bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nearctomeris, a new genus of Pill Millipedes from North America, with a comparison of genetic distances of American Pill Millipede Genera (Glomerida, Glomeridae)
Authors: WESENER THOMAS
Published: March 2019

A new genus and species of the pill millipede order Glomerida, Nearctomeris inexpectata n. sp., n. gen., is describedfrom the Eastern United States. The description of Nearctomeris brings the total number of American Glomerida generato three. In two of three known localitites, Nearctomeris co-occurs with species of the genus Onomeris Cook, 1896.Onomeris and Nearctomeris have almost an identical size (4–5.5 mm) and dark colour, but can be readily distingusihedby numerous non-sexual and sexual characters. Sexual characters of the male telopod also place Nearctomeris into thefamily Glomeridae, while the third American pill millipede genus Glomeroides Chamberlin, 1922 belongs to theProtoglomeridae. A key to all American genera of Glomerida is presented. For the first time in the order Glomerida, thepartial cytochrome c oxidase I mitochondrial gene was analyzed for the three American genera of the Glomerida,Glomeroides, Onomeris, and Nearctomeris together with European genera currently placed in different families,Glomeridella and Trachysphaera, as outgroups. Distance, maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods wereemployed. Maximum parsimony and likelihood analyses did not lead to a well-resolved phylogeny, but found a weaklysupported sister-group relationship between Nearctomeris and Onomeris. All five analyzed pill millipede genera differgreatly in their uncorrected basepairs (15–22%), and moderately in their amino acids (5–10%). As in Onomeris, the closestrelative of Nearctomeris can probably be found among the Asian genera Hyleoglomeris Verhoeff, 1910 or Hyperglomeris Silvestri, 1917. In America, more attention should be given to the search for other small-bodied, cryptic, rare Glomerida.
Squamatinia algharbica gen. n. sp. n., a remarkable new Coletiniinae silverfish (Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae) from caves in southern Portugal
Authors: REBOLEIRA ANA SOFIA P. S. , GONÇALVES FERNANDO , OROMÍ PEDRO , MENDES LUIS F.
Published: March 2019

A new genus of Coletiniinae silverfish (Nicoletiidae) similar to Coletinia Wygodzinsky and Lepidospora Escherich isdescribed to accommodate the new species Squamatinia algharbica gen. n. sp. n. Many individuals were collected overall seasons of the year in four caves of the Algarve karst massif in the south of Portugal. An identification key for the known genera of Coletiniinae is provided, as well as some biogeographical and ecological comments.
Taxonomic revision of the genus Glaucocharis Meyrick (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Crambinae) from China, with descriptions of nine new species
Authors: LI WEICHUN , LI HOUHUN
Published: March 2019

Glaucocharis Meyrick is revised from China, with descriptions of nine new species: G. brevis sp. n., G. flavifasciaria sp.n., G. paulispinata sp. n., G. grandispinata sp. n., G. siciformis sp. n., G. tridentata sp. n., G. biconvexa sp. n., G.scrotiformis sp. n. and G. setosa sp. n.; Glaucocharis incisella (Bleszynski, 1970) and G. pilcheri Gaskin, 1988 are newlyrecorded for China; the females of seven species are described for the first time: G. omeishani (Bleszynski, 1965), G.incisella (Bleszynski, 1970), G. parmulella Wang & Sung, 1988, G. pilcheri Gaskin, 1988, G. longqiensis Song, 1993, G.huanggangensis Song & Chen, 2001 and G. hastatella Song & Chen, 2001. Images of the adults and illustrations of thegenitalia for the new species are provided. The distribution data of the Chinese Glaucocharis are presented, along with a map showing the localities of these species.
DNA barcodes reveal that the widespread European tortricid moth Phalonidia manniana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a mixture of two species
Authors: MUTANEN MARKO , AARVIK LEIF , HUEMER PETER , KAILA LAURI , KARSHOLT OLE , TUCK KEVIN
Published: March 2019

