bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early‐Age Tensile Basic Creep Behavioral Characteristics of High‐Strength Concrete Containing Admixtures
Authors: Ni Tongyuan , Yang Yang , Gu Chunping , Liu Jintao , Chen Jin , Lou Xiaotian
Published: May 2019

Tensile creep is an important parameter to evaluate cracking probability of high‐strength concrete (HSC) structure, and the mineral admixtures have great effect on it. In this paper, the early‐age tensile basic creep behaviors of HSC containing fly ash (FA) and blast furnace slag (BS) were investigated by experiments, and the influences of loading age and stress level (stress‐strength ratio of initial loading) were evaluated. The results showed that FA promoted the early‐age tensile basic creep while BS inhibited the early‐age tensile creep. Moreover, the influence of loading age on early‐age tensile basic creep of HSC was more significant, and the affected ages’ duration was longer than that of plain concrete. The early‐age tensile basic creep of HSC containing admixtures also showed linear creep characteristic after a certain age as HSC without admixtures, and the linear characteristic was more obvious at a later loading age. The tensile basic creep velocity of HSC containing FA was the highest, while HSC containing BS exhibited the lowest velocity. The influence of admixtures on velocities of tensile basic creep was gradually attenuated with the age growth in holding period.
The Roles of Environmental Factors in Regulation of Oxidative Stress in Plant
Authors: Xie Xiulan , He Zhouqing , Chen Nifan , Tang Zizhong , Wang Qiang , Cai Yi
Published: May 2019

Exposure to a variety of environmental factors such as salinity, drought, metal toxicity, extreme temperature, air pollutants, ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, pesticides, and pathogen infection leads to subject oxidative stress in plants, which in turn affects multiple biological processes via reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. ROS include hydroxyl radicals, singlet oxygen, and hydrogen peroxide in the plant cells and activates signaling pathways leading to some changes of physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms in cellular metabolism. Excessive ROS, however, cause oxidative stress, a state of imbalance between the production of ROS and the neutralization of free radicals by antioxidants, resulting in damage of cellular components including lipids, nucleic acids, metabolites, and proteins, which finally leads to the death of cells in plants. Thus, maintaining a physiological level of ROS is crucial for aerobic organisms, which relies on the combined operation of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. In order to improve plants’ tolerance towards the harsh environment, it is vital to reinforce the comprehension of oxidative stress and antioxidant systems. In this review, recent findings on the metabolism of ROS as well as the antioxidative defense machinery are briefly updated. The latest findings on differential regulation of antioxidants at multiple levels under adverse environment are also discussed here.
Alterations in DNA Damage Repair Genes in Primary Liver Cancer
Authors: Lin Jianzhen , Shi Junping , Guo Honglin , Yang Xu , Jiang Yan , Long Junyu , Bai Yi , Wang Dongxu , Yang Xiaobo , Wan Xueshuai , Zhang Lei , Pan Jie , Hu Ke , Guan Mei , Huo Li , Sang Xinting , Wang Kai , Zhao Haitao
Published: May 2019

Purpose:

Alterations in DNA damage repair (DDR) genes produce therapeutic biomarkers. However, the characteristics and significance of DDR alterations remain undefined in primary liver cancer (PLC).

Experimental Design:

Patients diagnosed with PLC were enrolled in the trial (PTHBC, NCT02715089). Tumors and matched blood samples from participants were collected for a targeted next-generation sequencing assay containing exons of 450 cancer-related genes, including 31 DDR genes. The OncoKB knowledge database was used to identify and classify actionable alterations, and therapeutic regimens were determined after discussion by a multidisciplinary tumor board.

Results:

A total of 357 patients with PLC were enrolled, including 214 with hepatocellular carcinoma, 122 with ICC, and 21 with mixed hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma. A total of 92 (25.8%) patients had at least one DDR gene mutation, 15 of whom carried germline mutations. The most commonly altered DDR genes were ATM (5%) and BRCA1/2 (4.8%). The occurrence of DDR mutations was significantly correlated with a higher tumor mutation burden regardless of the PLC pathologic subtype. For DDR-mutated PLC, 26.1% (24/92) of patients possessed at least one actionable alteration, and the actionable frequency in DDR wild-type PLC was 18.9% (50/265). Eight patients with the BRCA mutation were treated by olaparib, and patients with BRCA2 germline truncation mutations showed an objective response.

Conclusions:

The landscape of DDR mutations and their association with genetic and clinicopathologic features demonstrated that patients with PLC with altered DDR genes may be rational candidates for precision oncology treatment.
First-in-Human Phase I Study of the Activin A Inhibitor, STM 434, in Patients with Granulosa Cell Ovarian Cancer and Other Advanced Solid Tumors
Authors: Tao Jessica J. , Cangemi Nicholas A. , Makker Vicky , Cadoo Karen A. , Liu Joyce F. , Rasco Drew W. , Navarro Willis H. , Haqq Christopher M. , Hyman David M.
Published: May 2019

Purpose:

STM 434 is a soluble receptor ligand trap targeting activin A, a protein in the TGFβ family that plays important roles in growth, differentiation, and cancer cachexia. This study evaluated the safety, antitumor activity, and metabolic effects of STM 434 in a first-in-human, multicenter, phase I clinical trial (NCT02262455).

Patients and Methods:

Patients with advanced solid tumors were enrolled in 8 dose cohorts ranging from 0.25 mg/kg every 4 weeks to 8 mg/kg every 2 weeks via a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design. The primary endpoint was maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Secondary endpoints included safety, pharmacokinetics, and response. As activin A is implicated in metabolism and muscle function, changes in key metabolic parameters, including lean body mass and 6-minute walk test, were serially measured.

