bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validity evidence for Quality Improvement Knowledge Application Tool Revised (QIKAT-R) scores: consequences of rater number and type using neurology cases
Authors: Kassardjian Charles , Park Yoon Soo , Braksick Sherri , Cutsforth-Gregory Jeremy , Robertson Carrie , Young Nathan , Leep Hunderfund Andrea
Published: April 2019

Objectives

To develop neurology scenarios for use with the Quality Improvement Knowledge Application Tool Revised (QIKAT-R), gather and evaluate validity evidence, and project the impact of scenario number, rater number and rater type on score reliability.

Methods

Six neurological case scenarios were developed. Residents were randomly assigned three scenarios before and after a quality improvement (QI) course in 2015 and 2016. For each scenario, residents crafted an aim statement, selected a measure and proposed a change to address a quality gap. Responses were scored by six faculty raters (two with and four without QI expertise) using the QIKAT-R. Validity evidence from content, response process, internal structure, relations to other variables and consequences was collected. A generalisability (G) study examined sources of score variability, and decision analyses estimated projected reliability for different numbers of raters and scenarios and raters with and without QI expertise.

Results

Raters scored 163 responses from 28 residents. The mean QIKAT-R score was 5.69 (SD 1.06). G-coefficient and Phi-coefficient were 0.65 and 0.60, respectively. Interrater reliability was fair for raters without QI expertise (intraclass correlation = 0.53, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.72) and acceptable for raters with QI expertise (intraclass correlation = 0.66, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.88). Postcourse scores were significantly higher than precourse scores (6.05, SD 1.48 vs 5.22, SD 1.5; p < 0.001). Sufficient reliability for formative assessment (G-coefficient > 0.60) could be achieved by three raters scoring six scenarios or two raters scoring eight scenarios, regardless of rater QI expertise.

Conclusions

Validity evidence was sufficient to support the use of the QIKAT-R with multiple scenarios and raters to assess resident QI knowledge application for formative or low-stakes summative purposes. The results provide practical information for educators to guide implementation decisions.
Fosdagrocorat (PF-04171327) versus prednisone or placebo in rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, phase IIb study
Authors: Buttgereit Frank , Strand Vibeke , Lee Eun Bong , Simon-Campos Abraham , McCabe Dorothy , Genet Astrid , Tammara Brinda , Rojo Ricardo , Hey-Hadavi Judith
Published: April 2019

Objectives

Glucocorticoids have anti-inflammatory, transrepression-mediated effects, although adverse events (AEs; transactivation-mediated effects) limit long-term use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of fosdagrocorat (PF-04171327), a dissociated agonist of the glucocorticoid receptor, versus prednisone or placebo.

Methods

In this 12-week, phase II, randomised controlled trial, 323 patients with moderate to severe RA were randomised 1:1:1:1:1:1:1 to fosdagrocorat (1 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg), prednisone (5 mg or 10 mg) or placebo, once daily. The primary endpoints (week 8) were American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria (ACR20) responses, and percentage changes from baseline in biomarkers of bone formation (procollagen type 1 N-terminal peptide [P1NP]) and resorption (urinary N-telopeptide to urinary creatinine ratio [uNTx:uCr]). Safety was assessed.

Results

ACR20 responses with fosdagrocorat 10 mg and 15 mg were superior to placebo, and fosdagrocorat 15 mg was non-inferior to prednisone 10 mg (week 8 model-predicted ACR20 responses: 47%, 61%, 69% and 73% vs 51%, 71% and 37% with fosdagrocorat 1 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg vs prednisone 5 mg, 10 mg and placebo, respectively). Percentage changes from baseline in P1NP with fosdagrocorat 1 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg met non-inferiority criteria to prednisone 5 mg. Corresponding changes in uNTx:uCr varied considerably. All fosdagrocorat doses reduced glycosylated haemoglobin levels. AEs were similar between groups; 63 (19.5%) patients reported treatment-related AEs; 9 (2.8%) patients reported serious AEs. No patients had adrenal insufficiency, treatment-related significant infections or laboratory abnormalities. No deaths were reported.

Conclusion

In patients with RA, fosdagrocorat 10 mg and 15 mg demonstrated efficacy similar to prednisone 10 mg and safety similar to prednisone 5 mg.

Trial registration number

NCT01393639
Site Prediction Model for the over Rooftop Path in a Suburban Environment at Millimeter Wave
Authors: Yoon Young Keun , Kim Kyung Won , Chong Young Jun
Published: April 2019

