bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The advantages of UK Biobank's open‐access strategy for health research
Authors: Conroy M. , Sellors J. , Effingham M. , Littlejohns T. J. , Boultwood C. , Gillions L. , Sudlow C. L. M. , Collins R. , Allen N. E.
Published: July 2019

Ready access to health research studies is becoming more important as researchers, and their funders, seek to maximize the opportunities for scientific innovation and health improvements. Large‐scale population‐based prospective studies are particularly useful for multidisciplinary research into the causes, treatment and prevention of many different diseases. UK Biobank has been established as an open‐access resource for public health research, with the intention of making the data as widely available as possible in an equitable and transparent manner. Access to UK Biobank's unique breadth of phenotypic and genetic data has attracted researchers worldwide from across academia and industry. As a consequence, it has enabled scientists to perform world‐leading collaborative research. Moreover, open access to an already deeply characterized cohort has encouraged both public and private sector investment in further enhancements to make UK Biobank an unparalleled resource for public health research and an exemplar for the development of open‐access approaches for other studies.
Toward “hardened” accountability? Analyzing the European Union's hybrid transnational governance in timber and biofuel supply chains
Authors: Moser Christine , Leipold Sina
Published: July 2019

The voluntary/mandatory divide is a constant feature of scholarly debates on corporate accountability for sustainability in global supply chains. A widely held assumption is that the addition of state authority to private transnational governance in global supply chains will “harden” accountability and, thus, promote more sustainable production. The state's ability to set legally binding requirements is expected to coerce companies into complying. The hybridization of private and state authority is seen to strengthen good practice in private authority. This empirical study questions these assumptions based on an analysis of two hybrid governance arrangements for sustainability in global supply chains: the EU's Timber Regulation (EUTR) and Renewable Energy Directive (RED). The results demonstrate that both EUTR and EU‐RED yield sector wide efforts of compliance and to this extent can be seen as enhancing accountability in the sense of answerability. At the same time, we find that the policies in both cases are not more demanding, nor enforced strictly, the latter putting into question their potential to coerce companies. Further, a “hardening” of accountability is at least obscured as both EUTR and EU‐RED have stripped private authority they employ in their hybrid transnational governance from the need to establish legitimacy with a broader audience. This makes legal compliance and cost‐effectiveness the core factor for companies’ efforts to demonstrate compliance. Our findings hence question whether the EUTR and EU‐RED have led to “hardened” accountability compared to private transnational governance, and ask for an empirical, more nuanced understanding of what there is to gain or lose from hybridizing private and state authority in transnational governance.
Mulching effects on soil nutrient levels and yield in coffee farming systems in Rwanda
Authors: Nzeyimana Innocent , Hartemink Alfred E. , Ritsema Coen , Mbonigaba Jean Jacques M. , Geissen Violette
Published: July 2019

Different combinations of organic mulch were applied in smallholder coffee farming systems to assess their effects on soil nutrient contents and coffee yield at three sites in different agro‐ecological zones in Rwanda. Mulching systems consisted of Cymbopogon spp. (T1), Panicum spp. (T2), Cymbopogon spp. and Panicum spp. (T3), Eucalyptus spp. and Cymbopogon spp. (T4), mixed residues (T5) and un‐mulched coffee used as control (T6). Mulch had significant and specific effects at each site (p < 0.001). T3 reduced soil pH value and exchangeable acidity at Kibirizi, while at Karongi and Ruli, these effects were observed with T4 and T5. T4 and T5 significantly increased the content of soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). The amount of nutrients released was regulated by the amount and type of mulch applied, the agro‐ecological conditions and the soil properties at each site. The increased soil nutrient levels led to improved soil fertility conditions and increased coffee yields. The coffee yields were significantly increased with T1 at Karongi (p < 0.05) by up to 1.9 t ha−1. T2 and T3 had significantly higher yields at Kibirizi. Yields at Kibirizi were 48% lower compared to yields at Karongi; at this site, T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 increased yields by 57%, 26%, 31%, 20% and 28%, respectively, when compared to the no mulching treatment (T6). However, coffee yields over 1.9 t ha−1 can only be obtained with additional applications of inorganic fertilizer at different rates depending on the agro‐ecological zone and soil type.
Evaluation of infectious risk and outcomes in the hmong renal transplant population
Authors: Jorgenson Margaret R. , Cardinale Brianna , Descourouez Jillian L. , Yang Dou‐Yan , Leverson Glen E. , Parajuli Sandesh , Smith Jeannina A. , Redfield Robert R.
Published: July 2019

Background

Hmong ethnicity has been associated with infection, particularly fungal. The risk of infection after transplant in the Hmong population is unknown.

Methods

Observational study of adult renal transplant (RTX) recipients between 1/1/1994 and 12/31/2015. Primary objective was to identify infectious risk in the Hmong RTX population as compared to non‐Hispanic whites (NHW). Secondary objective was to evaluate transplant outcomes.

