bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gesto
Authors: Park Chang Min , Ki Taeyeon , Ben Ali Ali J. , Pawar Nikhil Sunil , Dantu Karthik , Ko Steven Y. , Ziarek Lukasz
Published: June 2019

Gesto is a system that enables task automation for Android apps using gestures and voice commands. Using Gesto, a user can record a UI action sequence for an app, choose a gesture or a voice command to activate the UI action sequence, and later trigger the UI action sequence by the corresponding gesture/voice command. Gesto enables this for existing Android apps without requiring their source code or any help from their developers. In order to make such capability possible, Gesto combines bytecode instrumentation and UI action record-and-replay. To show the applicability of Gesto, we develop four use cases using real apps downloaded from Google Play-Bing, Yelp, AVG Cleaner, and Spotify. For each of these apps, we map a gesture or a voice command to a sequence of UI actions. According to our measurement, Gesto incurs modest overhead for these apps in terms of memory usage, energy usage, and code size increase. We evaluate our instrumentation capability and overhead using 1,000 popular apps downloaded from Google Play. Our result shows that Gesto is able to instrument 94.9% of the apps without any significant overhead. In addition, since our prototype currently supports 6 main UI elements of Android, we evaluate our coverage and measure what percentage of UI element uses we can cover. Our result shows that our 6 UI elements can cover 96.4% of all statically-declared UI element uses in the 1,000 Google Play apps.
Performance of a Fixed Reward Incentive Scheme for Two-hop DTNs with Competing Relays
Authors: Nguyen T. T. Hang , Brun Olivier , Prabhu Balakrishna J.
Published: June 2019

We analyze the performance of an incentive scheme for two-hop Delay-Tolerant Networks (DTNs) in which a backlogged source proposes a fixed reward to the relays to deliver a message. Only one message at a time is proposed by the source. For a given message, only the first relay to deliver it gets the reward corresponding to this message thereby inducing a competition between the relays. The relays seek to maximize the expected reward for each message, whereas the objective of the source is to satisfy a given constraint on the probability of message delivery. We show that the optimal policy of a relay is of threshold type: it accepts a message until a first threshold and then keeps the message until it either meets the destination or reaches the second threshold. Formulas for computing the thresholds as well as probability of message delivery are derived for a backlogged source.
Optimizing N-Tier Application Scalability in the Cloud
Authors: Wang Qingyang , Zhang Shungeng , Kanemasa Yasuhiko , Pu Calton , Palanisamy Balaji , Harada Lilian , Kawaba Motoyuki
Published: June 2019

An effective cloud computing environment requires both good performance and high efficiency of computing resources. Through extensive experiments using a representative n-tier benchmark application (Rice University Bulletin Board System (RUBBoS)), we show that the soft resource allocation (e.g., thread pool size and database connection pool size) in component servers has a significant impact on the overall system performance, especially at high system utilization scenarios. Concretely, the same software resource allocation can be a good setting in one hardware configuration and then becomes an either under- or over-allocation in a slightly different hardware configuration, causing a significant performance drop. We have also observed some interesting phenomena that were caused by the non-trivial dependencies between the soft resources of servers in different tiers. For instance, the thread pool size in an Apache web server can limit the total number of concurrent requests to the downstream servers, which surprisingly decreases the Central Processing Unit (CPU) utilization of the Clustered Java Database Connectivity (C-JDBC) clustering middleware as the workload increases. To provide a globally optimal (or near-optimal) soft resource allocation of each tier in the system, we propose a practical iterative solution approach by combining a soft resource aware queuing network model and the fine-grained measurement data of every component server. Our results show that to truly scale complex distributed systems such as n-tier web applications with expected performance in the cloud, we need to carefully manage soft resource allocation in the system.
Designing for Real-Time Groupware Systems to Support Complex Scientific Data Analysis
Authors: Mostaeen Golam , Roy Banani , Roy Chanchal , Schneider Kevin
Published: June 2019

Scientific Workflow Management Systems (SWfMSs) have become popular for accelerating the specification, execution, visualization, and monitoring of data-intensive scientific experiments. Unfortunately, to the best of our knowledge no existing SWfMSs directly support collaboration. Data is increasing in complexity, dimensionality, and volume, and the efficient analysis of data often goes beyond the realm of an individual and requires collaboration with multiple researchers from varying domains. In this paper, we propose a groupware system architecture for data analysis that in addition to supporting collaboration, also incorporates features from SWfMSs to support modern data analysis processes. As a proof of concept for the proposed architecture we developed SciWorCS - a groupware system for scientific data analysis. We present two real-world use-cases: collaborative software repository analysis and bioinformatics data analysis. The results of the experiments evaluating the proposed system are promising. Our bioinformatics user study demonstrates that SciWorCS can leverage real-world data analysis tasks by supporting real-time collaboration among users.
PWA-EU
Authors: de Andrade Cardieri Giulia , Zaina Luciana A. M.
Published: June 2019