This paper proposes the site-specific pathloss model for a small town in a suburban environment at millimeter wave. Also, the site general characteristics are provided in the entire measurement area of the small town. The proposed pathloss model is based on the moving measurement campaign according to the distance between a transmitter and a receiver in the candidate millimeter wave band or future five-generation service. In addition, the probability characteristics of pathloss such as the cumulative density function are shown to estimate the spreading characteristics of the wideband signal with a five-hundred-MHz bandwidth. Measurement was performed for the small town in a suburban covered with low-rise commercial restaurants or houses. Transmitting signals propagate through the over rooftop of low-rise houses of average ten meters height. Their multipath signals may be arrived at a receiving station located at the below roof of the house by reflection, diffraction, and scattered mechanism. A current propagation model for the over rooftop is based on generic or geometrical optic equations in a fully non-line-of-sight environment. But, non-line-of-sight cases in a realistic suburban environment include partly the open space between houses. Therefore, the definition of the propagation model of this sight-specific case is very important so clearly as to show the difference for the over rooftop according to the different displacements of houses in a non-line-of-sight environment. Finally, we suggest the improved propagation model of pathloss that can reflect various environments in a small town.
Dietary Genistein Could Modulate Hypothalamic Circadian Entrainment, Reduce Body Weight, and Improve Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Female Mice
Authors: Zhou Liyuan , Xiao Xinhua , Zhang Qian , Zheng Jia , Li Ming , Yu Miao , Wang Xiaojing , Deng Mingqun , Zhai Xiao , Li Rongrong , Liu Jieying
Published: April 2019

Genistein has beneficial effects on metabolic disorders. However, the specific mechanism is not clearly understood. In light of the significant role of the hypothalamus in energy and metabolic homeostasis, this study was designed to explore whether dietary genistein intake could mitigate the harmful effects of a high-fat diet on glucose and lipid metabolism and whether any alterations caused by dietary genistein were associated with hypothalamic gene expression profiles. C57BL/6 female mice were fed a high-fat diet without genistein (HF), a high-fat diet with genistein (HFG), or a normal control diet (CON) for 8 weeks. Body weight and energy intake were assessed. At the end of the study, glucose tolerance and serum levels of insulin and lipids were analyzed. Hypothalamic tissue was collected for whole transcriptome sequencing and reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) validation. Energy intake and body weight were significantly reduced in the mice of the HFG group compared with those of the HF group. Mice fed the HFG diet had improved glucose tolerance and decreased serum triacylglycerol, free fatty acids, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with those fed the HF diet. The HFG diet also modulated gene expression in the hypothalamus; the most abundant genes were enriched in the circadian entrainment pathway. Dietary genistein intake could reduce body weight, improve glucose and lipid metabolism, and regulate hypothalamic circadian entrainment. The ability of genistein intake to influence regulation of the hypothalamic circadian rhythm is important since this could provide a novel target for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.
Blind Parameter Identification of MAR Model and Mutation Hybrid GWO‐SCA Optimized SVM for Fault Diagnosis of Rotating Machinery
Authors: Fu Wenlong , Tan Jiawen , Zhang Xiaoyuan , Chen Tie , Wang Kai
Published: April 2019

As a crucial and widely used component in industrial fields with great complexity, the health condition of rotating machinery is directly related to production efficiency and safety. Consequently, recognizing and diagnosing rotating machine faults remain to be one of the main concerns in preventing failures of mechanical systems, which can enhance the reliability and efficiency of mechanical systems. In this paper, a novel approach based on blind parameter identification of MAR model and mutation hybrid GWO‐SCA optimization is proposed to diagnose faults for rotating machinery. Signals collected from different types of faults were firstly split into sets of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) by variational mode decomposition (VMD), the decomposing mode number K of which was preset with central frequency observation method. Then the multivariate autoregressive (MAR) model of all IMFs was established, whose order was determined by Schwartz Bayes Criterion (SBC), and all parameters of the model were identified blindly through QR decomposition, where key features were subsequently extracted via principal component analysis (PCA) to construct feature vectors of different fault types. Afterwards, a hybrid optimization algorithm combining mutation operator, grey wolf optimizer (GWO), and sine cosine algorithm (SCA), termed mutation hybrid GWO‐SCA (MHGWOSCA), was proposed for parameter selection of support vector machine (SVM). The optimal SVM model was later employed to classify different fault samples. The engineering application and contrastive analysis indicate the availability and superiority of the proposed method.
Systemic Risk in the Interbank Market with Overlapping Portfolios
Authors: Jiang Shanshan , Fan Hong
Published: April 2019

The increasing frequency and scope of the financial crisis have attracted more attention in the research of the systemic risk of banking system. A new model for the interbank market with overlapping portfolios is proposed to simulate a banking system in this work. The proposed model uses a bipartite network of banks and their assets to analyze the impact of bank investment on the stability of the banking system. In addition, this model introduces investment risk and allows banks to make up for liquidity by selling devaluated assets, which reflects the operating rules of the banking system more realistically. The results show that allowing banks to sell devaluated assets to make up for liquidity can improve the stability of the banking system and the interbank market can also improve the stability of the banking system. For the investment of banks, the investment risk is an uncertain factor that affects the stability of the banking system. The proposed model further analyzes the impact of average investment interest rate, savings interest rate, deposit reserve ratio, and investment asset diversity on the stability of the banking system. The model provides a tool for policy‐makers and supervision agencies to prevent the systemic risk of banking system.
Synthesis of an Activatable Tetra-Substituted Nickel Phthalocyanines-4(3H)-quinazolinone Conjugate and Its Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Elsharif Asma M. , Youssef Tamer E. , Al-Jameel Suhailah S. , Mohamed Hanan H. , Ansari Mohammad Azam , Rehman Suriya , Akhtar Sultan
Published: April 2019