Results

There was a total of 2599 patients in the study window; 95 Hmong, 2504 NHW. The Hmong population had significantly fewer bacterial and fungal infections at 1 and 3 years (Bacterial: Hmong 21.7%, 32.4% vs NHW 36.9%, 46.7%, P = .004; Fungal: Hmong 3.3%, 5.7% vs NHW 12.7%, 16.6%, P = .0005) and improved graft and patient survival at 1, 5, and 10 years (Graft: Hmong 92.6%, 78.4%, 61.9% vs NHW 90.7%, 72.2%, 48.5%, P = .006; Patient: Hmong 97.8%, 94.5%, 83.3% vs NHW 95.3%, 82.1%, 62.1% P < .001). Spectrum of bacterial infection was similar, but with significantly more Staphylococcal infection in the NHW population. Blastomycoses were the major fungal pathogen in Hmong (2/3, 67%) vs Candida in NWH (77%). When minimally adjusted for PRA and age, rates of bacterial infection (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.48‐0.99, P = .047), fungal infection (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.17‐0.87, P = .02), and mortality (HR 0.5, 95% CI 0.28‐0.88, P = .02) were more favorable in the Hmong population. When analyzed in a stepwise Cox proportional hazards model; Hmong ethnicity was not a significant risk factor for graft failure, rejection, CMV, BK, or fungal infection after RTX and was associated with reduced risk of bacterial infection (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.4‐0.9, P = .02) and mortality (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.27‐0.96, P = .04).

Conclusions

Despite concern regarding infective risk in the Hmong population, infection after RTX is no higher than NHW comparator. In all analyses, the Hmong population has equal or better outcomes. It does not appear variance in standard infection prophylaxis is necessary for the Hmong population after RTX.
International Society for Blood Transfusion international survey on blood product wastage in low‐ and middle‐income countries
Authors: Beckman Neil , Ansah Justina , Follea Gilles , Yazer Mark H.
Published: July 2019

Background and objectives

In 2015, the ISBT Working Party on Blood Supply Management published the results of an international survey on blood product wastage in hospitals. The responses were predominantly from Europe and North America, and it was decided to form another survey concentrating on low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC).

Materials and methods

The survey was designed by the authors and translated into an online survey tool by the ISBT office. A pilot survey was produced and completed by 3 volunteer contributors. Where necessary, amendments were made and the survey was sent by the ISBT to 33 participants from LMIC. The survey was further distributed by participants to colleagues in their or other countries.

Results

In total, 31 completed surveys were received from 11 different countries. Not all respondents answered all questions meaning different questions may have been answered by a different combination of respondents. The demographics of hospital type, size and distance from the blood supplier varied considerably. Red‐blood‐cell (RBC) wastage was estimated to be <5% (n=9 respondents), 5‐10% (n=3) or 10‐25% (n=5). The most important category of wastage was outdated RBCs in the blood bank or after issue. Wastage as a result of an RBC being issued to a patient and not completely transfused because the patient did not require the entire volume was <10% (n=18), 10‐20% (n=3), 20‐30% (n=1), 40–50% (n=1) and >50% (n=1).

Conclusion

Wastage rates varied considerably between countries, and innovative solutions will be required to reduce this problem.
Architecture and Dynamics of the Neuronal Secretory Network
Authors: Kennedy Matthew J. , Hanus Cyril
Published: July 2019

Regulated synthesis and movement of proteins between cellular organelles are central to diverse forms of biological adaptation and plasticity. In neurons, the repertoire of channel, receptor, and adhesion proteins displayed on the cell surface directly impacts cellular development, morphology, excitability, and synapse function. The immensity of the neuronal surface membrane and its division into distinct functional domains present a challenging landscape over which proteins must navigate to reach their appropriate functional domains. This problem becomes more complex considering that neuronal protein synthesis is continuously refined in space and time by neural activity. Here we review our current understanding of how integral membrane and secreted proteins important for neuronal function travel from their sites of synthesis to their functional destinations. We discuss how unique adaptations to the function and distribution of neuronal secretory organelles may facilitate local protein trafficking at remote sites in neuronal dendrites to support diverse forms of synaptic plasticity.
Thinking About the Evolution of Complex Traits in the Era of Genome-Wide Association Studies
Authors: Sella Guy , Barton Nicholas H.
Published: July 2019

Many traits of interest are highly heritable and genetically complex, meaning that much of the variation they exhibit arises from differences at numerous loci in the genome. Complex traits and their evolution have been studied for more than a century, but only in the last decade have genome-wide association studies (GWASs) in humans begun to reveal their genetic basis. Here, we bring these threads of research together to ask how findings from GWASs can further our understanding of the processes that give rise to heritable variation in complex traits and of the genetic basis of complex trait evolution in response to changing selection pressures (i.e., of polygenic adaptation). Conversely, we ask how evolutionary thinking helps us to interpret findings from GWASs and informs related efforts of practical importance.
On Juror Decision Making: An Empathic Inquiry
Authors: Simon Dan
Published: July 2019

This review examines the workings of jurors deciding criminal cases. It seeks not to commend or condemn jury decision making but rather to offer an empathic exploration of the task that jurors face in exercising their fact-finding duty. Reconstructing criminal events in the courtroom amounts to a difficult feat under the best of circumstances. The task becomes especially complicated under the taxing conditions of criminal adjudication: the often substandard evidence presented in court; the paucity of the investigative record; types of evidence that are difficult to decipher; the unruly decision-making environment of the courtroom; and mental gymnastics required to meet the normative demands of criminal adjudication. The critical spotlight is directed not at the jurors but at the conditions under which we expect them to fulfill their duty and at the unverified reverence in which their verdicts are held. The article concludes with a set of recommendations designed to assist our fact-finders in meeting the societal expectations of this solemn task.
Metabolic Basis of Pathogenesis and Host Adaptation in Rice Blast
Authors: Deng Yi Zhen , Naqvi Naweed I.
Published: July 2019