Results:

Thirty-two patients were treated on study. The most common treatment-related adverse events were fatigue (41%) and mucocutaneous bleeding complications including epistaxis (34%) and gingival bleeding (22%), likely related to off-target inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9). STM 434 treatment resulted in the expected follicle-stimulating hormone level decreases in most patients and in metabolic parameter changes, including an increase in total lean body mass and 6-minute walk test distance. No responses were observed in the 30 evaluable patients, but the stable disease rate in patients with granulosa cell ovarian cancer was 10 of 12 (80%).

Conclusions:

Although no direct antitumor efficacy was documented, potentially clinically meaningful dose-related metabolic effects, including treatment of cancer cachexia, were observed that support further exploration of activin A inhibitors that limit BMP9 blockade.

See related commentary by Bonilla and Oza, p. 5432
SHP2 Inhibition Overcomes RTK-Mediated Pathway Reactivation in KRAS-Mutant Tumors Treated with MEK Inhibitors
Authors: Lu Hengyu , Liu Chen , Velazquez Roberto , Wang Hongyun , Dunkl Lukas Manuel , Kazic-Legueux Malika , Haberkorn Anne , Billy Eric , Manchado Eusebio , Brachmann Saskia M. , Moody Susan E. , Engelman Jeffrey A. , Hammerman Peter S. , Caponigro Giordano , Mohseni Morvarid , Hao Huai-Xiang
Published: May 2019

FGFR1 was recently shown to be activated as part of a compensatory response to prolonged treatment with the MEK inhibitor trametinib in several KRAS-mutant lung and pancreatic cancer cell lines. We hypothesize that other receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) are also feedback-activated in this context. Herein, we profile a large panel of KRAS-mutant cancer cell lines for the contribution of RTKs to the feedback activation of phospho-MEK following MEK inhibition, using an SHP2 inhibitor (SHP099) that blocks RAS activation mediated by multiple RTKs. We find that RTK-driven feedback activation widely exists in KRAS-mutant cancer cells, to a less extent in those harboring the G13D variant, and involves several RTKs, including EGFR, FGFR, and MET. We further demonstrate that this pathway feedback activation is mediated through mutant KRAS, at least for the G12C, G12D, and G12V variants, and wild-type KRAS can also contribute significantly to the feedback activation. Finally, SHP099 and MEK inhibitors exhibit combination benefits inhibiting KRAS-mutant cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. These findings provide a rationale for exploration of combining SHP2 and MAPK pathway inhibitors for treating KRAS-mutant cancers in the clinic.
A Gain-of-Function p53-Mutant Oncogene Promotes Cell Fate Plasticity and Myeloid Leukemia through the Pluripotency Factor FOXH1
Authors: Loizou Evangelia , Banito Ana , Livshits Geulah , Ho Yu-Jui , Koche Richard P. , Sánchez-Rivera Francisco J. , Mayle Allison , Chen Chi-Chao , Kinalis Savvas , Bagger Frederik O. , Kastenhuber Edward R. , Durham Benjamin H. , Lowe Scott W.
Published: May 2019

Mutations in the TP53 tumor suppressor gene are common in many cancer types, including the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) subtype known as complex karyotype AML (CK-AML). Here, we identify a gain-of-function (GOF) Trp53 mutation that accelerates CK-AML initiation beyond p53 loss and, surprisingly, is required for disease maintenance. The Trp53R172H mutation (TP53R175H in humans) exhibits a neomorphic function by promoting aberrant self-renewal in leukemic cells, a phenotype that is present in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) even prior to their transformation. We identify FOXH1 as a critical mediator of mutant p53 function that binds to and regulates stem cell–associated genes and transcriptional programs. Our results identify a context where mutant p53 acts as a bona fide oncogene that contributes to the pathogenesis of CK-AML and suggests a common biological theme for TP53 GOF in cancer.

Significance:

Our study demonstrates how a GOF p53 mutant can hijack an embryonic transcription factor to promote aberrant self-renewal. In this context, mutant Trp53 functions as an oncogene to both initiate and sustain myeloid leukemia and suggests a potential convergent activity of mutant Trp53 across cancer types.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 813
Analysis of the Clinical Features of Tracheobronchial Fungal Infections with Tumor-Like Lesions
Authors: He Ruoxi , Hu Chengping , Niu Ruichao
Published: May 2019

Background: Tracheobronchial fungal infections (TBFI) cause life-threatening complications in immunocompromised hosts but are rarely reported. Misdiagnosis and delayed antifungal treatment are associated with the high mortality rate of patients with TBFI. Objectives: This study analyzed the bronchoscopic features of TBFI and their roles in the early diagnosis of TBFI. Methods: The demographic, clinical, radiologic, and bronchoscopic data of 53 patients diagnosed with TBFI in our department during a 15-year period were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Most of the TBFI patients were male, and mass was the most common radiologic abnormality. Obvious predilection in primary bronchus distributions was observed. 41.9% of the 43 Aspergillus tracheobronchitis (AT) patients, 70% of the 10 tracheobronchial mucormycosis (TM) patients, and 100% of the 3 endobronchial cryptococcosis patients had been misdiagnosed as having cancer on bronchoscopy because of the presence of tumor-like lesions. The most common features of AT were bronchial occlusion with a mass or mucosal necrosis, bronchial stenosis with mucosal hyperplasia, or uneven mucosa. The main descriptions of TM were bronchial stenosis or obstruction due to mucosal necrosis, uneven mucosa, or a mass. The endoscopic characteristics of endobronchial cryptococcosis included occlusion due to uneven mucosa or mass, or external compressive stricture. Conclusion: Immunocompromised patients and immunocompetent patients with underlying disease displaying tumor-like lesions on bronchoscopy should be differentially diagnosed with cancer. Bronchial biopsy is indispensable for the early diagnosis of TBFI.
Role of Quantitative Computed Tomographic Scan Analysis in Lung Volume Reduction for Emphysema
Authors: Tenda Eric Daniel , Ridge Carole A. , Shen Mali , Yang Guang-Zhong , Shah Pallav L.
Published: May 2019