The aim of this study was to synthesize a series of nickel(II)phthalocyanines (NiPcs) bearing four 4(3H)-quinazolinone ring system units, (qz)4NiPcs 4a–d. The electronic factors in the 4(3H)-quinazolinone moiety that attached to the NiPc skeleton had a magnificent effect on the antibacterial activity of the newly synthesized (qz)4NiPcs 4a–d against Escherichia coli. The minimum MICs and MBCs value were recorded for compounds 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d, respectively. The results indicated that the studied (qz)4NiPcs 4a–d units possessed a broad spectrum of activity against Escherichia coli. Their antibacterial activities were found in the order of 4d > 4c > 4b > 4a against Escherichia coli, and the strongest antibacterial activity was achieved with compound 4d.
Study on External Gas-Assisted Mold Temperature Control for Improving the Melt Flow Length of Thin Rib Products in the Injection Molding Process
Authors: The Nhan Phan , Do Thanh Trung , Anh Son Tran , Son Minh Pham
Published: April 2019

In the injection molding process, mold temperature control is one of the most efficient methods for improving product quality. In this research, an external gas-assisted mold temperature control (Ex-GMTC) with gas temperature variation from 200°C to 400°C was applied to thin wall injection molding at melt thicknesses from 0.2 to 0.6 mm. The melt flow length was evaluated through the application of this system to the mold of a thin rib product. The results show that the heating process achieves high efficiency in the initial 20 s, with a maximum heating rate of 6.4°C/s. In this case, the mold surface reached 158.4°C. By applying Ex-GMTC to a 0.2 mm flow thickness, the flow length increased from 37.85 to 41.32 mm with polypropylene (PP) material and from 14.54 to 15.8 mm with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material. With the thin rib mold and use of Ex-GMTC, the mold temperature varied from 112.0°C to 140.8°C and the thin rib height reached 7.0 mm.
Understanding Collaborative Effects between the Polymer Gel Structure and the Applied Electrical Field in Gel Electrophoresis Separation
Authors: Pascal Jennifer A. , Medidhi Koteswara Rao , Oyanader Mario A. , Stretz Holly A. , Arce Pedro E.
Published: April 2019

The collaborative effects between an applied orthogonal electrical field and the internal structure of polymer gels in gel electrophoresis is studied by using microscopic-based electrophoretic transport models that then are upscaled via the format of electro kinetics-hydrodynamics (EKHD). The interplay of the electrical field and internal gel morphology could impact the separation of biomolecules that, because of similar chemical properties, are usually difficult to separate. In this study, we focus on an irregular pore geometry of the polymer-gel structure by using an axially varying pore (i.e., an axially divergent section) and an orthogonal (to the main flow of solutes) applied electrical field. The microscopic-based conservation of species equation is formulated for the standard case of electrophoresis of charged particles within a geometrical domain, i.e., a pore, and upscaled to obtain macroscopic-based diffusion and mobility coefficients. These coefficients are then used in the calculation of the optimal time of separation to study the effect of the varying parameters of the pore structure under different values of the electrical field. The results are qualitatively consistent with those reported, in the literature, by using computational-based approaches as well as with experiments also reported in the literature, previously. The study shows the important collaborative effects between the applied electrical field and the internal geometry of the polymer gels that could lead to improving biomolecule separation in gel electrophoresis.
Expressions of MMP-12, TIMP-4, and Neutrophil Elastase in PBMCs and Exhaled Breath Condensate in Patients with COPD and Their Relationships with Disease Severity and Acute Exacerbations
Authors: Hao Wendong , Li Manxiang , Zhang Yunqing , Zhang Cailian , Xue Yani
Published: April 2019

Objective. The purpose of this study was to compare matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12), neutrophil elastase (NE), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-4 (TIMP-4) in peripheral blood of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and controls. At the same time, MMP-12, NE, and TIMP-4 in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) were also evaluated. Methods. Peripheral blood and EBC samples from COPD patients and healthy controls were collected. In serum and EBC, MMP-12, NE, and TIMP-4 proteins were detected by enzyme-linked immunoassays. The mRNA expression levels of MMP-12, NE, and TIMP-4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results. The concentration of TIMP-4 protein in EBC was lower in patients with COPD (P<0.001). MMP-12 (P=0.046), NE (P=0.027), and TIMP-4 (P=0.005) proteins in serum of patients with COPD showed higher levels of concentration. The mRNA of MMP-12 (P=0.0067), NE (P=0.0058), and TIMP-4 (P=0.0006) in PBMCs of COPD patients showed higher expression levels. Compared with stable patients, mRNA expression level of NE (P=0.033) in PBMCs of patients with acute exacerbation of COPD was increased. There were differences in the ratio of MMP-12/TIMP-4 in PBMC (P=0.0055), serum (P=0.0427), and EBC (P=0.0035) samples between COPD patients and healthy controls. The mRNA expression of MMP-12 (r=−0.3958, P=0.0186) and NE (r=−0.3694, P=0.0290) in COPD patients was negatively correlated with pulmonary function. However, the mRNA expression of TIMP-4 (r=0.2871, P=0.0945) in PBMCs was not correlated with the FEV1 of the pulmonary function. Serum MMP-12 level was positively correlated with the MMP-12 level in EBC (P=0.0387). The level of TIMP-4 in serum was not correlated with the level in the EBC sample (P=0.4332). Conclusion. The expression levels of MMP-12, NE, and TIMP-4 in PBMCs and serum were elevated in COPD patients. In PBMCs of COPD patients, the mRNA expression level of NE may predict acute exacerbation, and MMP-12 mRNA expression level may be used to reflect the severity of airflow limitation. However, to better assess their diagnostic or prognostic value, larger studies are necessary.
Single-Trial Decoding of Scalp EEG under Natural Conditions
Authors: Tuckute Greta , Hansen Sofie Therese , Pedersen Nicolai , Steenstrup Dea , Hansen Lars Kai
Published: April 2019