The blast disease, caused by the ascomycete Magnaporthe oryzae, poses a great threat to rice production worldwide. Increasing use of fungicides and/or blast-resistant varieties of rice ( Oryza sativa) has proved to be ineffective in long-term control of blast disease under field conditions. To develop effective and durable resistance to blast, it is important to understand the cellular mechanisms underlying pathogenic development in M. oryzae. In this review, we summarize the latest research in phototropism, autophagy, nutrient and redox signaling, and intrinsic phytohormone mimics in M. oryzae for cellular and metabolic adaptation(s) during its interactions with the host plants.
Fuzzy Ideals and Fuzzy Filters of Pseudocomplemented Semilattices
Authors: Alaba Berhanu Assaye , Norahun Wondwosen Zemene
Published: July 2019

In this paper, we introduce the concept of kernel fuzzy ideals and ⁎-fuzzy filters of a pseudocomplemented semilattice and investigate some of their properties. We observe that every fuzzy ideal cannot be a kernel of a ⁎-fuzzy congruence and we give necessary and sufficient conditions for a fuzzy ideal to be a kernel of a ⁎-fuzzy congruence. On the other hand, we show that every fuzzy filter is the cokernel of a ⁎-fuzzy congruence. Finally, we prove that the class of ⁎-fuzzy filters forms a complete lattice that is isomorphic to the lattice of kernel fuzzy ideals.
Doxorubicin and ABT-199 Coencapsulated Nanocarriers for Targeted Delivery and Synergistic Treatment against Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Zhou Yun , Li Ke , Li Fan , Han Shuang , Wang Yang , Li Xueping , Zhan Yonghua
Published: July 2019

For the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), conventional chemotherapy is insufficient or has no benefit. Although combination chemotherapy has been proven as an efficient strategy to enhance anti-HCC efficacy, some barriers, such as low bioavailability and side effects, are limiting clinical development. In order to overcome disadvantages of combination chemotherapy in HCC, targeted nanoparticles (NPs) simultaneously loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) and ABT-199 in an optimal synergistic ratio were developed. First, the most synergistic combination with DOX was screened from ABT-199, ABT-263, and ABT-737. Among them, ABT-199 showed optimal synergy with DOX in a ratio of 10 : 1. Then, cationic amphipathic starch (CSaSt) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were used in coencapsulations of those two drugs. Dual-drug synergistic nanoparticles (DDS NPs) were constructed by absorption of DOX NPs around ABT-199 micelles with an optimal ratio via electrostatic interaction. The shape of DDS NPs was similar to a raspberry, and the size was 112.6±13.4 nm. The encapsulation efficiencies of DOX and ABT-199 in DDS NPs were 90.2±4.3% and 94.7±2.8%, respectively; meanwhile, the drug loadings were 1.5±0.4% and 14.1±1.1%, respectively. After 72 h of dialysis, 95% of ABT-199 remained and less than 50% of DOX was released. In vitro investigation showed that the drugs in DDS NPs maintained the treated effect in three HCC cell lines; moreover, DDS NPs could perform intracellular delivery of dual drugs and exhibited continuous release of the drugs into different targets. Low in vivo toxicity was found after the acute toxicity test. In vivo fluorescent imaging revealed that DDS NPs could efficiently target and accumulate in the tumor tissues and be maintained more than 72 h after intravenous injection. Compared with free drugs, DDS NPs with the same dosages exhibited a more significant antitumor effect in the HCC xenograft mouse model. The results indicated that DDS NPs have great potential in HCC chemotherapy.
A Distributed Access Control with Outsourced Computation in Fog Computing
Authors: Wang Qihua , Wang Huaqun , Wang Yufeng , Guo Rui
Published: July 2019

With the rapid development of information technology and the Internet of Things Technology (IOT), data security and healthy privacy are getting a lot of attention. In order to store, access, and share electronic health records, storage of this data is transferred to a third-party-cloud server. The security and privacy of electronic health records stored at date center or cloud server are not guaranteed. Before being sent to date center or cloud server, this data should be encrypted. Designing an efficient and secure fine-grained access control strategy for personal health records is facing enormous challenges. Security and privacy for electronic health records are very important because the electronic health data which plays an important role in medical server and treatment is directly associated with a particular patient. Attribute-based encryption (ABE) can effectively achieve fine-grained access control. However, the computation of bilinear pairings requires a large amount of computation overhead in ABE scheme. In order to decrease the computational overhead and ensure the confidentiality of electronic health records, a distributed fine-grained access control scheme with outsourced computation for IOT is proposed in this paper. Little calculation is executed by the receiver and sender in our proposed scheme. Outsourcing computing reduces the computing burden. The analyses of safety and performance show that our proposed scheme is safe and effective compared with previous schemes.
Low-Grade Fibromyxoid Sarcoma of the Lateral Skull Base: Presentation of Two Cases
Authors: Chetverikova Evgenia , Kasenõmm Priit
Published: July 2019