Progressive Web App (PWA) is a new approach to the development of mobile applications (apps) which was proposed by Google in 2015. It combines technology resources of both web and native apps. Meta-design is an End-User Development (EUD) approach from which end-users participate actively in a system's design process. Yet, PWAs are a recent technology and the impacts of associating EUD and PWAs has been little exploited. As the traditional PWA approach is limited regarding users acting as co-designers, we propose the PWA-EU approach, an extension of the traditional PWA architecture that includes EUD concepts. PWA-EU provides contributions in two lenses. First, the proposal was designed to be used by developers on the design/development time. Second, the app developed using PWA-EU approach will allow end-users to select design preferences, which makes them participants of the app's design. This active participation of end-users on the design is possible due to the meta-design concepts present on the PWA-EU approach. In this article, we present the PWA-EU approach and its evaluation in the perspective of developers/designers. For the evaluation, we grouped participants according to their professional background. The results also indicate that novice developers had a reasonable performance with only one hour of training.We conclude that even novice developers could achieve better performance in a real-life environment, in which they would have more time.
SAPIENS
Authors: Schipor Ovidiu-Andrei , Vatavu Radu-Daniel , Wu Wenjun
Published: June 2019

We present SAPIENS, a software architecture designed to support engineering of interactive systems featuring peripheral interaction in the context of smart environments. SAPIENS introduces dedicated components for user and device tracking, attention detection, priority management for devices, tasks, and notifications, context-awareness inference, user interruptibility prediction, and device interchangeability that can be instantiated at will according to the needs of the application. To implement these components effectively, SAPIENS employs event-based processing by reusing the core engine of a recently introduced software architecture, Euphoria (Schipor et al., 2019), that was specifically designed for engineering interactions in smart environments with heterogeneous I/O devices, and relies entirely on web standards, protocols, and open data-interchange formats, such as JavaScript, WebSockets, HTTP, and JSON. This inheritance makes SAPIENS flexible and adaptable to support implementation of diverse application scenarios for peripheral interaction and for a wide variety of smart environments, devices, platforms, data formats, and contexts of use. We present our design criteria for SAPIENS regarding (1) event handling techniques, (2) quality, (3) contextual, and (4) attention-related properties, and describe its components and dataflows that make SAPIENS a specialized software architecture for peripheral interaction scenarios. We also demonstrate SAPIENS with a practical application, inspired and adapted from Bakker's (2013) classical example for peripheral interaction, for which we provide an online simulation tool that researchers and practitioners can readily use to consult actual JavaScript code implementing the inner logic of selected components of our architecture as well as to observe live JSON messages exchanged by the various components of SAPIENS.
MoCaDiX
Authors: Vanderdonckt Jean , Nguyen Thanh-Diane
Published: June 2019

This paper presents MoCaDiX, a method for designing cross-device graphical user interfaces of an information system based on its UML class diagram, structured as a four-step process: (1) a UML class diagram of the information system is created in a model editor, (2) how the classes, attributes, methods, and relationships of this class diagram are presented across devices is then decided based on user interface patterns with their own parametrization, (3) based on these parameters, a Concrete User Interface model is generated in QuiXML, a lightweight fit-to-purpose User Interface Description Language, and (4) based on this model, HTML5 cross-device user interfaces are semi-automatically generated for four configurations: single/multipledevice single/multiple-display on a smartphone, a tablet, and a desktop. From the practitioners' viewpoint, a first experiment investigates effectiveness, efficiency, and subjective satisfaction of three intermediate and three expert designers, using MoCaDiX on a representative class diagram. From the end user's viewpoint, a second experiment compares subjective satisfaction and preference of twenty end users assessing layout strategies for interfaces generated on two devices.
Hydration in Children: What Do We Know and Why Does it Matter?
Authors: Bottin Jeanne H. , Morin Clémentine , Guelinckx Isabelle , Perrier Erica T.
Published: June 2019

In children, maintaining adequate fluid intake and hydration is important for physiological reasons and for the adoption of healthy, sustainable drinking habits. In the Liq.In7 cross-sectional surveys involving 6,469 children (4–17 years) from 13 countries, 60% of children did not meet the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) adequate intake for water from fluids. Beyond fluid quantity, the quality of what children drink is important for health. In these surveys, the contribution of sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juices to total fluid intake (TFI) in children exceeded that of water in 6 out of 13 countries. To assess the adequacy of children’s fluid intake, urinary biomarkers of hydration such as urine osmolality, urine specific gravity, and urine color may be used. To date, while there are no widely accepted specific threshold values for urine concentration to define adequate hydration in children, the available literature suggests that many children have highly concentrated urine, indicating insufficient fluid intake. This is worrisome since studies have demonstrated a relationship between low fluid intake or insufficient hydration and cognitive performance in children. Furthermore, results of the Liq.In7 surveys showed that at school – where children spend a significant amount of time and require optimal cognitive performance – children drink only 14% of their TFI. Consequently, it is pertinent to better understand the barriers to drinking water at school and encourage the promotion of water intake through multicomponent interventions that combine educational, environmental, and behavioral aspects to support adequate hydration as well as optimal cognition in children.
Climate Change and the Kidney
Authors: Johnson Richard J. , Sánchez-Lozada Laura G. , Newman Lee S. , Lanaspa Miguel A. , Diaz Henry F. , Lemery Jay , Rodriguez-Iturbe Bernardo , Tolan Dean R. , Butler-Dawson Jaime , Sato Yuka , Garcia Gabriela , Hernando Ana Andres , Roncal-Jimenez Carlos A.
Published: June 2019