There is significant current interest in decoding mental states from electroencephalography (EEG) recordings. EEG signals are subject-specific, are sensitive to disturbances, and have a low signal-to-noise ratio, which has been mitigated by the use of laboratory-grade EEG acquisition equipment under highly controlled conditions. In the present study, we investigate single-trial decoding of natural, complex stimuli based on scalp EEG acquired with a portable, 32 dry-electrode sensor system in a typical office setting. We probe generalizability by a leave-one-subject-out cross-validation approach. We demonstrate that support vector machine (SVM) classifiers trained on a relatively small set of denoised (averaged) pseudotrials perform on par with classifiers trained on a large set of noisy single-trial samples. We propose a novel method for computing sensitivity maps of EEG-based SVM classifiers for visualization of EEG signatures exploited by the SVM classifiers. Moreover, we apply an NPAIRS resampling framework for estimation of map uncertainty, and thus show that effect sizes of sensitivity maps for classifiers trained on small samples of denoised data and large samples of noisy data are similar. Finally, we demonstrate that the average pseudotrial classifier can successfully predict the class of single trials from withheld subjects, which allows for fast classifier training, parameter optimization, and unbiased performance evaluation in machine learning approaches for brain decoding.
IL1RN Polymorphisms Are Associated with a Decreased Risk of Esophageal Cancer Susceptibility in a Chinese Population
Authors: Wang Tianchang , Feng Yan , Zhao Zheng , Wang Hao , Zhang Yanbing , Zhang Yongtong , Liu Huijuan , Jin Tianbo , Liu Qiufang
Published: April 2019

Background: Recent evidence suggested that IL1RN (interleukin-1 receptor antagonist) polymorphisms increased the susceptibility to cancers. The present study aimed to evaluate whether IL1RN was related to esophageal cancer susceptibility in a Northwest Han Chinese population. Methods: The case-control study was conducted on 384 esophageal cancer patients and 499 healthy controls. We successfully genotyped four SNPs distributed in IL1RN. The Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database was used to observe the expression of IL1RN in esophageal cancer tissues and normal tissues. RegulomeDB and HaploReg v4.1 were used to calculate possible functional effects of the polymorphisms. We also used genetic models to detect any potential association between IL1RN variants and esophageal cancer risk. Results: In our study, rs3181052 was associated with a reduced risk of esophageal cancer in the codominant (odds ratio [OR] = 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52–0.93, p = 0.040), the dominant (OR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.57–0.99, p = 0.041), and the overdominant (OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.54–0.93, p = 0.012) model. The rs452204 was associated with a 0.76-fold (OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.58–0.99; p = 0.043) decreased esophageal cancer risk under the overdominant model without adjustment. We also found that rs3181052 had a negative effect on esophageal cancer under the overdominant model (OR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.53–0.97, p = 0.033) adjusted for age and gender. In stratified analyses by age >55 years, rs3181052 reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in the dominant and overdominant models. In addition, rs315919 had a remarkable influence on esophageal cancer risk in females, while the association was not significant between rs3181052 and esophageal cancer risk in males. Conclusions: Our study provided the first evidence that IL1RN rs3181052, rs452204, and rs315919 are correlated with a decreased risk of esophageal cancer in a Northwest Han Chinese population. These findings may be useful for the development of early prognostics for esophageal cancer. However, further larger studies on different ethnic populations are warranted to verify these findings.
Delays in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculous Lymphadenitis in Low-Incidence Countries: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mathiasen Victor Dahl , Hansen Anders Kramer , Eiset Andreas Halgreen , Lillebaek Troels , Wejse Christian
Published: April 2019

Early detection and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) is essential to achieve the goals appointed in the WHO End TB Strategy. Tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBLA) is the most common manifestation of extrapulmonary TB, but the diagnosis can be challenging in low-incidence countries due to sparse and inconsistent clinical features, resulting in delay. We aimed to summarize and discuss the current literature on patient delay, health care delay, and total delay (i.e., time to first health care contact, diagnosis, and treatment) in patients with TBLA in TB low-incidence countries. A systematic review using PubMed was conducted, searching for studies set in TB low-incidence countries (defined as <20 per 100,000 citizens) that reported on health care seeking behaviour, patient delay, health care delay, and/or total delay. Studies were categorized by type of delay and compared. We identified 11 heterogeneous studies with highly variable observations. Mean patient delay varied from 55 to 154 days (range, 14–1,461), mean health care delay from 44 to 94 days (range, 7–224) and median total delay from 77.5 to 122 days (range, 0–2,820). Evidently, more comprehensive insights into the diagnostic pathway and delay in TBLA patients are warranted.
Phylogeny of the Anomura (Decapoda, Crustacea): Spermatozoa and spermatophore morphological evidence
Authors: Tudge Christopher C.
Published: April 2019