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS) is a rare slow-growing malignant tumour with a deceptively benign histologic appearance. Herein, we report two cases of LGFMS with variable clinical presentations. The first case was a 17-year-old female who referred to our department due to deaf ear on the right together with ipsilateral gag reflex impairment and globus sensation in the pharynx. The second case was a 35-year-old female with recurrent LGFMS, suffering from headaches, vertigo, and episodes of loss of consciousness. LGFMS of the temporal bone is a rare pathology, and to the best of our knowledge, no such cases have been reported before.
Some Formal Results on Positivity, Stability, and Endemic Steady-State Attainability Based on Linear Algebraic Tools for a Class of Epidemic Models with Eventual Incommensurate Delays
Authors: De la Sen M. , Nistal R. , Alonso-Quesada S. , Ibeas A.
Published: July 2019

A formal description of typical compartmental epidemic models obtained is presented by splitting the state into an infective substate, or infective compartment, and a noninfective substate, or noninfective compartment. A general formal study to obtain the reproduction number and discuss the positivity and stability properties of equilibrium points is proposed and formally discussed. Such a study unifies previous related research and it is based on linear algebraic tools to investigate the positivity and the stability of the linearized dynamics around the disease-free and endemic equilibrium points. To this end, the complete state vector is split into the dynamically coupled infective and noninfective compartments each one containing the corresponding state components. The study is then extended to the case of commensurate internal delays when all the delays are integer multiples of a base delay. Two auxiliary delay-free systems are defined related to the linearization processes around the equilibrium points which correspond to the zero delay, i.e., delay-free, and infinity delay cases. Those auxiliary systems are used to formulate stability and positivity properties independently of the delay sizes. Some examples are discussed to the light of the developed formal study.
Implementing Fuzzy TOPSIS on Project Risk Variable Ranking
Authors: Husin Saiful , Fachrurrazi Fachrurrazi , Rizalihadi Maimun , Mubarak Mubarak
Published: July 2019

Managing construction risks with a large number of risks with small impact can increase the additional effort and cost of inefficient construction. Therefore the variables need to be eliminated. The aim of this study is ranking the risk variable based on its frequency of occurrence by integrating time, cost, and quality criteria simultaneously and selecting the top ten variables with the order of the most significant impact. The risk variable ranking based on triple project objective of cost, time, and quality simultaneously is a challenge for particular projects or regions contributing to the risk context. A number of 127 qualitative risk variables of 14 factors occurring in a project to be eliminated require a method/technique. A fuzzy TOPSIS method involving linguistics data is proposed to capture vague conditions. Results show that the top ten rankings of risk variables based on integrating the different weights of cost, time, and quality are successfully identified by concluding that the labour factor is the most dominant variable affecting project risk in context the rehabilitation and reconstruction posttsunami disaster, especially in Aceh‐Indonesia. The variables are lack of labour, unskilled labour, undisciplined labour, and low productivity of labour. This condition can differ from different risk contexts. This research is different from other studies that only review cost, time, and quality separately. We stated that to integrate all three criteria of cost, time, and quality simultaneously is more logic to analyze risk variable ranking.
Screening for Q Fever during Other Bacterial Endocarditis in Endemic Areas: Our Experience with Three Patients
Authors: Younis Said , Stein Michal , Reisfeld Sharon
Published: July 2019

Endocarditis is not a usual manifestation of acute Q fever. There is an ongoing debate about the need to screen patients for valvular diseases after acute Q fever. We present, for the first time, three patients with bacterial endocarditis from different aetiologies and a simultaneous diagnosis of acute Q fever. All were treated with prolonged antimicrobial treatment, and none of them developed a persistent Q infection. We suggest screening patients with endocarditis from other aetiologies to Q fever.
ERK Regulates HIF1α-Mediated Platinum Resistance by Directly Targeting PHD2 in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Li Zhuqing , Zhou Wei , Zhang Yi , Sun Wei , Yung Mingo M.H. , Sun Jing , Li Jing , Chen Chi-Wei , Li Zongzhu , Meng Yunxiao , Chai Jie , Zhou Yuan , Liu Stephanie S. , Cheung Annie N.Y. , Ngan Hextan Y.S. , Chan David W. , Zheng Wei , Zhu Wenge
Published: July 2019

Purpose:

Up to 80% of patients with ovarian cancer develop platinum resistance over time to platinum-based chemotherapy. Increased HIF1α level is an important mechanism governing platinum resistance in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC). However, the mechanism regulating HIF1α stability in PROC remains largely unknown. Here, we elucidate the mechanism of HIF1α stability regulation in PROC and explore therapeutic approaches to overcome cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer.

Experimental Design:

We first used a quantitative high-throughput combinational screen (qHTCS) to identify novel drugs that could resensitize PROC cells to cisplatin. Next, we evaluated the combination efficacy of inhibitors of HIF1α (YC-1), ERK (selumetinib), and TGFβ1 (SB431542) with platinum drugs by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Moreover, a novel TGFβ1/ERK/PHD2-mediated pathway regulating HIF1α stability in PROC was discovered.