The worldwide increase in temperature has resulted in a marked increase in heat waves (heat extremes) that carries a markedly increased risk for morbidity and mortality. The kidney has a unique role not only in protecting the host from heat and dehydration but also is an important site of heat-associated disease. Here we review the potential impact of global warming and heat extremes on kidney diseases. High temperatures can result in increased core temperatures, dehydration, and blood hyperosmolality. Heatstroke (both clinical and subclinical whole-body hyperthermia) may have a major role in causing both acute kidney disease, leading to increased risk of acute kidney injury from rhabdomyolysis, or heat-induced inflammatory injury to the kidney. Recurrent heat and dehydration can result in chronic kidney disease (CKD) in animals and theoretically plays a role in epidemics of CKD developing in hot regions of the world where workers are exposed to extreme heat. Heat stress and dehydration also has a role in kidney stone formation, and poor hydration habits may increase the risk for recurrent urinary tract infections. The resultant social and economic consequences include disability and loss of productivity and employment. Given the rise in world temperatures, there is a major need to better understand how heat stress can induce kidney disease, how best to provide adequate hydration, and ways to reduce the negative effects of chronic heat exposure.
Is Chronic Kidney Disease Progression Influenced by the Type of Renin-Angiotensin-System Blocker Used?
Authors: Silvariño Ricardo , Rios Pablo , Baldovinos Graciela , Chichet María Alejandra , Perg Nancy , Sola Laura , Saona Gustavo , De Souza Nancy , Lamadrid Verónica , Gadola Liliana
Published: June 2019

Introduction: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) reduce proteinuria and slow renal disease progression more effectively than other therapies in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, differences regarding efficacy and safety between these therapies remain controversial. Objectives: Aim of this study was to analyze the different treatment effect of ACEI, ARB, and non-ACEI/ARB in CKD progression. The primary outcome was survival to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and/or death and to ESRD censored by all-cause death, secondary outcomes were proteinuria reduction and hyperkalemia. Methods: We analyzed data from 1,120 patients extracted from the National Renal Healthcare Program cohort, which included 17,238 CKD nondialysis subjects who were successively monitored between ­September 1, 2004 and August 31, 2016. Inclusion criteria were at least a 1-year follow-up, 3 clinical visits, and no previous treatment with ACEI or ARB. From the baseline visit onward, patients continued with 3 different treatment schemes: no ACEI/ARB, started on ACEI or ARB, but while avoiding both treatments in combination. Chi2, t test, binary logistic regression, and multivariate regression models (Cox proportional Hazard model and competing risk Fine and Gray model were used for statistical analysis. Results: Mean age and follow-up were 67.9 (± 15) and 3.8 (± 2) years, respectively. Estimated glomerular filtration rate averaged 42.1 ± 23 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 300 (27%) patients were diabetics. Progression to ESRD was significantly worse in the no ACEI/ARB group (hazard ratio [HR] 4.23, 95% CI 1.28–13.92) versus ACEI (reference group; p = 0.01). The analysis by competing-risks’ regression showed significantly higher risk of ESRD in the no ACEI/ARB group (HR 3.63, 95% CI 1.34–9.85) versus ACEI (p = 0.01). There were no significant differences between ACEI and ARB groups (HR 1.31, 95% CI 0.37–4.66) regarding the risk of progression to ESRD. Survival was similar in all 3 groups (p = 0.051). Statistically significantly more patients experienced reductions in proteinuria/albuminuria in ACEI and ARB groups (together) versus no ACEI/ARB group (p = 0.016, OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.12–2.94). No difference in hyperkalemia frequency was found between them (p = 0.17). Conclusions: In patients with CKD, treatment with ACEI or ARB had a superior effect than no ACEI or ARB treatment on slowing kidney disease progression and on proteinuria reduction. Efficacy of ACEI and ARB was comparable.
Primary Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy Mimicking Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Novel SLCO2A1 Mutation and Imaging Findings
Authors: Torgutalp Murat , Durmaz Ceren D. , Karabulut Halil G. , Seifert Wenke , Horn Denise , Akkaya Zehra , Turgay Murat
Published: June 2019

Primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (PHO), also known as pachydermoperiostosis, is a rare, multisystemic, autosomal recessive condition typically presenting with digital clubbing, osteoarthropathy, and various skin manifestations. Radiographs show distinctive periosteal reaction and thickening along the long bones. PHO is caused by homozygous mutations in the HPGD gene in chromosome 4q34.1 or the SLCO2A1 gene in 3q22.1q22.2. Here, we report on a 20-year-old male with enlarged and swollen joints with arthralgia, palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, and large hands and feet with marked digital clubbing. We also present radiographic, MRI, and ultrasonographic features of the case. These clinical and imaging findings were compatible with the diagnosis of PHO, and a novel homozygous mutation, c.576C>G, p.Ile192Met, was found in SLCO2A1.
Transcranial Doppler and Magnetic Resonance in Tanzanian Children With Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Kija Edward N. , Saunders Dawn E. , Munubhi Emmanuel , Darekar Angela , Barker Simon , Cox Timothy C.S. , Mango Mechris , Soka Deogratias , Komba Joyce , Nkya Deogratias A. , Cox Sharon E. , Kirkham Fenella J. , Newton Charles R.J.C.
Published: June 2019

Background and Purpose—

We determined prevalences of neurological complications, vascular abnormality, and infarction in Tanzanian children with sickle cell disease.

Methods—

Children with sickle cell disease were consecutively enrolled for transcranial Doppler; those with slightly elevated (>150 cm/s), low (<50 cm/s) or absent cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFv) were invited for brain magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography.