A phylogenetic analysis of selected anomuran, thalassinidean, and other decapod crustacean taxa, based on spermatozoal ultrastructural characters and spermatophore morphological characters, was performed and the following relationships of the taxa are elucidated from the trees produced. The Anomura are not a monophyletic assemblage, with the lomoid Lomis being exclusive of the remainder of the anomuran taxa, and the thalassinid Thalassina included in the anomuran clade. The synapomorphy joining the majority of the conventional anomuran taxa (Lomis excluded) is the cytoplasmic origin of the microtubular arms. When the palinurid and thalassinoid representatives are separately designated as outgroups, the Astacidea and Brachyura jointly formed a sister group to the Anomura. The superfamilies Thalassinoidea, Paguroidea, and Galatheoidea are not monophyletic groups. In all analyses the anomuran families Coenobitidae and Porcellanidae each form a monophyletic group. The paguroid family Diogenidae is paraphyletic, with the genera Clibanarius and Cancellus separate from a single clade containing the remaining diogenid genera. The families Paguridae and Parapaguridae form a monophyletic clade with the exception of Porcellanopagurus. The two representatives of the family Chirostylidae (Eumunida and Uroptychus) fail to associate with the other species in the Galatheoidea. The taxa in the family Galatheidae are not a monophyletic assemblage. The only investigated hippoid Hippa is portrayed as the sister group to the remainder of the anomuran taxa (with the exception of Lomis).
Palaeo- and archaeostomatopods (Hoplocarida, Crustacea) from the Bear Gulch Limestone, Mississippian (Namurian), of central Montana
Authors: Jenner Ronald A. , Hof Cees H.J. , Schram Frederick R.
Published: April 2019

The palaeostomatopod crustacean Bairdops beargulchensis Schram & Horner, 1978 (Malacostraca, Hoplocarida) from the Mississippian Bear Gulch Limestone is now seen as a taxonomic composite that arose from the confusion of specimens of two distinct hoplocarid species. These species are herein described as the palaeostomatopod Bairdops beargulchensis Schram & Horner, 1978 and a new species of archaeostomatopod, Tyrannophontes acanthocercus. Tyrannophontes acanthocercus is quite distinct from the Pennsylvanian archaeostomatopod T. Theridion from the Essex fauna (Mazon Creek), with which it was originally compared. Bairdops beargulchensis is very similar to the Mississippian palaeostomatopod, B. elegans, from the Scottish Glencartholm fauna. A previously proposed synonymy of B. beargulchensis with T. theridion is therefore rejected. A preliminary restudy of the archaeostomatopods T. Theridion and Gorgonophontes peleron, and the palaeostomatopods Perimecturus Rapax and P. parki, reveals some newly recognized characters of those taxa and suggests some novel interpretations of hoplocarid evolution. A cladistic phylogenetic analysis of the Hoplocarida including the Paleozoic forms resolves the higher level relationships of the hoplocarids (palaeostomatopods, archaeostomatopods, aeschronectids, and unipeltatans).
Ultrastructure of the cuticle of the chalimus larva of the salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer, 1837) (Copepoda: Caligidae)
Authors: Bron J.E. , Shinn A.P. , Sommerville C.
Published: April 2019

The cuticle of the chalimus II stage of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Copepoda: Caligidae) comprised a four-layered epicuticle with a pronounced fuzzy coat which was separated from the outer and inner procuticles by a layer of transitional procuticle. The cuticle is underlain by a single-layered epidermis which overlies integumental glands and chromatophores. The structure of this cuticle is very similar to that described for free-living copepods and does not display the modifications associated with more highly transformed parasitic species.
Is sexual size dimorphism in relative head size correlated with intersexual dietary divergence in West African forest cobras, Naja melanoleuca?
Authors: Luiselli Luca , Akani Godfrey C. , Corti Claudia , Angelici Francesco M.
Published: April 2019

Sex-biased differences in dietary habits of snakes are often linked to pronounced sexual size dimorphism in absolute body size or in relative head size. We studied the food habits of free-ranging forest cobras (Naja melanoleuca) in southern Nigeria to find whether any intersexual dietary divergence is present in this species, and measured both museum vouchers and free-ranging specimens to find whether any intersexual divergence in relative head size is present. We demonstrated that: (1) head sizes increases more rapidly with SVL in females than in males, with a result that, at the same body length, the females tended to have significantly larger heads; (2) males and females were nearly identical in dietary habits, both if we consider prey size or prey type; (3) both sexes tended to prey upon relatively little sized preys. It is concluded that traditional evolutionary scenarios for explaining sexual dimorphism and food niche divergence are hardly valid in this case, and we need to look for entirely different hypotheses (e.g. linked to the sexual preference of males for females with larger heads).
Oligochaetes from underground waters of Oman with descriptions of two new species of Phreodrilidae (Oligochaeta): Antarctodrilus arabicus n. sp. and Phreodrilus stocki n. sp.
Authors: Martínez-Ansemil Enrique , Giani Narcisse , Sambugar Beatrice
Published: April 2019

The study of twenty-nine oligochaete samples collected in 1996 by J. H. Stock and J. J. Vermeulen (University of Amsterdam), in the Sultanate of Oman, allowed us to draw up an initial inventory of the freshwater oligochaete fauna of the Arabian peninsula, a fauna totally unknown until now. The 147 specimens examined belong to nine species of four families: Phreodrilidae, Naididae, Tubificidae and Enchytraeidae. The Phreodrilidae(2 species) represent more than half of the total specimens; whilst the rest belong mainly to the Naididae.