Results:

YC-1 and selumetinib resensitized PROC cells to cisplatin. Next, the prolyl hydroxylase domain-containing protein 2 (PHD2) was shown to be a direct substrate of ERK. Phosphorylation of PHD2 by ERK prevents its binding to HIF1α, thus inhibiting HIF1α hydroxylation and degradation—increasing HIF1α stability. Significantly, ERK/PHD2 signaling in PROC cells is dependent on TGFβ1, promoting platinum resistance by stabilizing HIF1α. Inhibition of TGFβ1 by SB431542, ERK by selumetinib, or HIF1α by YC-1 efficiently overcame platinum resistance both in vitro and in vivo. The results from clinical samples confirm activation of the ERK/PHD2/HIF1α axis in patients with PROC, correlating highly with poor prognoses for patients.

Conclusions:

HIF1α stabilization is regulated by TGFβ1/ERK/PHD2 axis in PROC. Hence, inhibiting TGFβ1, ERK, or HIF1α is potential strategy for treating patients with PROC.
Structural and Functional Analyses of an Allosteric EYA2 Phosphatase Inhibitor That Has On-Target Effects in Human Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Anantharajan Jothi , Zhou Hengbo , Zhang Lingdi , Hotz Taylor , Vincent Melanie Y. , Blevins Melanie A. , Jansson Anna E. , Kuan John Wee Liang , Ng Elizabeth Yihui , Yeo Yee Khoon , Baburajendran Nithya , Lin Grace , Hung Alvin W. , Joy Joma , Patnaik Samarjit , Marugan Juan , Rudra Pratyaydipta , Ghosh Debashis , Hill Jeffrey , Keller Thomas H. , Zhao Rui , Ford Heide L. , Kang CongBao
Published: July 2019

EYA proteins (EYA1-4) are critical developmental transcriptional cofactors that contain an EYA domain (ED) harboring Tyr phosphatase activity. EYA proteins are largely downregulated after embryogenesis but are reexpressed in cancers, and their Tyr phosphatase activity plays an important role in the DNA damage response and tumor progression. We previously identified a class of small-molecule allosteric inhibitors that specifically inhibit the Tyr phosphatase activity of EYA2. Herein, we determined the crystal structure of the EYA2 ED in complex with NCGC00249987 (a representative compound in this class), revealing that it binds to an induced pocket distant from the active site. NCGC00249987 binding leads to a conformational change of the active site that is unfavorable for Mg2+ binding, thereby inhibiting EYA2′s Tyr phosphatase activity. We demonstrate, using genetic mutations, that migration, invadopodia formation, and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells are dependent on EYA2 Tyr phosphatase activity, whereas growth and survival are not. Further, we demonstrate that NCGC00249987 specifically targets migration, invadopodia formation, and invasion of lung cancer cells, but that it does not inhibit cell growth or survival. The compound has no effect on lung cancer cells carrying an EYA2 F290Y mutant that abolishes compound binding, indicating that NCGC00249987 is on target in lung cancer cells. These data suggest that the NCGC00249987 allosteric inhibitor can be used as a chemical probe to study the function of the EYA2 Tyr phosphatase activity in cells and may have the potential to be developed into an antimetastatic agent for cancers reliant on EYA2′s Tyr phosphatase activity.
Die Rolle des pH-Wertes bei Intertrigo oder zu trockener Haut
Authors: Braun-Falco Markus
Published: July 2019

In order to maintain skin in «good condition» one can use cosmetic products. Importantly, those skin care products should fulfil specific requirements for specific life phases and specific skin conditions. In this review, we focused on 2 different age groups - namely, infants and the elderly - as well as on 2 specific skin conditions occurring in both age groups - very dry skin (Xerosis) and hyperhydrated skin (diaper rash). The goal in both conditions should be to maintain skin surface in its physiological acidic state, which is in turn crucial for the permeability barrier function, stratum corneum integrity/cohesion and antimicrobial defense. Skin care products formulated with an effective buffer system at a more acidic pH, for example 4, may be the best option to improve the acid mantle and skin barrier function and thus keep the skin in «good condition».
Dermatoskopie: Naevi besser verstehen
Authors: Schlaak Max
Published: July 2019

Melanocytic naevi are common melanocytic proliferations that may simulate the appearance of cutaneous melanoma. Naevi commonly harbour somatic mutations implicated in melanomagenesis but in most cases lack the necessary genomic alterations required for melanoma development. While the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and ultraviolet radiation strongly contribute to naevogenesis, the somatic mutational landscape of dermoscopic naevus subsets distinguishes some of the molecular hallmarks of naevi in relation to melanoma. We herein discuss the classification of naevi and theories of naevogenesis and review the current literature on the somatic alterations in naevi and melanoma. This review focusses on the clinical-dermoscopic-pathological and genomic correlation of naevi that shapes the current understanding of naevi.
Hormonelle und gynäkologische Risikofaktoren bei frontal fibrosierender Alopezie
Authors: Makrantonaki Evgenia
Published: July 2019