During efforts to generate DNA barcodes for all North European Lepidoptera, Phalonidia manniana (Fischer vonRöslerstamm, 1839) was found to comprise two genetically distinct clusters. Morphological investigation further supportsthe existence of two distinct taxa, P. manniana and P. udana Guenée, 1845, sp. rev. Their biologies also differ, P. mannianafeeding in stems of Mentha and Lycopus (Lamiaceae) and P. udana feeding in stems of Lysimachia thyrsiflora and L.vulgaris (Primulaceae). We provide re-descriptions of both taxa and DNA barcodes for North European Phalonidia andGynnidomorpha. Phalonidia tolli Razowski, 1960, syn. nov., is considered a junior synonym of Pudana. Phalonidia udanais widely distributed in the North Palaearctic, whereas it seems to be rare or missing in large parts of Central Europe. The study demonstrates the usefulness of DNA barcoding in revealing cryptic species.
Three new species of the Homoneura (Homoneura) henanensis species group (Diptera, Lauxaniidae), with a key to Chinese species
Authors: WANG JUNCHAO , GAO CAIXIA , YANG DING
Published: March 2019

The following three species of the nominal subgenus of Homoneura van der Wulp from China are described as new to science:H. (H.) beijingensis sp. nov. H. (H.) caoi sp. nov. and H. (H.) kuankuoshuiensis sp. nov. A key to the species of the H. (H.) henanensis species group from China is presented.
Description of two new and five known species of the genus Axonchium Cobb, 1920 (Nematoda : Dorylamida) from India with diagnostic compendia and keys to species of the genera Axonchium and Syncheilaxonchium Coomans & Nair, 1975
Authors: NAZ TABBASAM , AHMAD WASIM
Published: March 2019

Two new and six known species of soil-inhabiting nematodes belonging to the genus Axonchium Cobb, 1920 are describedand illustrated from India. Axonchium meghalayense n. sp. is characterized by its body length (1.6–1.9 mm), odontostylelength (9.5–10 µm), the presence of a short isthmus-like structure between the anterior and posterior parts of the pharynx,and rounded tail. The vagina in females is slightly bent posteriad, and the anterior uterine branch is a long sac. Males have41 µm long spicules, lateral guiding pieces with bifurcated distal ends, and five ventromedian supplements starting abovethe range of spicules. Body length in A. noreasum n. sp. is 1.0–1.5 mm, its odontostyle is 7–10 µm long, and the two partsof the pharynx abut each other. Females have a posteriorly directed vagina, and an anterior uterine branch 45–138 µmlong. Males have two well-spaced ventromedian supplements, spicules 30–36 µm long and conoid tail. Axonchiumamplicolle Cobb, 1920; Axonchium bulbosum Williams, 1958; Axonchium elegans Jairajpuri, 1964; Axonchium neoeletumRahman, Jairajpuri & Ahmad, 1985; Axonchium phukani Rahman, Jairajpuri & Ahmad, 1985; Axonchium parasaccatumRahman, Jairajpuri & Ahmad, 1985 are redescribed. Three recently described species, Axonchium sturhani Naz et al.,2007, A. parassaculum Naz et al., 2007 and A. singaporense Ahmad & Naz, 2010, because of their continuous lip regionwith amalgamated lips are transferred to the genus Syncheilaxonchium as S. sturhani (Naz et al., 2007) n. comb., S.parassaculum (Naz et al., 2007) n. comb. and S. singaporense (Ahmad & Naz, 2010b) n. comb. Keys and compendia to the species of the genera Axonchium and Syncheilaxonchium Coomans & Nair, 1975 are also provided.
Two new species of Paraehlersia San Martín, 2003 (Polychaeta, Syllidae) from the Atlantic Coast of South America
Authors: FUKUDA MARCELO VERONESI , CENTURIÓN ROMINA , DE MATOS NOGUEIRA JOÃO MIGUEL , SAN MARTÍN GUILLERMO
Published: March 2019

Paraehlersia San Martín, 2003 is reported for the first time for the Atlantic coast off South America based on specimenscollected off Brazil and Argentina. The specimens belong to two new species, which are herein described. Paraehlersialongichaetosa sp. nov., is characterized by having spiniger-like chaetae with long blades, up to 120μm in length, bidentateanterior falcigers, with relatively coarse subdistal tooth, bidentate dorsal simple chaetae, with teeth about same size, andsubdistally irregularly inflated aciculae, apparently hollow, with acute tip. Paraehlersia martapolae sp. nov., has spiniger-like chaetae with shorter blades, up to 82μm in length, bidentate falcigers, with thin subdistal tooth, distally irregularlyrounded dorsal simple chaetae, and aciculae subdistally bent at almost right angle, sometimes with apparently flattenedtop. These new species are compared to their most similar congeners. Additionally, a table summarizing relevant morphological traits of all currently known species of Paraehlersia is included.
A new species of Galathea Fabricius, 1793 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Galatheidae) from Okinawa, southern Japan
Authors: OSAWA MASAYUKI , HIGASHIJI TAKUO
Published: March 2019