Two new species of Phreodrilidae (Antarctodrilus arabicus n. sp. and Phreodrilus stocki n. sp.) are described. Both belong to the subfamily Phreodrilinae,until now not reported from north of the tropic of Capricorn. Other identified species include Dero (Dero) zeylanica, Allonais paraguayensis and Doliodrilus puertoricensis, which are for the first time recorded in subterranean habitats.

These studies confirm the hypothesis of the presence of Phreodrilidae in the Arabian peninsula as relict taxa inhabiting refuges in hyporheic/groundwater habitats.

The presence of an oligochaete fauna with marine phyletic affinities in underground waters already highlighted in Europe now equally applies to the Arabian peninsula with the discovery of the tubificid genera Aktedrilus and Doliodrilus in the underground habitats of Oman. As these genera already are well known from the littoral marine or brackish water with a wide range of salinity, we have additional evidence that the migration of interstitial marine meiobenthic tubificid species through water of decreasing salinity may be a way of colonising the subterranean freshwaters.

The present record of Doliodrilus puertoricensis (Limnodriloidinae), previously known from Puerto Rico and Belize in the western Atlantic Ocean, represents a large extension of its known distribution area.
“Large Ocean States”: Sovereignty, Small Islands, and Marine Protected Areas in Global Oceans Governance
Authors: Chan Nicholas
Published: April 2019

Small island states are typically portrayed as vulnerable and insignificant actors in international affairs. This article traces the emerging self-identification of “large ocean states” that these small island states in the Pacific and Indian Oceans are now employing, juxtaposing their miniscule landmass and populations with the possession of sovereign authority over large swathes of the world’s oceans. Such authority is increasingly being exercised in the context of biodiversity conservation through expanding marine protected areas (an element of both the Sustainable Development Goals and the Aichi Targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity) as an expression of “ecological responsibility.” This new exercise of green sovereignty reinforces state control over spaces previously governed only at a distance, but control made possible only through compromises with nonstate actors to fund, monitor, and govern these MPAs.
The Diplomatic Corps of Things
Authors: Dittmer Jason
Published: April 2019

The social history of diplomacy includes many elements, one of which is assemblage, or the material spaces of diplomatic activity and the various bodies they include. Another is the state effect – the documents and objects of diplomacy – as well as the state affect – the more intangible understandings and beliefs that condition diplomacy and lay well outside the state itself. Assemblage, effects, and affects, taken together, must form the basis of a deeper understanding of diplomatic relations and a new diplomatic history.
A review of the families, genera and species of Dicyemida Van Beneden, 1876
Authors: CATALANO SARAH R.
Published: April 2019

The classification of the species in the phylum Dicyemida Van Beneden, 1876, a group of small organisms whichparasitise the renal appendages of benthic cephalopods, is reviewed. While dicyemid parasites have simple multicellularmorphology, their lifecycle is complex and it is uncertain whether their affinities are with the protozoans or metazoans.Hence they are commonly given an intermediate ‘mesozoan’ status. Although 112 species are described, confusion existsfor 20% of the taxa over the validity of certain families, genera and species, which has been attributed to incomplete andinformation-poor descriptions, loss of type specimens, errors in taxonomy and conceptual differences. The history ofdicyemids dating from the first known reference by Filippo Calvolini of Italy in 1787 is presented, along with thecharacteristics which are commonly used to classify genera and species. All species described to date are listed withreference to the original published records and the validity of ambiguous records is explored. A way forward usingalternative technologies such as molecular genetic methods based on next generation sequencing platforms is suggested,which may help to address unresolved systematic and life history questions surrounding this parasite group. This review aims to assist taxonomists to help unravel the confusion surrounding the poorly studied and little understood Dicyemida.
On the identity of the type species of Sphenomorphus (Squamata: Scincidae): Lygosoma melanopogon Duméril and Bibron 1839, with a note on a new scalation character of the pes in Sphenomorphus
Authors: SHEA GLENN M.
Published: April 2019

The type series of Lygosoma melanopogon Duméril and Bibron 1839, the type species of the scincid lizard genusSphenomorphus Fitzinger 1843, consists of four specimens representing three species, all of which have available juniorsynonyms. A lectotype is designated, and Lygosoma melanopogon becomes a senior synonym of Lygosoma florenseWeber 1891 (= Sphenomorphus florensis) and that species is redefined based on specimens from throughout itsdistribution for the first time. Based on a lack of consistent differences in morphology and coloration, previously namedsubspecies of Sphenomorphus florensis are placed in synonymy, leaving a single wide-ranging species S. melanopogon.Lygosoma Kühnei Roux 1910 is also placed in the synonymy of S. melanopogon, and the nomenclatural status of the nameScincus naevius Duméril and Bibron 1839 resolved. Lygosoma Meyeri Doria 1874 is raised from synonymy to becomethe name for the New Guinean Sphenomorphus species to which the name S. melanopogon has sometimes previously beenapplied, and Hinulia papuensis Macleay 1877 synonymised with it. Sphenomorphus melanopogon is identified as amember of a group of Sphenomorphus species which show an extension of the imbricate dorsal scalation onto the solar surface of the pes.
The Uniplex Third: Enabling Single-domain Role Transitions in Multiplex Relationships
Authors: Li Jian Bai , Piezunka Henning
Published: April 2019