Recent advances in bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) offer new therapeutic alternatives for patients with emphysema and hyperinflation. Endobronchial valves and coils are 2 potential BLVR techniques which have been shown to improve pulmonary function and the quality of life in patients with emphysema. Current patient selection for LVR procedures relies on 3 main inclusion criteria: low attenuation area (in %), also known as emphysema score, heterogeneity score, and fissure integrity score. Volumetric analysis in combination with densitometric analysis of the affected lung lobe or segment with quantitative CT to determine emphysema severity play an important role in treatment planning and post-operative assessment. Due to the variations in lung anatomy, manual corrections are often required to ensure successful and accurate lobe segmentation for pathological and post-treatment CT scan analysis. The advanced development and utilisation of quantitative CT do not simply represent regional changes in pulmonary function but aids in analysis for better patient selection with severe emphysema who are most likely to benefit from BLVR.
AgNOR Pleomorphic Count as a Tumor Marker in Cervical Carcinogenesis and Feasibility of Its Introduction in Cervical Cancer Screening Programs to Discriminate High-Risk Cases of Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions of the Cervix
Authors: Srivastava Anand N. , Misra Jata S. , Singh Urmilla , Khan Mohsin , Raza Syed
Published: May 2019

Background: AgNOR pleomorphism has been widely used for its diagnostic importance in differentiating premalignant and malignant lesions of different human neoplasms. However, an evaluation of its potential for discriminating cases of high-risk squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix (SIL) has been rarely attempted. Aim: The tumor marker potential of AgNOR pleomorphism counts was assessed by correlating high and low mean counts in low-grade SIL (LSIL) cases with persistence or regression of the lesion and HPV positivity. Materials and Methods: The 115 LSIL cases selected for the study were registered from the ongoing cervical cancer screening of the rural population of Lucknow West. Silver nitrate staining for AgNOR counts and HPV DNA testing were done in all 115 cases. Results: The AgNOR counts in the 115 LSIL cases revealed low counts in 92 and high counts in 23 cases. Follow-up, available in 107 cases, revealed persistence of the lesion in 21 of the 23 cases with high counts and in 4 of the 84 cases with low counts. HPV positivity showed a strong correlation with high counts. Persistence of LSIL was also more frequent with high AgNOR counts and in HPV-positive cases. Conclusions: The study showed a correlation of high mean AgNOR counts with HPV positivity and persistence of LSIL.
Femoral Neck Fracture in Idiopathic Hypercalciuria with Excessive Cola Consumption: A Case Report
Authors: Hong Guoju , Han Xiaorui , He Wei , Yao Felix  , Xu Jiake , Chen Leilei
Published: May 2019

Idiopathic hypercalciuria is a metabolic defect characterized by excess renal calcium excretion, which can lead to bone mineral loss and an increased propensity to bony fractures. It is more commonly found among Caucasians and is present in the general population with a frequency of 5–10%, but can reach 45–50% in subjects affected by nephrolithiasis. Here we report the case of a young 35-year-old male who developed primary osteoporosis secondary to idiopathic hypercalciuria and sustained a femoral neck fracture after a minor-impact fall. Laboratory findings revealed high urine calcium, low serum potassium, and high serum alkaline phosphatase levels. Low-velocity traumatic bone injury was found in a young patient with hypercalciuria, which may indicate that bone status must be evaluated and followed up in these patients.
Cerebellar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Improves Ataxia in Minamata Disease
Authors: Nakamura Masaaki , Bekki Masafumi , Miura Youko , Itatani Mina , Jie Liu Xiao
Published: May 2019

Minamata disease (MD) is a form of intoxication involving the central nervous system and is caused by ingesting seafood from methylmercury-contaminated areas in Japan. In MD, cerebellar ataxia is a cardinal feature observed in approximately 80% of MD patients. Although cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has recently been used for treating cerebellar ataxia, the optimal stimulation conditions remain unclear. Here, we report the first case of cerebellar ataxia in an MD patient that was significantly improved after high-frequency cerebellar TMS. To determine the optimal stimulation conditions, we examined the excitability of the primary motor cortex (M1) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). rs-fMRI revealed M1 hyperconnectivity, which was indicative of activation of the dentato-thalamo-cortical (DTC) pathway. Thus, high-frequency cerebellar TMS was applied to inhibit the DTC pathway. Improvement of cerebellar ataxia was only observed after real TMS, not sham stimulation. As this effect was consistent with inhibition of hyperconnectivity of M1, the effectiveness of high-frequency cerebellar TMS for cerebellar ataxia was thought to be caused by inhibition of the DTC pathway. Therefore, we suggest that the evaluation of M1 excitability using rs-fMRI can be effective for determining the optimal TMS stimulation conditions for cerebellar ataxia.
Efficacy of the Oestrogen Antagonist Tamoxifen on Sperm Parameters in Patients with Idiopathic Oligoathenoteratozoospermia
Authors: Paffenholz Pia , Votteler Sinje , Nazari Sassan , Nestler Tim , Salem Johannes , Grabbert Markus , von Brandenstein Melanie , Loosen Sven H. , Zey Silke , Heidenreich Axel , Herden Jan , Denil Johan
Published: May 2019