A new species of squat lobster, Galathea chura sp. nov., is described from deep-waters off Okinawa Island in the Ryukyus,southern Japan, on the basis of a single specimen found on a colony of unidentified octocoral of the genus Parisis Verrill,1864. The new species resembles G. magnifica Haswell, 1882, G. spinosorostris Dana, 1852, and G. tanegashimae Baba,1969, in having scale-like or interrupted arcuate ridges on the gastric region of the carapace and epipods on the first or first and second pereopods only, but it is readily distinguished by the absence of epigastric spines.
New Neotropical cunaxine species (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae)
Authors: HEYER JACOB DEN , DE CASTRO TATIANE MARIE MARTINS GOMES
Published: March 2019

Four new Brazilian cunaxine species, namely Armascirus brasiliensis Den Heyer sp. nov., A. bahiaensis Den Heyer sp.nov., Dactyloscirus saopauloensis Den Heyer sp. nov. and Riscus austroamericanus Den Heyer sp. nov. are described and figured. A key to the new species, as well as the known species of Riscus, is provided.
A new species of Pristimantis (Anura: Strabomantidae) from the Brazilian Cerrado
Authors: MACIEL NATAN MEDEIROS , VAZ-SILVA WILIAN , DE OLIVEIRA RENAN MANOEL , PADIAL JOSÉ MANUEL
Published: March 2019

A new species of Pristimantis (Anura: Strabomantidae) from the Pristimantis conspicillatus group is described from theCerrado biome in central Brazil. Pristimantis ventrigranulosus sp. nov. is found in riparian forests associated with a par-ticular palm tree called “babaçú” (Attalea speciosa: Aracaceae) in northwestern Goiás state of Brazil. The new species isonly known from the type locality: Fazenda Macaúba (16°35’23” S; 51°47’43” W, approximately 400 m above sea level),Piranhas Municipality in the state of Goiás. The new species differs from the other species in the P. conspicillatus groupmainly by having, an homogeneously granular belly, Finger I > Finger II, dorsal skin coarsely shagreen, toe and fingerfringes weakly developed or absent, presence of basal webbing and tarsal fold, single nuptial pad on thumb, moderatelydeveloped and round discs on Fingers III and IV, and higher dominant frequency than other Pristimantis with similar calls(ranging 3451.8−4334.8 Hz). The new species shows an advertisement call equal in structure to the calls of P. dundeei, P. fenestratus, P. koehleri and P. vilarsi. Pristimantis dundeei is transferred to the P. conspicillatus group.
Deportation Decisions: Judicial Decision-Making in an American Immigration Court
Authors: Asad Asad L.
Published: March 2019

Drawing on ethnographic observations and informal conversations with judges in Dallas Immigration Court, as well as archival documents, this article describes two approaches through which judges in this setting justify their decisions during removal proceedings. The “scripted approach,” used to effect the routine removal of noncitizens in most of the completed cases observed, entails judges’ recitation of well-rehearsed narratives regarding the limited legal rights and remedies available to noncitizens. The “extemporaneous approach” involves judges moving beyond their scripts and deliberating in greater depth about noncitizens’ cases. In doing so, judges’ personal attitudes, biases, and motivations are often revealed as they articulate their desire to circumvent the removal process for noncitizens they view as “deserving” of relief—but for whom only temporary relief from removal is often available given judges’ interpretations of immigration law. Although judges recognize that this temporary relief may allow some noncitizens to remain in the United States indefinitely, incomplete protection from removal can leave noncitizens in a precarious legal status and jeopardize these individuals’ future opportunities for legalization. These findings support a conceptualization of immigration judges as street-level bureaucrats, or frontline workers who interpret the law—sometimes unevenly—to enforce government policy while interfacing with the individuals subject to said policy. The study thus amplifies the social control capacity of the federal immigration regime.
What Explains the Rising Share of US Men in Registered Nursing?
Authors: Munnich Elizabeth , Wozniak Abigail
Published: March 2019