Results—

Of 200 children (median age 9; range 6–13 years; 105 [2.5%] boys), 21 (11%) and 15 (8%) had previous seizures and unilateral weakness, respectively. Twenty-eight (14%) had elevated and 39 (20%) had low/absent CBFv, all associated with lower hemoglobin level, but not higher indirect bilirubin level. On multivariable analysis, CBFv>150 cm/s was associated with frequent painful crises and low hemoglobin level. Absent/low CBFv was associated with low hemoglobin level and history of unilateral weakness. In 49 out of 67 children with low/absent/elevated transcranial Doppler undergoing magnetic resonance imaging, 43% had infarction, whereas 24 out of 48 (50%) magnetic resonance angiographies were abnormal. One had hemorrhagic infarction; none had microbleeds. Posterior circulation infarcts occurred in 14%. Of 11 children with previous seizure undergoing magnetic resonance imaging, 10 (91%) had infarction (5 silent) compared with 11 out of 38 (29%) of the remainder (
P
=0.003). Of 7 children with clinical stroke, 2 had recurrent stroke and 3 died; 4 out of 5 had absent CBFv. Of 193 without stroke, 1 died and 1 had a stroke; both had absent CBFv.

Conclusions—

In one-third of Tanzanian children with sickle cell disease, CBFv is outside the normal range, associated with frequent painful crises and low hemoglobin level, but not hemolysis. Half have abnormal magnetic resonance angiography. African children with sickle cell disease should be evaluated with transcranial Doppler; those with low/absent/elevated CBFv should undergo magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography.
High-Sensitivity CRP (C-Reactive Protein) Is Associated With Incident Carotid Artery Plaque in Chinese Aged Adults
Authors: Xu Renying , Zhang Yanan , Gao Xiang , Wan Yanping , Fan Zhuping
Published: June 2019

Background and Purpose—

CRP (C-reactive protein) is an inflammatory biomarker which predicts the risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, whether CRP is associated with carotid artery plaque (CAP) remains unclear.

Methods—

The current retrospective study was performed in 8229 Chinese aged adults (aged 65–99 years; 4677 men and 3552 women). hs-CRP (high-sensitivity CRP) concentrations were measured at baseline (2013), and further classified into 3 groups: low risk (<1.0 mg/L), intermediate risk (1.0–3.0 mg/L), and high risk (≥3.0 mg/L). Ultrasound B-mode imaging was repeatedly performed annually to detect CAP during 5-year follow-up (2013–2018). Potential confounders, including body mass index, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, alanine transferase, aspartate transferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and uric acid, lipid profiles, were also collected at baseline. White blood cell was collected as well. We used a logistic regression model for the cross-sectional relation between CRP concentration and CAP status and proportional hazardous Cox model for prospective analyses.

Results—

Comparing to the low-risk group, the adjusted odds ratios for CAP was 1.66 (95% CI, 1.43–1.92) in the intermediate-risk group and 1.72 (95% CI, 1.39–2.13) in the high-risk group, after adjustment for potential confounders. We identified 512 incident CAP cases during 5-year follow-up. Each mg/L increase of hs-CRP was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.1 (95% CI, 1.03–1.17) to developing CAP. Sensitivity analysis generated similar results with prospective analyses after excluding participants with overweight and obesity, with elevated fasting blood glucose, LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, and white blood cell. The association lost significant when we excluded participants with elevated blood pressure, however, few cases of CAP (n=41) was recruited in participants with normal blood pressure during follow-up.

Conclusions—

High hs-CRP concentration was associated with the high risk of developing CAP in Chinese aged adults.
Multi-gene phylogeny and morphotaxonomy of Phaeosphaeria ampeli sp. nov. from Ficus ampelas and a new record of P. musae from Roystonea regia
Authors: TENNAKOON DANUSHKA S. , JEEWON RAJESH , GENTEKAKI ELENI , KUO CHANG-HSIN , HYDE KEVIN D.
Published: June 2019

Phaeosphaeria ampeli is a new species collected from dead leaves of Ficus ampelas in Fanlu Township area, Dahu forest, Chiayi, Taiwan. Phaeosphaeria musae is a new record from dead leaves of Roystonea regia. Both species are described, illustrated and compared with similar species. Phaeosphaeria ampeli is distinguished from other Phaeosphaeria species based on distinct size differences of the ascomata, asci, ascospores and analyses of DNA sequence data. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of combined ITS, LSU, SSU and tef1-α sequence data are used to clarify the phylogenetic affinities of the species.
A review of the genus Tragidion Audinet-Serville, 1834 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Trachyderini)
Authors: SWIFT IAN , RAY ANN M.
Published: June 2019

The genus Tragidion Audinet-Serville is reviewed, two new species are described: Tragidion agave, sp. nov., and Tragidion deceptum, sp. nov; four new synonymies are proposed: T. peninsulare Schaeffer and T. p. californicum Linsley = T. annulatum LeConte, T. cyanovestis Chemsak and Linsley = T. bicolor Bates, and T. armatum brevipenne Linsley = T. armatum LeConte; T. densiventre Casey is revalidated from synonymy; the lectotypes of T. annulatum LeConte and T. auripenne Casey are designated; separate keys to both sexes of the adults are provided, and information on the ecology of the genus is summarized.
Tetralidia gen. nov., a new neotropical genus of Neocoelidiinae (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae)
Authors: MARQUES-COSTA ANA PAULA , CAVICHIOLI RODNEY RAMIRO
Published: June 2019