Background: The oestrogen antagonist tamoxifen has been suggested as an empiric treatment option for treating idiopathic oligoathenoteratozoospermia (iOAT). Objectives: To analyse the use of tamoxifen in iOAT. Method: Fifty-seven men receiving tamoxifen for iOAT were recruited from 2016 to 2017 in a retrospective, single-centre setting. Hormone and semen analysis was performed before and after 3 months of treatment. Results: After a 3-month treatment, serum levels of testosterone (3.4 ng/mL [2.7–4.8] vs. 5.3 [3.1–7.1]; p = 0.026), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH; 7.6 [5.9–11.5] vs. 15.9 mIU/mL [8.4–19.9]; p = 0.003) and luteinizing hormone (4.5 [3.3–6.6] vs. 7.6 mIU/mL [4.8–10.7]; p = 0.007) significantly increased. At a cut-off of >8.8 mIU/mL, serum levels of FSH were predictive for an improved sperm motility (OR 0.229 [95% CI 0.068–0.773]; p  = 0.018) and serum levels of inhibin B were predictive for an improved total sperm count at a cut-off of <82 ng/L (OR 18.0 [95% CI 1.267–255.744]; p = 0.033). During an 11 month-follow-up, patients receiving tamoxifen showed a clinical pregnancy rate of 42%, leading to a live birth rate of 56% of all pregnant women. Twenty-three per cent of all patients reported non-serious adverse events. Conclusions: Tamoxifen is effective in improving the total sperm count as well as motility and can thus be safely used as empiric medical therapy in iOAT.
Use of Prostate Specific Antigen Density Combined with Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging Improves Triage for Prostate Biopsy
Authors: Záleský Miroslav , Stejskal Jiri , Adamcova Vanda , Hrbáček Jan , Minarik Ivo , Pavlicko Adam , Votrubova Jana , Babjuk Marek , Zachoval Roman
Published: May 2019

Background: Multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI)-directed biopsy for prostate cancer (PC) diagnosis improves the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (CSPC) and decreases the rate of over-diagnosis of insignificant disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of mpMRI combined with prostate specific antigen density (PSAD) in the decision making related to the biopsy. Methods: mpMRI and mpMRI/transrectal ultrasound fusion targeted biopsies with subsequent systematic biopsies were performed in 397 patients (223 biopsy-naïve and 174 with a previous biopsy). Detection rates of (CSPC) and insignificant PC were stratified using the PIRADS score, and the number of avoidable biopsies and missed (CSPC) were plotted against PSAD values of 0.1–0.5 ng/mL2. Results: PIRADS <3 and PSAD <0.2 ng/mL2 were the safest criteria for not performing a biopsy. When applied to the biopsy-naïve group, 21.5% (48/223) of the biopsies could have been avoided and 3.7% (3/82) of CSPC would have been missed. In the repeat biopsy group, 12.6% (22/174) of biopsies could have been avoided and 6.9% (4/58) of (CSPC) would have been missed. Conclusions: A combination of mpMRI and PSAD might reduce the number of biopsies performed with the cost of missing <4% of CSPC.
Cerebral Vasospasm Due to Arteriovenous Malformation-Associated Hemorrhage: Impact of Bleeding Source and Pattern
Authors: Dinc Nazife , Won Sae-Yeon , Eibach Michael , Quick-Weller Johanna , Konczalla Jürgen , Berkefeld Joachim , Seifert Volker , Marquardt Gerhard
Published: May 2019

Objective: Cerebral vasospasm (CVS) after a ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is rarely reported. This study is aimed at evaluating the predictive variables in AVM hemorrhage for CVS. Methods: A total of 160 patients with ruptured AVMs were admitted to our neurosurgical department from 2002 to 2018. The frequency of cerebral vasospasm after AVM hemorrhage and the impact of AVM-associated aneurysms were evaluated. We compared different bleeding patterns, such as intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) or a combination of both (ICH + SAH) and evaluated predictive variables for outcome in last follow-up. Results: A total of 62 (39%) patients had AAA, mostly located prenidal (75.8%). AVMs with ruptured aneurysms often resulted in ICH with SAH component (p < 0.001). Eighty-two patients (51%) presented a SAH component, and CVS occurred in 6 patients (7.3%), mostly due to a ruptured infratentorial AVM (p < 0.03). Infratentorial location and the amount of SAH component (p < 0.001) predicted the incidence of CVS significantly. Cerebral infarction was significantly associated with CVS (p < 0.02). Conclusion: SAH component and infratentorial location of ruptured AVMs may harbor a higher risk for CVS. Follow-up with angiographic imaging should be considered in patients with infratentorial AVM hemorrhage and delayed neurologic deterioration to rule out CVS.
АНАЛІТИЧНІ АСПЕКТИ МІЖЛАБОРАТОРНОГО КОНТРОЛЮ ЯКОСТІ РЕЗУЛЬТАТІВ ЕЛЕМЕНТНОГО АНАЛІЗУ В БІОЛОГІЧНИХ СЕРЕДОВИЩАХ ЛЮДИНИ
Authors: Andrushyshyna I. N. , Golub I. O. , Lampeka O. G.
Published: May 2019

Вступ. У роботі розглянуто питання аналізу мікроелементного складу сироватки і цільної крові людини як важливий момент проведення клінічної діагностики. Стандартні зразки біологічних матеріалів є повноцінним носієм правильності та прецесійності вимірювання.