Working with data from the decadal US Census and the annual American Community Survey (ACS), the authors document four decades of increasing participation in registered nursing among US men and explore reasons for this change. Increasing educational attainment, rising labor demand in health care, rising urbanization, and liberalizing gender role attitudes explain approximately 50% of the growth. Results show that a large component of the increase occurs when men switched into nursing during their 20s and early 30s. Important countervailing factors include poor early labor market conditions and immigrant inflows, both of which are associated with less movement into nursing by men. The authors discuss the implications of their findings for policies that encourage men to take up high growth, non-traditional skilled jobs.
How schools can and should respond to student activism
Authors: Singer Alan
Published: March 2019

The school shooting in Parkland, Fla., in February 2018 led many students to engage in walkouts and other protests during the school day. Some schools supported their actions, while others disciplined students who participated. Alan Singer considers these schools’ responses and explains that the social studies standards in many states encourage student activism and other forms of civic participation. He provides suggestions for how schools might respond to controversies that arise when students take political action at school.
Excess risk of dying of other causes of cured cancer patients
Authors: Botta Laura , Gatta Gemma , Trama Annalisa , Capocaccia Riccardo
Published: March 2019

Background:

The proportion of patients cured of cancer is usually estimated with cure models assuming they have the same death risk as the general population. These patients, even when cured, often maintain an extra death risk compared to the overall population. Our aims were to estimate this extra risk, and to take it into account in estimating cure proportions and relative survival (RS).

Methods:

We used RS mixture model with an additional parameter expressing the extra noncancer death risk of patients, assumed constant with age. We applied the model to the SEER registries survival data (1990–1994 diagnosed patients) with colorectal, breast, and lung cancers, and followed up to 2013.

Results:

The estimated relative risk of death for cured patients versus the general population was 1.11 for colorectal, 1.16 for breast, and 2.17 and 2.12, respectively, for female and male lung cancers. Taking this extra risk into account leads, for all cancers, to a higher estimated proportion of cured and a lower RS of uncured patients. In addition, it leads to a higher estimated RS for all patients aged >70 years, and for lung cancer patients aged >50 years, at diagnosis.

Conclusions:

Mortality of survivors not directly due to the diagnosed cancer was significantly higher than in the general population. It affected the estimates of cure proportions for all age classes and RS in the elderly.
Understanding High-Speed Rail Passengers in China: A Segmentation Approach
Authors: Pan Jing Yu , Truong Dothang
Published: March 2019

China has established the world’s largest high-speed rail (HSR) system, which has fundamentally changed the way people travel in the domestic market. As China aims to double its HSR capacity in the next few years, the HSR population will continue to grow, which calls for an in-depth understanding of HSR passengers. While HSR has been of academic interest for many years, existing research has not provided meaningful demographic segmentation in the HSR context. This paper collected empirical data from HSR passengers in Beijing and Shanghai, the largest HSR markets in China, and performed a cluster analysis based collectively on three demographic variables—age, income, and education, which led to the formation of four segments—High-Ed Youths, Mature Travelers, New Starters, and Elite Travelers. Significant differences were found in terms of the passenger demographics and travel experiences across the four segments, to support the validity of the clustering solutions. The multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) test further revealed cross-segment differences in terms of passenger evaluation of five HSR variables—reasonableness of price, reliability, food choices, employee service, and likelihood for recommendation, suggesting the possibility of predicting passenger perceptions and behaviors based on their cluster membership. The findings demonstrate that passenger segmentation based on multiple demographic variables can provide deeper insights into the HSR population. For HSR providers in China, an understanding of the characteristics of the four passenger segments can assist them in developing service and communication strategies to cater to the different passenger needs.
Tribological Evaluation for an In-Depth Understanding of Improved Workability of Foamed Asphalt
Authors: Bairgi Biswajit K. , Mannan Umme A. , Tarefder Rafiqul A.
Published: March 2019