Introduction: Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a condition that likely involves an interplay of autoimmune, hormonal, and environmental factors in its pathogenesis. There is a lack of comparative studies demonstrating the presence of hormonal background differences in FFA patients compared to the general population. Materials and Methods: A single-center case-control study was designed, including 104 female FFA patients and 208 controls. Patients and controls were interviewed, and extensive data regarding their gynecological and hormonal background were recorded. Results: One hundred four cases and 208 age-matched controls were included in the study. A significant difference of 2 years in the age of menopause was detected with a consistent mean increase in fertile life for the control group of 1.7 years. After the multivariate analysis, we found previous intake of tamoxifen to be a risk factor for the development of FFA (OR 14.89). The only protective factor identified was the previous use of an intrauterine device (IUD) (OR 0.22). Conclusions: An earlier menopause and tamoxifen intake might promote or maintain FFA, while the use of an IUD might protect from developing FFA. Our results support the previously proposed hypothesis of an underlying hormonal mechanism in the etiopathogenesis of FFA and point out low-estrogen environments as an ideal condition for FFA development.
Redescription of the advertisement call of Brachycephalus tridactylus (Anura: Brachycephalidae)
Authors: Bornschein Marcos R. , Rollo Jr. Mario M. , Pie Marcio R. , Confetti André E. , Ribeiro Luiz F.
Published: July 2019

Redescription of the advertisement call of Brachycephalus tridactylus (Anura: Brachycephalidae). Miniaturized frogs of the genus Brachycephalus have restricted geographical distributions throughout the Atlantic Forest. Ecological data for most species are scarce and advertisement calls have been described for only 12 of the 36 known species, including B. tridactylus. The considerable duration of note length of the advertisement call of B. tridactylus has been mentioned in comparative studies of vocalizations in Brachycephalus. The single original recording of B. tridactylus, together with recordings made in March 2016 at the type locality, were analyzed to document any variation and redescribe the advertisement call of the species. In the recent recordings of B. tridactylus, the average length of the call is 50.8 s and the call is composed of 10–13 notes emitted at a note rate of 3.7–8.3 notes per min. The notes are isolated and composed of 1–3 pulses, with the note duration varying from 0.002–0.021 s. These values are not consistent with the original description of the call of B. tridactylus. The note duration is 89% shorter and the original description does not include notes with 1–3 pulses. The notes of B. tridactylus have few pulses, whereas those of B. ephippium have several. The advertisement call of B. tridactylus differs from that of B. albolineatus and B. mirissimus by having only isolated notes.
Sexual dimorphism, diet, and notes on reproduction in Oxyrhopus trigeminus (Serpentes: Colubridae) in the semiarid Caatinga of northeastern Brazil
Authors: Coelho Rafael Damasceno Fernandes , Sales Raul Fernandes Dantas , Ribeiro Leonardo Barros
Published: July 2019

Sexual dimorphism, diet, and notes on reproduction in Oxyrhopus trigeminus (Serpentes: Colubridae) in the semiarid Caatinga of northeastern Brazil. Selected morphological characters, diet, and reproduction of the false-coral snake, Oxyrhopus trigeminus, from several localities in the Caatinga region of northeastern Brazil are described based on examination of preserved specimens. Sexual dimorphism is evident, with females attaining larger body sizes than males, but males have relatively larger heads and tails. A total of 25 prey items was identifed in 23 of the 97 O. trigeminus examined; based on the orientation of the prey in the stomachs, all items were ingested headfrst. Lizards are the most frequent prey (96%) of O. trigeminus, with the lizard Tropidurus hispidus being the most important prey species both in number and in volume; marsupials account for 4% of the diet. Juveniles have a narrower dietary niche width than adults, presumably because they have smaller mouths with a narrower gape. Females have a wider dietary niche than males, but there is a high niche overlap between the sexes; males and females do not differ in prey volumes. The analysis of the gonads showed that 10 females have 4–13 vitellogenic follicles (mean 7.8 ± 2.8 follicles), and 2 females have oviducal eggs, one with only one egg and the other with fve eggs. The estimated minimum size at maturity for female O. trigeminus in the Caatinga is 400 mm.
KADIN GİRİŞİMCİLERİN İŞ DOYUMLARININ İNCELENMESİ: YALOVA ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: SÜMER Elif , GÜVEN Seval
Published: July 2019

İş
yaşamında aktif bir şekilde rol alan kadın girişimciler için iş, yaşamın
vazgeçilmez bir unsuru haline gelmiş kadın girişimcilerin işlerinden elde
ettikleri iş doyumu kavramı önem kazanmıştır. Bu çalışmada Yalova ilinde
girişimci olarak faaliyet gösteren kadınların demografik özelliklerinin
belirlenmesi, iş doyumlarının belirlenen demografik özellikler bağlamında
incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmanın örneklemi Yalova ilinde girişimci olarak
faaliyet gösteren 167 kadından oluşmaktadır. Çalışmada katılımcılara uygulanan
anket formu öncelikle güvenilirlik testine (Cronbach's Alpha: 0.827) sonrasında
faktör analizine tabi tutulmuştur. İş doyumu puanlarının demografik özelliklere
göre farklılık gösterip göstermediğinin belirlenmesine yönelik “Kruskal
Wallis-H” ve farklılığın kaynağının saptanması için “Mann Whitney U” testleri
uygulanmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda kadın girişimcilerin iş doyumları ile faaliyet
gösterilen sektör ve gelir değişkeni arasında anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu
saptanmıştır.
Pompeian Artifacts and Jesus-Devotion: The Contours of the Issue in the Early Twenty-First Century
Authors: Longenecker Bruce W.
Published: July 2019