A new genus of Neocoelidiinae, Tetralidia gen. nov., is described to include one new species, Tetralidia admirabilis sp. nov., and Tetralidia prolata (Chiamolera & Cavichioli) comb. nov. from Cocoelidia DeLong. The new genus is closely related to Tozzita Kramer based on the tapered lateral margins of the clypeus and the absence of processes on the ventral margin of the male pygofer, but differs from other Neocoelidiinae genera mainly by the color pattern of the crown, with four orange maculae; the bifurcation of the connective’s stem at its articulation point with the aedeagus; and the very long aedeagus with pair(s) of apical or preapical processes or lamellae.
The Afrotropical ponerine ant genus Phrynoponera Wheeler (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: BOLTON BARRY , FISHER BRIAN L.
Published: June 2019

The Afrotropical ponerine ant genus Phrynoponera is revised and a worker-based key to species presented. Five species are recognised of which two (pulchella and transversa) are described as new. Two new junior synonyms of the type-species gabonensis are established (armata, heterodus) and earlier synonymy of some infraspecific taxa is confirmed. The genus is redefined, with diagnoses of all castes and sexes. New and important characters of the genus are discussed.
Gnathia pilosus sp. nov. (Crustacea, Isopoda, Gnathiidae) from the East Coast of South Africa
Authors: HADFIELD KERRY A. , SMIT NICO J. , AVENANT-OLDEWAGE ANNEMARIÉ
Published: June 2019

The larvae of gnathiid isopods are known to parasitise a large variety of intertidal fish worldwide. In South Africa, the larvae of Gnathia africana Barnard, 1914, have been recorded from various intertidal fish hosts along the cold West and South Coasts. The warmer East Coast, however, has not previously been sampled for gnathiids. From March 2006 to February 2007, intertidal fishes were collected on the East Coast using hand held nets and kept in aerated tanks until the gnathiids completed their feeding. Once fed, the gnathiids were kept alive in 50 ml bottles with fresh sea water till moulting occurred. Results indicated that all the East Coast intertidal gnathiids were from the same species and new to science, and subsequently described as Gnathia pilosus sp. nov. The G. pilosus male and female can be clearly distinguished from other South African species in having numerous tubercles and setae covering the cephalosome and pereon which are not as pronounced in the other species. The G. pilosus larva can also be distinguished from the other South African species by the triangular-shaped cephalosome and numerous sensory pits covering the body.
Redescription of the adult male and description of second-instar male, prepupa and pupa of Ceroplastes japonicus Green (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae)
Authors: RAINATO ALESSIO , PELLIZZARI GIUSEPPINA
Published: June 2019

The adult male of Ceroplastes japonicus Green is redescribed and illustrated and compared with other known males of Ceroplastes. In addition, the 2nd-instar male, male test, prepupa and pupa of C. japonicus are also described and illustrated for the first time.
A new species of genus Pseudachorutes Tullberg, 1871 (Collembola: Neanuridae:Pseudachorutinae) from China
Authors: GAO YAN , PALACIOS-VARGAS JOSÉ G.
Published: June 2019

A new species of Pseudachorutes, P. polychaetosus sp. nov., from Lishan Mountain, Shaanxi Province, Northwest China, is described and illustrated. It is distinct from other species in being polychaetotic in having both macrosetae and microsetae well differentiated and in strong hypertrichosis. Males of the new species are sexually dimorphic, a character not known before in the genus.
A new species of Ranomafana from Madagascar (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pilipalpinae)
Authors: ESCALONA HERMES E. , ŚLIPIŃSKI ADAM
Published: June 2019

Ranomafana pollocki sp. n. from Tamatave province, Madagascar, is described and illustrated; diverse generic morphological structures are provided; diagnostic features for this species are body colour and shape of accessory lobes in the male genitalia. This genus was known only from one specimen of the type species R. steineri Pollock, 1995.
A new species of Neominois from northeastern Mexico (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)
Authors: WARREN ANDREW D. , AUSTIN GEORGE T. , LLORENTE-BOUSQUETS JORGE E. , LUIS-MARTÍNEZ ARMANDO , VARGAS-FERNÁNDEZ ISABEL
Published: June 2019

A new species from northeastern Mexico, Neominois carmen (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae), is described, illustrated, and compared with its only known congener, N. ridingsii. The species is distinguished from the latter by its orange coloration and shape of and pattern on the wings as well as by differences in the genitalia of both sexes.
Description of the final instar larvae of Erythrodiplax atroterminata Ris and E. corallina (Brauer) (Odonata: Libellulidae)
Authors: GARRÉ ANALÍA , MUZÓN JAVIER , ARDOHAIN DIEGO M.
Published: June 2019

The final stage larva of Erythrodiplax atroterminata and E. corallina are described and illustrated based on reared specimens from Argentina. A comparative analysis of all known larvae of Erythrodiplax from Argentina is provided.
Borneosabahia Franz is a junior synonym of Elacatophora Schaufuss (Coleoptera, Scydmaenidae, Cyrtoscydmini, Cephenniini)
Authors: JAŁOSZYŃSKI PAWEŁ
Published: June 2019