Asphalt binder acts as a lubricant between two aggregates during mixing and compaction. The frictional behavior of asphalt binder as a lubricant in an asphalt-aggregate system plays an important role in mixing and compaction (workability) of warm-mix asphalt (WMA). This study evaluates the frictional behavior of foamed WMA through tribological characterization using a ball-on-three-plates apparatus assembled inside a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). The tribological test was conducted on six foamed asphalts with varying foaming water contents (FWCs) and on a controlled unfoamed asphalt binder at four different temperatures: 25°C, 60°C, 100°C, and 135°C. These binders were also characterized for rheological and chemical properties. Test results show that the foaming process alters the frictional resistance of the foamed asphalts; specifically, the foaming process reduces the coefficient of friction in elastohydrodynamic and hydrodynamic lubrication regimes. Reduced frictional resistance helps in the formation of a better coating during mixing and improves the sliding ability between aggregates during compaction at reduced temperature.
Merging Virtual World with Real-Life Behavior: A Concept for a Smartphone App to Influence Young People’s Travel Behavior
Authors: Roider Oliver , Wegener Sandra , Stark Juliane , Judmaier Peter , Michelberger Frank , Barberi Alessandro
Published: March 2019

European trends in children’s travel patterns show decreasing rates of trips walked or cycled. Against this background, a concept for a smartphone app was developed to promote active travel modes for children and adolescents. The app collects players’ travel data as input for a game: a high level of real-life environmentally friendly and active travel modes leads to a higher score. Competing players redeem the points they have collected to reach specific virtual locations on a map and win real-life rewards (e.g., shopping vouchers). The game was developed based on the user-centered design approach—an iterative process between design, prototyping, and evaluation. This paper presents the game concept alongside the results of a prototype field test at three schools in the province of Lower Austria, comprising 57 students aged 12 to 18. Results suggest that the game was easy to use and entertaining. However, younger players lost interest faster than older ones. Players emphasized improvements in relation to mode detection and tracking of individual trips, since fair playing conditions were requested by all age groups. Although the level of knowledge about sustainable mobility is high among young people, the game was rated as being a good tool for raising awareness regarding the environmental and health effects of mode choice. The promising results of this research project need to be transferred into a business model that can provide ongoing game updates, keep the players interested, and achieve long-term effects.
Bone repair scaffold coated with bone morphogenetic protein-2 for bone regeneration in murine calvarial defect model: Systematic review and quality evaluation
Authors: Zeng Jian-Hua , Qiu Peng , Xiong Long , Liu Shi-Wei , Ding Ling-Hua , Xiong Shi-Lang , Li Jing-Tang , Xiao Ze-Bu , Zhang Tao
Published: March 2019

To systematically assess the effects of hydroxyapatite bone repair scaffold coated with bone morphogenetic protein-2 on murine calvarial defect models and to determine the quality of studies according to the Animal Research Reporting in In Vivo Experiments guidelines. Internet search was performed in duplicate using PubMed, MEDLINE, Ovid and Embase databases (without restrictions on publication date). The Animal Research Reporting in In Vivo Experiments guidelines were used to evaluate the quality of selected studies. Following screening, 12 studies were eligible for the review. Studies with average quality coefficients predominated (66.67%), followed by poor (25%) and excellent (8.33%) quality coefficients. Minimum quality scores were assigned to the Animal Research Reporting in In Vivo Experiments guideline items: housing and husbandry (9), allocation (11), outcomes (12), interpretation (18) and generalizability (19). Sprague–Dawley rats were the most frequently used (50%) species, and most studies had a sample size of more than 30 (58.33%). A defect dimension of 5 mm was the most common (33.33%). The biological hydroxyapatite composite scaffold was common (50%), and the bioactive factors were bone morphogenetic protein-2 (50%) and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (50%). Histomorphometric results showed that bone morphogenetic protein-2 enhanced the capacity to regenerate bone considerably. In addition, scaffolds with bone morphogenetic protein-2 resulted in a significant increase in the blood vessel in the new bone. The findings suggested that data on animal experiments of hydroxyapatite scaffold coated with bone morphogenetic protein-2 in murine calvarial defect models lack homogeneity. Animal experiment should follow the Animal Research Reporting in In Vivo Experiments guidelines to promote the high quality, integrity and reproducibility. This systematic review suggested that bone morphogenetic protein-2 enhanced the capacity to regenerate bone and the angiogenesis in the new bone.
CD44v3 and CD44v6 isoforms on T cells are able to discriminate different disease activity degrees and phenotypes in systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Novelli L , Barbati C , Ceccarelli F , Perricone C , Spinelli F R , Alessandri C , Valesini G , Perricone R , Conti F
Published: March 2019

Background

Adhesion molecule CD44 contributes to T cell migration into target organs. A higher expression of CD44v3 and v6 isoforms has been identified on T cells from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of CD44v3/v6 on T cells of SLE patients in order to evaluate their correlation with clinical features.