Мета дослідження – дати порівняльну оцінку правильності та прецесійності визначення макро- і мікроелементів у тестовій сироватці й цільній крові методом багатоелементного аналізу оптико-емісійної спектрометрії з індуктивно зв’язаною плазмою.

Методи дослідження. Зразки сироватки крові на вміст Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, P та цільної крові на вміст Pb, Cd, Mn, Se готували відповідно до валідованої і затвердженої методики. Дослідження проводили на приладі оптико-емісійної спектрометрії з індуктивно зв’язаною плазмою моделі Optima 2100 DV фірми “Perkin-Elmer” (США).

Результати й обговорення. Дослідження по визначення 8-ми хімічних елементів у сироватці крові за програмою “Sequas” (FORTRESS), які проводили впродовж року, продемонстрували високу кількість добрих (6) та задовільних (4) результатів з 12-ти визначень. Найбільша кількість високих збігів під час участі в програмі “LAMP” (CDC) була характерна для Mn і Se, менша – для Cd та Pb. Визначено методологічні підходи для отримання адекватних результатів, наприклад застосування коефіцієнта поправок та прийоми корекції спектральних завад. Описано особливості використання референтних зразків для проведення міжлабораторних тестів і контролю якості досліджень вмісту макро- та мікроелементів у біологічних середовищах. Показано перспективність застосування сучасних спектральних методів багатоелементного аналізу в клінічній діагностиці мікроелементозів.

Висновки. Участь у програмах міжлабораторних порівнянь макро- та мікроелементів дозволяє вдосконалювати власні внутрішні процедури контролю якості визначення у біологічних середовищах, дає додаткову зовнішню оцінку випробувальних спроможностей лабораторій і, таким чином, підвищує надійність отриманих результатів лабораторної діагностики.
Upretia squamulosa, a new lichen species from the arid valley of Jinsha-jiang River, China
Authors: ZHANG YAN YUN , WANG XIN YU , LI LI JUAN , SØCHTING ULRIK , YIN AN CHENG , WANG SHI QIONG , WANG LI SONG
Published: May 2019

Upretia squamulosa is described as new to science from the arid valley of Jinsha-jiang River, China. It is characterized by a squamulose thallus, greyish green to brown upper surface, lecanorine apothecia, and by containing gyrophoric and lecanoric acids. The other species in the genus, U. amarkantakana, differs from the new species by the crustose to subsquamulose thallus with lobate margin and the absence of gyrophoric and lecanoric acids. A phylogenetic tree based on nrITS for Upretia and related genera in the subfamily Caloplacoideae is established to assess the affinities of the new species.
Australian ants of the genus Aphaenogaster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: SHATTUCK STEVEN O
Published: May 2019

The Australian species of the myrmicine ant genus Aphaenogaster Mayr are revised. Eight species are recognised, four of which are described as new. The species include barbara sp. n., barbigula Wheeler (for which a lectotype is designated), kimberleyensis sp. n., longiceps (Smith) (with its newly recognised synonym, flava Emery), mediterrae sp. n., poultoni Crawley, pythia Forel (for which a neotype is designated) and reichelae sp. n. Aphaenogaster is widely distributed across eastern and southern Australia (except Tasmania), with isolated populations in northern Northern Territory and northern Western Australia. Species occur in a range of habitats from rainforests through open woodlands and can be of significant economic importance because of damage caused by their nests.
A review of taxonomic concepts in the Nannoniscidae (Isopoda, Asellota), with a key to the genera and a description of Nannoniscus oblongus Sars
Authors: WILSON GEORGE D. F.
Published: May 2019

Owing to recent taxonomic changes to the Nannoniscidae Hansen, the concepts of the taxa within the family require clarification. Specimens of Nannoniscus oblongus Sars, putatively those examined by G.O. Sars, and specimens from Hjeltefjord, Norway were illustrated to clarify the concept of the type genus of the Nannoniscidae. Specimens used by Siebenaller and Hessler (1981) and several other recently-described taxa were evaluated. Standard views are argued to provide more consistent illustrations of morphology. The somite articulations of the posterior body were found to be variable and often inaccurately illustrated feature in nannoniscid taxonomy; this character complex is therefore unreliable for taxonomic concepts in the family. In replacement, new characters that distinguish this family from the Desmosomatidae Sars are described. These include the proximal segmentation of the antennal flagellum, a subdistal dorsal tooth on the left mandible incisor process and ventral pereonal insertions of the coxae. The composition and classification of the family is adjusted using this new information. Subfamilies recently proposed for the Nannoniscidae by George (2001) based on somite articulations are rejected. Diagnoses of several genera, including Saetoniscus Brandt, were reconsidered using this new information. This latter genus is found to be indistinguishable from Nannoniscus Sars and is placed in junior synonymy. A new diagnosis and a new key to the genera of the Nannoniscidae use the new character information, omitting somite articulations as a primary descriptor. New diagnoses for Nannoniscus Sars and Nannonisconus Schultz, and revised compositions for these genera are proposed. Nannoniscus intermedius Siebenaller & Hessler is transferred to Nannonisconus. Rapaniscus Siebenaller & Hessler is diagnosed and pereopods I–II of its type species, R. dewdneyi are illustrated.
Glassfrogs (Anura: Centrolenidae) of Kaieteur National Park, Guyana, with notes on the distribution and taxonomy of some species of the family in the Guiana Shield
Authors: KOK PHILIPPE J. R. , CASTROVIEJO-FISHER SANTIAGO
Published: May 2019