Certain Pompeian artifacts have drawn debate as to whether they might be the product of Jesus-devotion within the walls of that small town. This article overviews the context for considering that issue in accordance with the best forms of current historiographical analysis and in light of the full spread of the evidence. To do otherwise is to mire the debate in a problematic web of outdated assumptions. When those assumptions are purged from the interpretive process and the full spread of evidence is taken into account, new interpretive possibilities open up, with important historical implications for our understanding of early forms of Jesus-devotion.
Epistolary Sleight of Hand: Diplomatic Manipulation in Zosimus’ Letter to Patroclus of Arles (Quid de Proculi)
Authors: Dunn Geoffrey D.
Published: July 2019

Zosimus’ Epistula 7 (JK 333 = J3 739, Quid de Proculi) to Patroclus, bishop of Arles, would suggest the normal operations of ecclesiastical judicial procedures: Proclus had been condemned, the validity of an earlier synodal decision had been overturned, and Patroclus’ own authority had been upheld. Appearances, however, can be deceiving. Other letters in Liber auctoritatem ecclesiae Arelatensis, particularly three written by Zosimus also in September 417, inform us about just how controversial were not only Patroclus’ claims to authority in southern Gaul but Zosimus’ support of Patroclus and his assertion that the Roman church had a role in arbitrating these claims. The evidence in the collection is of a dispute conducted with anything but diplomacy. This paper sets Quid de Proculi in its broader context to reveal how both Zosimus and the church of Arles tried, unwittingly or not, to promote a false memory about the church of Arles.
Residual value and assessement of damages under the lex Aquilia
Authors: Dondorp Harry
Published: July 2019

Nowadays it is generally held, that the owner who brought an actio legis Aquiliae usually claimed no more than his loss, perhaps already in Ulpian’s time, for certain in Justinian’s. For the sum of condemnation based upon the estimation-clauses of the lex Aquilia would only then exceed his damages, if either the injured object’s value had decreased in the last year or 30 days (Inst. 4,3,9) or the wrongdoer had denied having caused the damage (C. 3,35,4). There is, however, a third reason, which the Roman texts fail to mention: a possible residual value of killed lifestock, wounded slaves, and damaged objects, which benefitted the owner. Only a few later jurists took this into account: in medieval times Jacques de Révigny and Pierre Jacobi, Johann Oldendorp in the Early Modern era. The notion prevailed that the lex Aquilia obliged to pay at least the object’s full value.
The barratry of the shipmaster in early modern law: polysemy and mos Italicus
Authors: Rossi Guido
Published: July 2019

‘Barratry’ is a polysemic term: it means deceit, bribe, simony, and fraud of the shipmaster. This article seeks to trace the origins of the word and to explore its different meanings, focusing especially on the influence that older meanings had on the development of more recent ones. This operation is of particular importance to understand the meaning of barratry that would appear for last – that of fraud of the shipmaster. By the time civil lawyers started dealing with maritime barratry, they were already well familiar with the other meanings of the term. This probably favoured the adaptation process, but it also left a deep mark on its outcome: the weight of those other meanings of the same term had a significant influence on the qualification of maritime barratry, an influence otherwise difficult to explain.
Indian Language Content and Publishing Today
Authors: Devasar Nitasha
Published: July 2019

The demand for online content in Indian languages (IL) is growing faster than for that in English. The proliferation of cheap smartphones with Indic keyboards and high-speed connectivity is feeding this trend. Moreover, there is increasing formal and informal collaboration between English and IL publishers to make educational and literary content available in regional languages. This currently is not financially viable or scalable and follows the logic of the print (rather than digital) economy. The government is focused on online content delivery as part of a larger Digital India programme. In the absence of IL content in the higher education arena, it must work with private players to develop quality technical and scientific content. Indian-language publishers need to be included in this process via training and incentives, since they have regional networks for effective outreach with this content. The biggest role of the government, however, is in the arena of regulation with the updating and implementation of intellectual property (IP) and copyright laws that need to extend to digital content; as well as in creating an environment where quality educational content is incentivized.
Heinemann African Writers Series
Authors: Bejjit Nourdin
Published: July 2019

From its launch in 1962, the African Writers Series (AWS) enabled the dissemination of African literature worldwide and contributed to the creation of a critical sensitivity among readers and critics alike to its distinct qualities and values. It is difficult to imagine the existence of a solid ‘tradition’ of African literature in English without the African Writers Series. What is more, Heinemann Educational Books (HEB) made it possible for African authors writing in Arabic or French to be part of a larger literary phenomenon. The works varied from creative to biographical writings and echoed the rich multilingual and multicultural African voices then in the making. This article seeks to shed light on various aspects of publishing the AWS. It offers a survey of the rise and development of the series and the crisis that eventually befell it.
Malta’s ISBN Database and the Benefits of Open Data
Authors: Camilleri Mark
Published: July 2019