Based on examination of the holotype of Elacatophora robusta Schaufuss, the monotypic genus Elacatophora Schaufuss is transferred from Cephenniini to Cyrtoscydmini. Borneosabahia Franz is placed as a junior synonym of Elacatophora, which results in six new combinations: Elacatophora apion (Jałoszyński), E. dissimilis (Jałoszyński), E. javanica (Jałoszyński), E. longipes (Jałoszyński), E. malaysiae (Franz), and E. maxima (Jałoszyński). Elacatophora robusta is illustrated, and identification key to the genera of Oriental Cyrtoscydmini is provided.
Description of Khamul, gen. n. (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eurytomidae), with a hypothesis of its phylogenetic placement
Authors: GATES M. W.
Published: June 2019

Khamul n. gen., a distinctive eurytomid in the subfamily Eurytominae is described from the Neotropics based upon the type species, K. erwini, n. sp. A hypothesis of its phylogenetic placement within Eurytominae is presented, and four new species are described: K. erwini, K. gothmogi, K. lanceolatus, and K. tolkeini. Diagnostic features are included to distincguish this taxon from other eurytomines and a key to species presented. Its biology is unknown, but label data indicate walking stick eggs (Prisopus sp.; Phasmatodea: Prisopodidae) as a possible host.
Metazoan parasites of Mexican amphibians and reptiles
Authors: PAREDES-LEÓN RICARDO , GARCÍA-PRIETO LUIS , GUZMÁN-CORNEJO CARMEN , LEÓN-RÈGAGNON VIRGINIA , PÉREZ TILA M.
Published: June 2019

Based on published records and original data, we present a checklist of metazoan parasites of Mexican amphibians and reptiles. This checklist includes information for 430 nominal taxa of metazoan parasites, 371 helminths (137 trematodes, 10 monogeneans, 29 cestodes, 14 acanthocephalans, 173 nematodes, and 8 hirudineans), 51 acari and 8 crustaceans. We add 184 new locality records to Acari. These data represent the current knowledge on metazoan parasites of 68 amphibians and 219 reptile species of Mexico.
Integrative revision of the Iberian species of Coscinia Hübner, [1819] sensu lato and Spiris Hübner, [1819], (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Arctiinae)
Authors: MACIÀ RAMON , MALLY RICHARD , YLLA JOSEP , GASTÓN JAVIER , HUERTAS MANUEL
Published: June 2019

The Iberian species of the genera Coscinia Hübner, [1819] and Spiris Hübner, [1819], as well as three other species from the Mediterranean area, are revised based on morphological and molecular genetic data. Our results suggest the separation into four morphologically and phylogenetically different genera: Coscinia Hübner, [1819], Lerautia Kemal & Koçak, 2006 stat. rev., Sagarriella Macià, Mally, Ylla, Gastón & Huertas gen. nov. and Spiris Hübner, [1819]. We conclude that there are eight species of the Coscinia genus group present in the studied area: Coscinia cribraria (Linnaeus, 1758), Coscinia chrysocephala (Hübner, [1810]) stat. rev., Coscinia mariarosae Expósito, 1991, Sagarriella libyssa caligans (Turati, 1907) comb. nov., Sagarriella romei (Sagarra, 1924) (= romeii sensu auctorum) comb. nov., Spiris striata Hübner, [1819], Spiris slovenica (Daniel, 1939) and Lerautia bifasciata (Rambur, 1832) comb. rev. We consider Coscinia cribraria benderi (Marten, 1957) stat. nov., Coscinia c. rippertii (Boisduval, 1834) and Coscinia c. ibicenca Kobes, 1991 stat. rev. to be subspecies of C. cribraria. COI Barcodes of C. cribraria diverge by up to 7.99%, and the investigated specimens group into six different COI Barcode BINs. Both the phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA and the morphological examination of different specimens corroborate the changes in taxonomic status and justify the proposed taxonomic categories. We present images of adults and genitalia of both sexes, the immature stages of some of the species and the subspecies studied, as well as phylogenetic results from the analysis of genetic data. We also include data on life history, foodplants and geographical distribution.
Opsarius putaoensis, a new species of subfamily Danioninae (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae) from the Irrawaddy River basin in northern Myanmar
Authors: Qin TAO , MAUNG KYAW WIN , CHEN XIAO-YONG
Published: June 2019

Opsarius putaoensis, new species, is described from the Mali Hka River, a tributary of the Irrawaddy River in northern Myanmar. For convenience of identification, Opsarius sensu Rainboth (1991) in Southeast Asia and India can be divided into two species groups based on the number of anal-fin rays: (1) the O. gatensis species group with more than 12 branched anal-fin rays, and (2) the O. barna species group with fewer than 11 branched anal-fin rays. The remaining species of the O. barna species group can be divided into two species subgroups by the presence or absence of barbels: (1) the O. chatricensis species subgroup without barbels, and (2) the O. barnoides species subgroup with one or two pairs of barbels. Opsarius putaoensis sp. nov. is a member of the O. chatricensis species subgroup together with O. chatricensis, O. arunachalensis, and O. barna. Opsarius putaoensis is most similar to O. chatricensis in overall appearance, including the number of vertical bars and color pattern, but it differs from O. chatricensis by the following characters: insertion of dorsal not reaching posterior end of pelvic fin base vs. reaching, vertical bars 6−7 vs. 7−8, vertical bars extending to the lateral line vs. not, branched anal-fin rays 9 vs. 10, branched pelvic-fin rays 7 vs. 8, branched pectoral-fin rays 12, rarely 11 vs. 11, circumpeduncular scales 12 vs. 14, and scale rows between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line 7−8 vs. 6. It is distinguished from all other species of the genus Opsarius by a combination of the following characters: barbels absent, dentary with parallel rows of tubercles, snout much shorter than eye diameter, mouth gape below anterior edge of orbit, body deep with depth 25.6−33.3% SL, pectoral and pelvic axial scales lobate, lateral line completely perforated with 35−38 scales, scale rows between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line 7−8, predorsal scales 15, circumpeduncular scales 12, branched dorsal-fin rays 7, branched anal-fin rays 9, branched pelvic-fin rays 7, insertion of dorsal not reaching pelvic-fin base, body with 6−7 vertical bars, extending to lateral line, and distal edge of dorsal fin black.
Checklist of Dryinidae and Sclerogibbidae (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea) from Hong Kong
Authors: BARTHÉLÉMY CHRISTOPHE , OLMI MASSIMO
Published: June 2019