We provide new distribution records and discuss the taxonomy of three species of Glassfrogs from the Guiana Shield: Centrolene gorzulai, Cochranella helenae, and Hyalinobatrachium taylori. These three species were collected in Kaieteur National Park in west-central Guyana. Taxonomic changes were based on morphological, bioacoustic and genetic (a fragment of the mitochondrial ribosomal gene 16S) comparisons. We consider Centrolene papillahallicum to be a junior synonym of C. gorzulai. We assign the Venezuelan population of Cochranella oyampiensis to Co. helenae and describe the phenotypic variation of this taxon. We refine the description of Cochranella oyampiensis and transfer it to the Co. spinosa species group. We propose the new name Cochranella helenae Group for those species of Cochranella assigned to the former Co. oyampiensis Group. We report the first record of Cochranella midas for French Guiana, and the first record of Hyalinobatrachium nouraguense, new emendation, for Suriname.
Description of a new genus and two new species of labeonine fishes from South China (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)
Authors: ZHANG E , QIANG XIN , LAN JIA-HU
Published: May 2019

A new genus and two new species are described from the Pearl River drainage in Guangxi Province, South China. Hongshuia, new genus, can be distinguished from all other Asian genera of the Labeonini by having a lower lip with its median lobe modified into a round, fleshy plate peripherally greatly protruded so as to form a ring-like fold that is posteromedially continuous with the mental region, and centrally sunken so as to form a round, flat, fleshy pad. This genus is distinct from all other Asian labeonine genera of the Garrina except for one newly described species of Parasinilabeo (P. longibarbus), Pseudocrossocheilus, and Sinocrossocheilus, in the presence of well-developed maxillary barbels. Hongshuia differs from the above three genera in the lower lip morphology, and further from both Pseudocrossocheilus and Qianlabeo in the number of pharyngeal tooth rows and from Sinocrossocheilus in the colour pattern. Two new species, H. banmo and H. paoli, differ in the distribution density and degree of development of papillae on the rostral fold, depth of indentations on the distal edge of the rostral fold, presence or absence of papillae on the lower lip, size and shape of tubercles on the tip of the snout and anterior portion of the lachrymal, length, position and colour pattern of the dorsal fin, and snout length.
Postembryonic development of the dorsal chaetotaxy in Seira dowlingi (Collembola, Entomobryidae); with an analysis of the diagnostic and phylogenetic significance of primary chaetotaxy in Seira
Authors: SOTO-ADAMES FELIPE N.
Published: May 2019

Chaetotaxy is probably the most important character system used to diagnose species in Entomobryidae, but its use in studies of phylogenetic relationships of suprageneric taxa has been hampered by difficulties in identifying the homology of individual setae. Currently there is developmental information for three (Orchesella, Entomobrya sensu lato and Lepidocyrtus sensu lato) of the four largest groups of entomobryids. Seira is the only major genus for which the postembryonic development of the chaetotaxy has not been described. To fill this gap a complete description of the postembryonic development of the dorsal chaetotaxy of Seira dowlingi (Wray, 1953) is presented. Based on this description and by comparisons with up to 96 additional Seira species, it is suggested that the loss of second abdominal segment primary setae m4 and p4 (by transformation into scales during postembryonic development) is the only chaetotaxic character diagnostic for the genus. The posterior botriothricum (homologous to D3) on the fourth abdominal segment is absent only in S. (Afroseira) rowani Yosii, from South Africa. It is suggested that the presence of seta p3 and absence of p4 on the third abdominal segment support a more recent relationship between Seira and Lepidocyrtus/Pseudosinella than between Seira and Entomobrya sensu lato.
Osakatheta yasukoae, a new intertidal genus and species of athetine rove beetles (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae) from Japan
Authors: MARUYAMA MUNETOSHI , KLIMASZEWSKI JAN , GUSAROY VLADIMIR
Published: May 2019

Osakatheta yasukoae Maruyama, Klimaszewski & Gusarov gen. et sp. nov. (Aleocharinae) is described based on specimens collected from the intertidal zones in Ôsaka-wan, Ôsaka-fu and Ise-wan, Mie-ken, Honshû, Japan. This is the first record of true intertidal species of Athetini from the West Pacific coast (East Palearctic). Osakatheta may be readily distinguished from other genera of Athetini by the long and erect setae covering its whole body.
Four new species of Estheria Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Tachinidae) from China and Nepal, with a review of the East Palearctic and Oriental species
Authors: ZHANG CHUN-TIAN , SHIMA HIROSHI , LIANG HOU-CAN , LI HE-NAN
Published: May 2019

