoneal [IP]) or saline up to 28 days. End-diastolic pressure, measured by Millar catheter, was significantly increased ( P < .05 vs sham) at 3 days post-MI in the saline group, which was attenuated with Na2S. Left ventricular (LV) fractional shortening decreased significantly at 28 days post-MI in the saline group but was preserved with Na2S and LV infarct scar size was smaller in Na2S group as compared to control. Apoptotic signaling, measured by Bcl-2/Bax ratio, was significantly increased in the saline group but was mitigated with Na2S. Survival rate was 2-fold higher in Na2S group compared to saline control ( P < .05). Proteomic analysis and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight (TOF)/TOF tandem mass spectrometry identified significant changes in proapoptotic cofilin-2 expression, a specific target of miR-21, between saline- and sodium sulfide -treated mice at 28 days post-MI. Western blot analysis confirmed a significant increase in cofilin-2 after MI, which was suppressed with Na2S treatment. Chronic Na2S treatment also attenuated inflammasome formation and activation leading to reduction of maladaptive signaling.

Conclusion:

Na2S treatment after MI preserves LV function and improves survival through attenuation of inflammasome-mediated adverse remodeling. We propose H2S donors as promising therapeutic tools for ischemic HFrEF.
Anesthetic Approach to Postpneumonectomy Syndrome
Authors: Doan Vivian , Hammond Brandon , Haithcock Benjamin , Kolarczyk Lavinia
Published: May 2020

Postpneumonectomy syndrome is a rare complication in patients who have previously had a pneumonectomy. Over time, the mediastinum may rotate toward the vacant pleural space, which can cause extrinsic airway and esophageal compression. As such, these patients typically present with progressive dyspnea and dysphagia. There is a paucity of reports in the anesthesiology literature regarding the intraoperative anesthetic approach to such rare patients. We present a case of an 18-year-old female found to have postpneumonectomy syndrome requiring thoracotomy with insertion of tissue expanders. Our case report illustrates the complexities involved in the care of these patients with regards to airway management, ventilation concerns, and potential for hemodynamic compromise. This case report underscores the importance of extensive multidisciplinary planning.
Peripheral Nerve Injury in Thoracic Surgery Detected by Automated Somatosensory Evoked Potential Monitoring
Authors: Cios Theodore J. , Barre Shane M. , Pradhan Sandeep , Roberts S. Michael
Published: May 2020

Study Objective. Our objectives were to estimate the incidence of symptoms of peripheral nerve injury (sPNI) in thoracic surgical patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery or open thoracotomy and to determine whether intraoperative somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) waveform changes correlate with postoperative peripheral neuropathic symptoms. Methods. We conducted a prospective observational study in the operating room of a tertiary hospital. We measured SSEPs intraoperatively and assessed patients for sPNI postoperatively. Results. Forty-four patients consented. Six were excluded from analysis. We found that 42% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 26% to 57%) of patients undergoing thoracic surgery had significant changes in SSEP amplitude and latency. Furthermore, 16% (95% CI = 4% to 28%) of patients had new postoperative symptoms of sensory or motor deficits in an upper extremity. We calculated a sensitivity of 66.7% (95% CI = 29.0% to 100%) and a specificity of 50% (95% CI = 33% to 67.3%) for the identification of sPNI based on automated intraoperative SSEP changes. Conclusions. We identified the incidence of SSEP changes in thoracic surgery (42%) and the incidence of postoperative sPNI after thoracic surgery (16%). We identified a positive correlation between intraoperative SSEP changes and postoperative sPNI, which after multivariate analysis was not significant given the small sample size of the study. By the time sensory and/or motor changes are detected postoperatively, it may be too late to reverse the nerve damage. Future versions of the EPAD device could provide anesthesiologists a way to monitor for the development of sPNI, and make changes before a potential injury becomes permanent.
Balancing the Covid-19-motivated vascular access guidelines and patient-centred care of pre-dialysis candidates
Authors: Georgiadis George S , Argyriou Christos , Baktiroglu Selcuk , Lazarides Miltos K , Mallios Alexandros , Tordoir Jan HM
Published: May 2020

The recommendations recently proposed by the European and American Vascular Societies in this new ‘Covid-19’ era regarding the triage of various vascular operations into urgent, emergent and programmed based on the nature of their pathology aim at reserving health care expenses and hospital staff towards managing the current unexpected worldwide pandemic to the highest possible degree. The suggestion for implementation of these changes into real-world practice, however, does not come without a cost. In particular, the recommendation for deferral of access creation in pre-dialysis patients, ethical, socio-economic and medico-legal issues arise which should be seriously taken into consideration. At the end of the day, vascular access creation is the lifeline of haemodialysis patients and the indication for surgery warrants patient-specific clinical judgement rather than ‘group labelling’.