A checklist of 23 species of Dryinidae and one species of Sclerogibbidae from Hong Kong is presented for the first time. Five subfamilies and seven genera of Dryinidae and one genus of Sclerogibbidae are recorded: eight species of Anteon; five species of Dryinus (belonging to groups 1 and 3); four species of Gonatopus (belonging to groups 1, 2, 4 and 7); two species of Aphelopus and Thaumatodryinus and one species each for Echthrodelphax, Neodryinus and Sclerogibba. Sixteen species are newly recorded from Hong Kong and three from China. Their geographical distribution are reported and illustrations of collected specimens are provided.
Hepatoma Cell-Targeted Cationized Silk Fibroin as a Carrier for the Inhibitor of Growth 4-Interleukin-24 Double Gene Plasmid
Authors: Luo Hong , Chen Yongchun , Niu Longxing , Liang Ahui , Yang Jicheng , Li Mingzhong
Published: June 2019

The construction of a targeted gene delivery system with low cytotoxicity to normal tissues is an urgent need for the clinical treatment of liver cancer. In this study, Antheraea pernyi silk fibroin (ASF) was cationized with low-molecular-weight polyethylenimine (PEI, 1.8 kDa)
to synthesize a cationized Antheraea pernyi silk fibroin (CASF). The highly cancer-selective hepatoma targeted peptide, HCBP1 (sequence FQHPSFI), was coupled to the side chains of CASF to synthesize a hepatoma-targeted CASF (CASFP). CASFP relied on the positive charges of CASF could
package the pDNA encoded the inhibitor of growth 4 (ING4) and interleukin-24 (IL-24) to form CASFP/pDNA complexes. The results showed that the zeta potential of ASF was reversed from –9.08 ± 0.20 to +11.33 ± 0.38 mV, and its isoelectric point significantly increased from
4.31 to 9.38 after PEI modification. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results and the 1Hydrogen-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra demonstrated that HCBP1 could be coupled to the side chains of CASF under the action of the bifunctional reagent N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)
propionate (SPDP). In vitro, human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and human normal hepatic L-02 cells were transfected with the CASFP/pDNA complexes. The results of confocal laser scanning microscope analysis and cell viability assays showed that the complexes were able to transfect
HepG2 cells and effectively inhibit their proliferation but had no obvious cytotoxicity to L-02 cells. In this study, a new gene delivery system, constructed by using HCBP1-modified CASF and the ING4-IL-24 dual-gene co-expression plasmid, was able to inhibit the proliferation of hepatocellular
carcinoma cells but had no obvious cytotoxicity to normal hepatic cells. Therefore, the gene delivery system has the potential for application as a gene therapy in liver cancer.
A Molecular Beacon Based Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Nanotag for Noninvasive Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer
Authors: Zhang Pu , Zhang Yanning , Liu Wenhao , Cui Daxiang , Zhao Xiangwei , Song Jie , Guo Ting , Ni Haibin , Zhang Mengzhao , Zhang Haibao , Yang Tao , Chen Guanqiu , Wang Lei , Fan Jinhai
Published: June 2019

Current techniques responsible for bladder cancer diagnosis and monitoring are insensitive and invasive. Here, we report a surface-enhanced Raman scattering nanotag for the sensitive diagnosis of bladder cancer using urine samples as a noninvasive approach. The sea-urchin-like Au nanoclusters
used in this work exhibit excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering ability with an enhancement factor of 3.44 × 107. Molecular beacons labeled with Cy3 are covalently anchored to the surface of Au nanoclusters, which serve as a specific recognition site for survivin mRNA.
Further a polyethylene glycol coating provides stability and completes the final functionalization. This surface-enhanced Raman scattering nanotag has good efficiency (equilibrium time: 10 min) with high sensitivity (detection threshold: 19.4 nM), high specificity (capable of single-base mismatch
recognition) and good stability against nucleases. All these features are also verified in the fluorescence modality. Furthermore, its function was highly maintained in clinical samples from 13 patients with bladder cancer, as evidenced by a sensitivity up to 91.7% and a specificity up to
100%. The nanotag demonstrates its superiority over cytology and has its great clinical value even for early bladder cancer diagnosis. Thus, the nanotag is promising for noninvasive and sensitive diagnosis of bladder cancer.
Engineered-Macrophage Induced Endothelialization and Neutralization via Graphene Quantum Dot-Mediated MicroRNA Delivery to Construct Small-Diameter Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts
Authors: Wei Keyu , Liu Feila , Yang Jingyuan , Huo Da , Guan Ge , Li Yanzhao , Yang Guanyuan , Wang Tianran , Wang Yeqin , Nie Zhiqiang , Zeng Wen , Zhu Chuhong
Published: June 2019