The species of Estheria Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Tachinidae) from the East Palearctic and Oriental regions are reviewed. Eighteen species are recognized: the fourteen previously described, E. acuta (Portschinsky, 1881), E. alticola Mesnil, 1967, E. bucharensis (Kolomiets, 1974), E. cinerella Mesnil, 1967, E. cristata (Meigen, 1826), E. decolor (Pandellé, 1896), E. flavipennis Herting, 1968, E. lacteipennis Mesnil, 1967, E. maculipennis Herting, 1968, E. magna (Baranov, 1935), E. nigripes (Villeneuve, 1920), E. pallicornis (Loew, 1873), E. petiolata (Bonsdorff, 1866) and E. picta (Meigen, 1826), and four species described as new to science, E. hirtinerva Zhang & Shima sp. nov. (W China, Nepal), E. prostata Zhang & Shima sp. nov. (W China, Nepal), E. tibetensis Zhang & Shima sp. nov. (W China, Nepal) and E. wangi Zhang & Liang sp. nov. (W China, Pakistan). Estheria acuta and E. decolor are newly recorded for China, E. magna is newly recorded for Malaysia, Pakistan and Vietnam, and E. pallicornis is newly recorded for Nepal. An identification key to the 18 species of Estheria so far known from the East Palearctic and Oriental regions is included, together with 126 figures of heads and habitus of males and females, and male terminalia and known distributions.
Rotifers from China (Western Guangdong Province), with description of Lecane zhanjiangensis sp. nov. (Rotifera: Monogononta: Lecanidae)
Authors: WEI NAN , JERSABEK CHRISTIAN D. , YANG YUFENG
Published: May 2019

Littoral rotifers were collected in three prefectural cities of the little studied Western Guangdong Province (Yangjiang, Maoming and Zhanjiang) in April 2017 and in July 2018. Fifty-six monogonont taxa, including two subspecies/variations, were found. Lecane zhanjiangensis sp. nov., a new brackish-water species from the littoral zone of Shimenhe River Estuary in Zhanjiang, is described. It is characterized by large semicircular projections antero-laterally on the dorsal plate, each equipped with three to five minute spines, and a pair of large acutely pointed projections antero-laterally on the ventral head aperture margin. In addition, three new rotifer records for China, viz. Brachionus cf. caudatus var. indica Novotná-Dvořáková, 1963, Ptygura libera Myers, 1934 and P. thalenoiensis Meksuwan, Pholpunthin & Segers, 2011 are also presented. [Species zoobank registraion: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E91C0C2A-8656-4999-B71C-00F39456F7A0]
Meschia zoui sp. nov., first representative of the family Meschiidae from China (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Lygaeoidea)
Authors: GAO CUIQING , MALIPATIL M. B.
Published: May 2019

All the species of the family Meschiidae, known until now only from India and Australia, are reviewed. A new species, Meschia zoui sp. nov. from southern China, is described as the first representative of this family from China, also its cuticular structures are studied using the scanning electron microscope. A key to all species of Meschiidae is provided, along with a re-description of Meschia quadrimaculata Distant.
Cloud Radiative Feedbacks and El Niño–Southern Oscillation
Authors: Middlemas Eleanor A. , Clement Amy C. , Medeiros Brian , Kirtman Ben
Published: May 2019

Cloud radiative feedbacks are disabled via “cloud-locking” in the Community Earth System Model, version 1.2 (CESM1.2), to result in a shift in El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) periodicity from 2–7 years to decadal time scales. We hypothesize that cloud radiative feedbacks may impact the periodicity in three ways: by 1) modulating heat flux locally into the equatorial Pacific subsurface through negative shortwave cloud feedback on sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA), 2) damping the persistence of subtropical southeast Pacific SSTA such that the South Pacific meridional mode impacts the duration of ENSO events, or 3) controlling the meridional width of off-equatorial westerly winds, which impacts the periodicity of ENSO by initiating longer Rossby waves. The result of cloud-locking in CESM1.2 contrasts that of another study, which found that cloud-locking in a different global climate model led to decreased ENSO magnitude across all time scales due to a lack of positive longwave feedback on the anomalous Walker circulation. CESM1.2 contains this positive longwave feedback on the anomalous Walker circulation, but either its influence on the surface is decoupled from ocean dynamics or the feedback is only active on interannual time scales. The roles of cloud radiative feedbacks in ENSO in other global climate models are additionally considered. In particular, it is shown that one cannot predict the role of cloud radiative feedbacks in ENSO through a multimodel diagnostic analysis. Instead, they must be directly altered.
Rainfall Estimation Accuracy of a Nationwide Instantaneously Sampling Commercial Microwave Link Network: Error Dependency on Known Characteristics
Authors: de Vos L. W. , Overeem A. , Leijnse H. , Uijlenhoet R.
Published: May 2019

Commercial microwave links are installed and maintained for the purpose of telecommunication. Hydrometeors between transmitting and receiving antennas cause the microwave signal to be attenuated. From signal attenuation, the path-averaged rainfall intensity can be calculated. A 7-month dataset of instantaneously logged signal powers from almost 2000 unique links in the Netherlands is analyzed. Rainfall intensities are calculated with the RAINLINK package with a novel preprocessing module, enabling the package to be applied on instantaneously logged data from now on. Rainfall intensities per link are validated with the path-averaged rainfall intensities according to a gauge-adjusted radar product. Both the overall performance and the dependence of errors on link characteristics and measurement conditions are evaluated. The coefficient of variation decreases from 3.70 to 2.32 and the correlation increases from 0.30 to 0.63 from instantaneous to daily estimates of rainfall accumulations. The coefficient of variation is also smaller during heavy rainfall. Errors are largest for pathlengths shorter than 2 km, for observations during the late night and early morning, and for observations during colder months (when solid or melting precipitation could occur and dew is more likely to form on the antennas). Comparison of our results with those of earlier studies shows that minimum/maximum sampling (widely employed in network management systems) outperforms instantaneous sampling regarding detection of both quantity and occurrence of rain at a 15-min sampling rate in the Dutch climate.
Precipitation Enhancement via the Interplay between Atmospheric Rivers and Cutoff Lows
Authors: Tsuji Hiroki , Takayabu Yukari N.
Published: May 2019