Actors in a multiplex relationship—one crossing multiple domains—can struggle to transition into new roles in one domain without disrupting existing interactions and the role hierarchy in another. Via an inductive study of intergenerational leadership successions in seven Chinese family firms, we examine how actors can complete such a single-domain role transition. We find that a succession between the founder/father and the successor/son is successful when the mother (i.e., the founder’s wife) is active in the family but not the firm, acting as a trustworthy third party to the founder and successor in the family while staying nonpartisan to their business disagreements. Limiting her involvement to the family allows the mother to help the founder and successor maintain their existing family roles and interactions while transitioning into new roles in the firm. A mother involved in both firm and family could not stay nonpartisan between the founder and successor, which compromised their trust in her and prevented her from legislating over their multiplex relationship and facilitating the succession. We conceptualize the position of the uniplex third: the network position an actor occupies when she or he is connected in only one domain to two actors who have a multiplex dyadic relationship. Our cases reveal that the uniplex third position grants an actor authority via establishing trustworthiness and nonpartisanship relative to a multiplex dyadic relationship. The uniplex third party can thus facilitate change in one domain and maintain stability in another. We also observe how the mother is inhibited from occupying the uniplex third position when her kin are involved in the firm’s top management. If conflicts exist in the firm between the mother’s nuclear family and her kin, we find the mother disengages from succession-aiding activities in both family and firm domains.
Sensitivity of Fine-Needle Aspiration and Imaging Modalities in the Diagnosis of Low-Grade Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland
Authors: Garrett Samuel L. , Trott Kiley , Sebastiano Christopher , Wolf Michael J. , Rao Neeta K. , Curry Joseph M. , Cognetti David M. , Luginbuhl Adam J.
Published: April 2019

Objective:

To determine the diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and imaging modalities for low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the parotid gland.

Methods:

Retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with low-grade MEC of the parotid gland following surgical excision between January 2010 and June 2018. Imaging from patients with MEC were randomly mixed with imaging from patients with benign pathology and reviewed in a blinded fashion. Main outcome measure was sensitivity.

Results:

A total of 24 patients were confirmed to have had low-grade MEC on final pathology, with a total of 31 FNAs performed between them. Twelve of 31 FNAs were positive for low-grade MEC, with a sensitivity of 39%. A total of 27 imaging studies were reviewed, which included 16 patients with low-grade MEC and 11 patients with benign pathology. Of these 27 imaging studies, 10 were declared indeterminate. Of the remaining 17 imaging studies, 13 were reviewed as malignant (11 true positive and 2 false positive) and 4 as benign (4 true negative). Overall magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sensitivity for low-grade MEC was 100% (9/9) with 95% CI (0.66-1.0) when considering indeterminate results as positive for malignancy.

Conclusion:

This study reaffirms that for low-grade MEC, sensitivity of FNA is poor. MRI provides an important diagnostic tool in the evaluation of salivary gland neoplasms, due to its increased sensitivity for low-grade MEC when considering indeterminate results as positive. This provides confidence in the diagnosis of benign tumors and allows appropriate counseling of all options to the patient, including observation. Imaging and low threshold of excision should be considered despite an inflammatory or benign FNA.
The outbound container slot allocation based on the stowage plan in rail–water intermodal container terminals
Authors: Chang Yimei , Zhu Xiaoning , Haghani Ali
Published: April 2019

In the past, most researchers focused on the storage space allocation problem or container block allocation problem in maritime container terminals, while few studied the container slot allocation problem in rail–water intermodal container terminals. Container slot allocation problem is proposed to reduce relocation operations of containers in railway container yards and improve the efficiency of rail–water intermodal container terminals. In this paper, a novel outbound container slot allocation model is introduced to reduce the rehandling operations, considering stowage plan, containers left from earlier planning periods and container departure time. A novel heuristic algorithm based on the rolling planning horizon approach is developed to solve the proposed problem effectively. Computational experiments are carried out to validate that the proposed model and algorithm are feasible and effective to enhance the storage effect. Meanwhile, some other experiments are conducted to verify that our approach is better than the regular allocation approach, which is a common method in marine and railway container terminals, and container weight is the most important influence factor when storing containers.
A new cooperative model for the prediction of compressive yield stress of polycarbonate nanocomposites considering strain rate, temperature, and agglomeration
Authors: Majzoobi Gholam H , Malek-Mohammadi H , Payandehpeyman J
Published: April 2019