In 2016, the National Book Council, the ISBN agency for Malta, released its ISBN database online. A few months later, the ISBN database was enhanced with an open-data feature that enables users to download the search results in a single file with read and write access. The database includes all the ISBN data of Malta except for some records and data that were lost during the period before 2013 when paper data storage of ISBN records was the common practice. The implementation of an ISBN electronic database now ensures that no data go missing and facilitates the preservation of metadata. As added value, the open-data system provides access to all of the ISBN records as listed in the database, which means that virtually all of the ISBN data elements can be downloaded from the database. Researchers, publishers, authors, and booksellers all stand to benefit from this open ISBN data system.
Delivering on the Paris Promises? Review of the Paris Agreement’s Implementing Guidelines from a Human Rights Perspective
Authors: Duyck Sébastien
Published: July 2019

The adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015 constituted an unprecedented step in the recognition by states of the importance of ensuring that their action on the climate is informed by human rights: for the first time a global environmental legal instrument referred explicitly to human rights. However, whether this provision will contribute to the shaping of climate policies depends significantly on the extent to which it is integrated into further guidance regarding the implementation of the Agreement. The adoption by states of guidance on most aspects of the Paris Agreement, at cop 24/cma1.3, in December 2018, is a litmus test on whether the implementation of the Agreement is likely to reflect a higher level of integration of human rights concerns into climate governance. Having noted the absence of explicit reference to human rights in the guidelines, this article reviews key aspects of the guidelines from the perspective of principles related to human rights, such as public participation, gender equality, and respect for the rights and knowledge of indigenous peoples. This review includes an analysis of the final provisions in key chapters of the guidelines. It is informed by the positions put forward by countries throughout the drafting process as well as by the evolution of negotiating texts prior to the finalization of the guidelines. The review finds that cop 24/cma1.3 failed, for the most part, to uphold the principles laid out in the preamble to the Paris Agreement, particularly in relation to human rights; the guidelines make only a few references to human-rights-related principles.
The Relationship between the Letters of Al-Iḫlāṣ (Q 112:1-4) and Their Iterations Using B-Spline Function
Authors: Musbah Faoziya S.M.
Published: July 2019

Al-Iḫlāṣ is an important chapter within the Holy Quran (words of God) because it is a brief declaration of the absolute unity of God (Allah). This paper analyzes al-Iḫlāṣ mathematically in order to gain an understanding of the relationship between the letters of this chapter and their iterations. The analyzed two-dimensional data points (xi,yi) define a piecewise linear curve that is shaped like Allah’s name as it is written in Arabic. The B-spline function is used to analyze this data so as to obtain a second degree curve.
On the systematics of the water mite Piona discrepans (Koenike, 1895) and Piona discrepaniella Tuzovskij, 1990 (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Pionidae)
Authors: TUZOVSKIJ PETR V.
Published: July 2019

The first descriptions of the water mite larva of Piona discrepans and of the male and female of Piona discrepaniella (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Pionidae) are given.
Xenosinelobus balanocolus, a new tanaidid genus and species (Crustacea: Peracarida: Tanaidacea) from barnacles on intertidal rocky shores and seawalls in the Singapore Strait
Authors: CHIM C. K. , TONG SAMANTHA J. W.
Published: July 2019

This study describes a new genus and new species of Tanaidacea that was collected from inside the tests of dead Tetraclita barnacles in Singapore. Xenosinelobus n. gen. is most similar to Sinelobus but can be distinguished by the (1) unusually short antennal fifth article, (2) tooth-like lacinia mobilis on right mandible, (3) long terminal seta on epignath, (4) plumose inner seta near dactylus insertion on cheliped propodus, (5) spiniform seta on pereopod 1 coxa, (6) presence of setae on inner margins of pereopod 1 propodus and dactylus, (7) claw-like terminal articles on pereopods 2 and 3, (8) row of setulose and flattened denticulate setae along distal margin of pereopod 6 propodus, (9) dorsal seta on claws of pereopods 4–6, (10) complete row of dorso-transverse setae on pleonites 1 and 2, (11) one seta on pleopod basis outer margin, (12) two or three setae on pleopod endopod inner margin and (13) three-articled uropod with final article 1.6 times as long as preceding article. A new diagnosis and key to genera is provided for the subfamily Sinelobinae.
The Ideological Shadow of Authoritarianism
Authors: Dinas Elias , Northmore-Ball Ksenia
Published: July 2019

How do the labels left and right take on meaning in new democracies? Existing explanations point to the universality of the left–right scheme or, reversely, emphasize regionally dominant social cleavages. We propose an alternative legacy-focused theory based on two observations: Dictatorships are not ideologically neutral and are negatively evaluated by most citizens and elites after democratization. These premises lead us to expect that when the authoritarian regime is associated with the left (right), the citizens of a new democracy will display an antileft (antiright) bias in their left–right self-identification. We test this hypothesis across Latin American and European new democracies. We find significant bias, which in the case of new democracies following left-wing regimes is concealed due to intercohort heterogeneity. Although older cohorts denote a positive bias, cohorts born after Stalin’s era denote negative bias against the left. Consistent with our expectations, repression exacerbates this bias whereas indoctrination mitigates it. Finally, we look at how these biases apply to party preferences. The findings have important implications for understanding authoritarian legacies and party system development in new democracies.