Rapid endothelialization of tissue-engineered blood vessels (TEBVs) is an essential strategy to inhibit thrombosis, chronic inflammation and intimal hyperplasia after transplantation into the body. Monocytes will be recruited to the transplantation site and converted to macrophages
after TEBV implantation. Macrophages play an important role in angiogenesis; however, whether engineered macrophages can be utilized to promote rapid endothelialization of TEBVs remains unclear. Thus, a cell bioreactor that can engineer macrophages via graphene quantum dot (GQD)-mediated microRNA
(miR) delivery was built in the TEBV. Briefly, GQD-miR-150 linked by disulfide bonds was adopted to functionalize both the inner and outer TEBVs. The GQD-miR-150 conjugation as an intracellular gene delivery system was taken up by macrophages. Under the protection of GQDs, miR-150 was transfected
into the cytosol, allowing continuous secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) via upregulation of HIF-1α protein expression, and promoted the migration of endothelial cells (ECs) in vitro. An in vivo study showed a rapid endothelialization of the inner
TEBVs after transplantation for 7 days, especially a holonomic endothelial layer after 30 days. For the outer TEBVs, neovascularization (vasa vasorum) accompanied by nerve growth was observed around the adventitia on day 90. In conclusion, the designed cell bioreactor consisting of GQD-miR-engineered
macrophages can effectively promote endothelialization and neuralization in vivo for TEBVs.
Multifunctional Ferritin Nanoparticles as Theranostics for Imaging-Guided Tumor Phototherapy
Authors: Zhang Jun , Zeng Yun , Su Min , Yu Ming , Zhang Yang , Cheng Hongwei , Zheng Huili , Liu Jianming , Wang Xiaoyong , Lei Zhao , Chu Chengchao , Liu Gang
Published: June 2019

The pH-response reassemble ability of the ferritin nanocage (Fn) presents the unique and facile Fn-based drug delivery systems, which enable the drug loaded into the cage of TFn. In this study, we constructed a targeting CGKRK peptides modified Fn (TFn) by genetic engineering. The TFn
possessed the targeting effect of the peptide CGKRK, and could efficiently target to the tumor angiogenic blood vessels and tumor cells. In addition, the TFn could be applied in drug delivery system due to its pH-dependent depolymerization and self-assembly properties. A new type metalla-aromatics
complex of NIR-absorbing organic agent named as "556-Ph" was loaded into the TFn. The developed TFn@556-Ph acted as theranostic nanoparticles for precise tumor localization via active targeting and simultaneously superior imaging-guided photothermal and photodynamic synergistic therapy.
A Silica-Sol-Based Fortified Structure with Superhydrophobic Coating for Harsh Conditions
Authors: Bi Hengchang , Zhu Jingfang , Wang Gang , Du Kai , Jia Haiyang , Xie Xiao , Sun Litao
Published: June 2019

Although numerous bio-inspired superhydrophobic coatings have been extensively studied in the last decades, most of them suffer from low chemical stability and mechanical weakness, which severely limit their extensive applications. Herein, a silica-based, superhydrophobic, highly stable
and mechanically durable coating was prepared via a facile, energysaving strategy. Modified silica nanoparticles, were fortified with silane coupling agent and spray-deposited on substrates, forming a superhydrophobic, self-cleaning coating with high water contact angle (CA = 159.0°),
as well as low rolling angle (RA ≈ 3°). The protective coating showed high chemical stability that endured various harsh conditions, such as wide temperature range (–18 to 250 °C), extreme pH (1 to 13), weeks of exposure under sunlight, etc. Moreover, the coating exhibited
superior mechanical robustness that could resist the attack of shear force in vigorous ultrasonication for 7 hours. In addition, repetitive scratching with a steel blade could not undermine the protective coating (CA > 150°). It is believed that the present strategy is a potent candidate
for facile fabrication of superhydrophobic surface coatings, which have promising applications on extreme conditions in both household and industry.
Tofu-Based Hybrid Hydrogels with Antioxidant and Low Immunogenicity Activity for Enhanced Wound Healing
Authors: Huang Jun , Chen Long , Yuan Qijuan , Gu Zhipeng , Wu Jun
Published: June 2019

Free radicals and inflammation in the skin suffering from trauma cause oxidative damage and delayed healing, leading to adverse wound conditions. To adequately investigate the effects of free radicals and controlled immunogenicity for wound healing, we propose a tofu-based hybrid hydrogel
with antioxidant and low immunogenicity properties that can be used for wound healing. Tofu, a food source material, was introduced for the first time into gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels by the photo-crosslinking method. The results demonstrated that the incorporation of tofu influenced
the pores, swelling, water vapor transmission and compressive properties of hydrogels greatly. The antioxidant activities of hydrogels had been enhanced with increasing rations of tofu, and the fibroblast culture showed good proliferation on the hybrid hydrogels, as well as slight immunogenicity,
thereby inducing the M2 differentiation of macrophages. Further, a full-thickness skin wound model was created to study the healing effect of hybrid hydrogels. In vivo results confirmed that the antioxidant activity and slight immunological stimulation properties of tofu hydrogels could
accelerate the wound healing rate and improve the skin tissue regeneration effect. The present study validates that the tofu-based hybrid hydrogels have multiple bioactivities and could be potential antioxidant and immunoregulation hydrogels in wound healing applications.