In this study, a new model was proposed to predict the compressive yield stress of polycarbonate nanocomposite reinforced by nanoparticles at different strain rates, temperatures, and filler contents. In addition, the proposed model makes it possible to calculate the critical filler content for which the agglomeration phenomena occur. For the validation of the model, a series of experiments were performed. At first, the modified nanoclay Cloisite 20A masterbatch was produced by a direct method using extrusion machine, and the graphene oxide masterbatch was produced by the solvent method. Then the composite samples were produced using the injection-molding process, and the compressive tests were performed at three temperatures under quasi-static and dynamic loadings using a universal testing machine and split Hopkinson pressure bar. The coefficients of the proposed modified cooperative model were calculated using the experimental results. The observations showed that the presented model could correlate the compressive yield stress of polycarbonate nanocomposites to strain rate, temperature, and filler content with sufficient accuracy. Furthermore, the agglomeration of nanoparticles in polymer matrix which is a critical issue in fabrication of the advanced nanocomposites is predictable by using the current model.
The Politics of Whistleblowing in Digitalized Societies
Authors: Olesen Thomas
Published: April 2019

Works on whistleblowing are overwhelmingly found within disciplines such as business ethics, law, and the professions. Despite its undeniable political and social effects, it is surprisingly understudied in political science and sociology. Recent cases such as those of Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden, Christopher Wylie, and the Panama Papers should prompt political scientists and sociologists to engage systematically with the phenomenon. This article offers a theoretically driven discussion of three complementary questions. (1) What kind of political action is whistleblowing? (2) What are its historical, social, and political roots? (3) How is the practice shaped by digitalization and big data? In relation to the third question, the article argues that digitalization amplifies social complexity and challenges democratic steering. Building on Niklas Luhmann, Ulrich Beck, and Jeffrey Alexander, it lends theoretical weight to the argument that whistleblowers are likely to play an increasingly pronounced political role as digitalization accelerates.
School Closure, Racial Politics, and Vulnerable Youth: Challenging the Shuttering of a Detroit School for Teen Parents
Authors: Wilson Camille M. , Bentley Tabitha , Kneff-Chang Tonya
Published: April 2019

This article highlights the acclaim, struggles, and ultimate closure of a Detroit public school for pregnant and parenting teens that was shuttered despite national commendation, community protests, for-profit charter conversion, and a civil rights lawsuit. Authors analyze discourse from educational, media, and legal data sources to offer a critical policy analysis of the school’s closure trajectory. Authors suggest how the effects of state decision making, restricted student agency, and waning legal protection fueled public educational disenfranchisement rather than boosted educational access and equity. Implications regarding school closure policy reform, community coalition building, and renewed legal protections in urban education are discussed.
Trauma, place, and transformation
Authors: Sternberg Esther M. , Engineer Altaf , Oberman Hester
Published: April 2019

This commentary comprises three different responses to Counted and Zock’s article: “Place Spirituality: An Attachment Perspective.” The first response is from Esther Sternberg, MD, who gives a psychophysiological and neuroscience critique. The second is from Altaf Engineer, PhD, from the perspective of architecture and environmental psychology, and the last response is from Hester Oberman, PhD, who gives a psychology of religion rebuttal.
Judicial Reliance on Risk Assessment in Sentencing Drug and Property Offenders: A Test of the Treatment Resource Hypothesis
Authors: Garrett Brandon L. , Jakubow Alexander , Monahan John
Published: April 2019

For almost two decades, Virginia has used risk assessment to justify “alternative” nonprison sentences for eligible drug and property offenders. In Study 1, we examined how frequently alternative sentences actually were imposed. We found that alternative sentences were given to only 42% of low-risk offenders. In Study 2, we tested the hypothesis that a lack of treatment resources explains why many judges fail to offer alternative sentences. We focused on the availability of mental health and substance abuse treatment resources across judicial circuits. Our findings support the “treatment resource hypothesis” as one explanation for variation among courts and judges in the extent to which alternative sentences are offered to low-risk offenders. To the extent that treatment resources available in a jurisdiction lead to increased judicial use of risk assessment to sentence low-risk offenders to nonjail alternatives, providing these resources will be crucial in reducing mass incarceration.
Digital Tools for the Inclusive Classroom: Google Chrome as Assistive and Instructional Technology
Authors: Ok Min Wook , Rao Kavita
Published: April 2019

The Google Chrome browser, widely available on computers today, has a variety of free and low-cost apps and extensions that can benefit all students in inclusive classroom settings. Using apps and extensions readily available for the Google Chrome browser, teachers have access to assistive tools that can be useful learning supports for students with and without disabilities. There are apps and extensions available to support literacy, mathematics, and organizational skills. Using these tools, teachers can provide multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement in alignment with Universal Design for Learning guidelines. This article describes how Chrome apps and extensions can be used to support literacy, mathematics, organization, and planning in inclusive settings.
Translating Troilus and Cressida for an iconoclastic socialist production
Authors: Nicolaescu Madalina
Published: April 2019

The focus of the article is the investigation of the stage version commissioned for the 1965 production of Troilus and Cressida directed by David Esrig. It looks at the tradition in Romania not to publish translations of Shakespeare produced for the stage before focusing on the differences between the two types of translation (page and stage) in the socialist period. Esrig’s production is further discussed as a case study, comparing this version, by Florian Nicolau, with Leon Leviţchi’s canonical one, published in 1960.