A significant enhancement of precipitation can result from the interplay between two independent, large-scale phenomena: an atmospheric river (AR) and a cutoff low. An AR is a long, narrow region with a deep moist layer. A cutoff low is an upper-level cyclonic eddy isolated from the meandering upper-level westerly jet. Herein, we construct composites of cutoff lows both close to an AR (AR-close category) and distant from an AR (AR-distant category) over a 14-yr period across the western North Pacific region. A comparison between the two categories shows an enhanced precipitation area to the northwest of the cutoff low and to the south of the AR axis in the AR-close category. The horizontal formation among the AR, cutoff low, and enhanced precipitation area in the composite coincides with that in a disastrous flood event that occurred in Hiroshima, Japan, in 2014. The deep moist layer associated with the AR, and the destabilization and isentropic up-gliding effect associated with the cutoff low are also observed in both the composite and the Hiroshima cases. We further evaluate the distribution of quasigeostrophic forcing (Q vector) for vertical motion. This shows that warm air advection associated with the AR overcomes the descending forcing inherent in the northwest of the cutoff low and makes the instability and up-gliding effect in that region more effective. These results indicate that the interplay between ARs and cutoff lows is a common mechanism in the enhancement of precipitation and the Hiroshima case is an extreme precipitation event caused by this interplay.
CSR Communication Research: A Theoretical-cum-Methodological Perspective From Semiotics
Authors: Yekini Kemi C. , Omoteso Kamil , Adegbite Emmanuel
Published: May 2019

Despite the proliferation of studies on corporate social responsibility (CSR), there is a lack of consensus and a cardinal methodological base for research on the quality of CSR communication. Over the decades, studies in this space have remained conflicting, unintegrated, and sometimes overlapping. Drawing on semiotics—a linguistic-based theoretical and analytical tool, our article explores an alternative perspective to evaluating the quality and reliability of sustainability reports. Our article advances CSR communication research by introducing a theoretical-cum-methodological perspective which provides unique insights into how to evaluate the quality of CSR communication. Particularly, we illustrate the application of our proposed methodology on selected U.K. FTSE 100 companies. Our two-phased analysis employed the Greimas Canonical Narrative Schema and the Semiotic Square of Veridiction in drawing meanings from selected sustainability/CSR reports. In addition, we present a distinctive CSR report quality model capable of guiding policy makers and firms in designing sustainability/CSR reporting standards.
Commercial Health Care Financing: The Cause of U.S., Dutch, and Swiss Health Systems Inefficiency?
Authors: Unger Jean-Pierre , De Paepe Pierre
Published: May 2019

This article evaluates the performance of 3 industrialized nations that have pursued market-based financing models, focusing on equity in access to care, care quality, health status, and efficiency. It then assesses the consistency of the findings with those of different research teams. Using secondary data obtained from a semi-structured review of articles from 2000 to 2017, we discuss the hypothesis that commercial health care insurance is detrimental to accessing professional health care and to population health status. The results show that in 2010 the unmet care needs of both poor and rich Americans exceeded those of the poor in several industrial countries. The number of Dutch adults experiencing financial obstacles to health care quadrupled between 2007 and 2013, and 22% of Swiss adults reported skipping needed care in a 2016 survey. The most negative impacts of “managed care” on care quality are its tight constraints on physicians’ professional autonomy; a large reliance on the physicians’ material motivation; health service fragmentation; and the tendency to apply evidence-based medicine too rigidly. Countries with a commercial insurance monopoly generally remained above the maternal, infant, and neonatal mortality rates versus the health-spending regression line. We conclude that the most inefficient system is where the insurance market has achieved its maximal development and that care industrialization contributes to the comparatively poor performance of the U.S., Dutch, and Swiss health systems.
Women’s Experiences of Nature as a Pathway to Recovery From Sexual Assault
Authors: Moore Ceri Lynn , Van Vliet K. Jessica
Published: May 2019

Given the serious challenges faced by female survivors of sexual assault, an understanding of how they heal after such an experience is vital. Yet little is known about how being in nature may be helpful in this regard. The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop an in-depth understanding of how nature helps women heal from sexual assault. A narrative analysis of semi-structured interview data provided by four female sexual assault survivors generated four main themes. These themes point to how nature served as a source of emotion regulation and spiritual connection, as well as how it facilitated greater acceptance and reduced dissociation. Themes also indicated reduced negative thinking and rumination, and increased attention to the here and now. Findings are contextualized within the existing literature on sexual assault, and implications for counselling and psychotherapeutic practice with survivors are provided.
What Children Contribute to Language-Learning
Authors: Goldin-Meadow Susan
Published: May 2019

There may be no greater testament to the resilience of language in humans than the observation that, when deprived of a language entirely, children will invent one nonetheless. Deaf children whose access to usable conventional linguistic input, signed or spoken, is severely limited develop gesture systems to communicate with the hearing individuals around them. The children's gestures resemble natural language in that they are structured at both sentence and word levels. Although the inclination to use gesture to communicate may be traceable to the fact that the deaf children's hearing parents (like all speakers) gesture as they talk, the deaf children themselves appear to be responsible for introducing language-like structure into their gestures. In particular, the structural properties found in the deaf children's gesture systems cannot be traced to the gestures that their hearing parents use with them, nor can they be traced to the way in which the parents respond to the children's gestures.