Methods

Sixteen healthy subjects (HSs) and 33 SLE female patients were enrolled. Fifteen patients were in remission (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K) = 0) and 18 patients had an active disease (SLEDAI-2K ≥ 4). Experiments were conducted by flow cytometry.

Results

Expression of CD44v3 on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was higher in active patients compared to HSs ( p = 0.0097 and p = 0.0096). CD44v3 on CD8+ T cells was also higher in active patients compared to patients in remission ( p = 0.038). CD44v6 was higher on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from active patients compared to HSs ( p = 0.003 and p = 0.0036) and to patients in remission ( p = 0.01 and p = 0.02). In active patients the ratio CD44v3/v6 was unbalanced towards isoform v6 on both T cell populations. In a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, CD44v6 on CD4+ T cells was the most sensitive and specific one (specificity of 81.8%, sensitivity of 75%). Expression of CD44v6 on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells correlated with the SLEDAI-2K ( p = 0.03, r = 0.38 and p = 0.02, r = 0.39). CD44v6 and CD44v3 on CD8+ T cells associated with nephritis and arthritis ( p = 0.047 and p = 0.023).

Conclusions

CD44v3/v6 can be used as biomarkers of disease activity and phenotypes; isoform v6 on CD4+ T cells can be useful as a diagnostic biomarker.
Affected for good or for evil: The formation of issue-publics that relate to the UK National DNA Database
Authors: Amelung Nina , Machado Helena
Published: March 2019

The United Kingdom has a long tradition of collecting and storing DNA data for criminal identification purposes. The development of the UK National Criminal Intelligence DNA Database has been accompanied by public controversies. Building on recent developments in Science and Technology Studies on public engagement, we elaborate on the concept of emergent and co-produced issue-publics. We explore which different types of issues affect and mobilize publics along the historical development of the National Criminal Intelligence DNA Database, and how publics take shape alongside the institutionalization of regulatory and governance solutions. We identify three related issue-publics: a ‘biological citizen issue-public’ concerned with human and civil rights regarding the collection of biological material; a ‘watchdog issue-public’ that emerges to identify the problems surrounding a lack of civic accountability; and a ‘co-decision making issue-public’, including the stakeholders who advise on decisions relating to the database.
Evaluation of Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging in Sub-acute Ischemic Stroke: Comparison with Rehabilitation Treatment Effect
Authors: Li C. , Lan C. , Zhang X. , Yin L. , Hao X. , Tian J. , Lin L. , Sun H. , Yao Z. , Feng X. , Jia J. , Yang Y.
Published: March 2019

Stroke is a serious worldwide medical condition that causes neurological function disability. Diffusional kurtosis imaging, which measures the non-Gaussianity of water diffusion, has been demonstrated to be a sensitive biomarker in many neuro-pathologies. This study explores the relationship between neural function recovery and transformation of the ischemic lesion and/or corticospinal tract during the sub-acute phase after stroke by using diffusional kurtosis imaging. We performed a prospective study of function recovery and K metrics of 43 patients with sub-acute ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory. The effect of rehabilitation treatment was evaluated using both the Fugl-Meyer motor function score and modified Barthel index score at post-treatment compared with admission, and patients were allocated to two groups: good and poor rehabilitation effect (GRE and PRE). Metrics of diffusional kurtosis imaging within ischemic lesion and along the corticospinal tract were acquired, respectively. All three relative axial diffusional kurtoses (rKas) along the corticospinal tract in the GRE group ( n = 21) were significantly larger than those of the PRE group ( n = 22), including rKa in the posterior limb of internal capsule, rKa in the cerebral peduncle, and rKa in the basal part of the pons ( p = 0.014, 0.005, and 0.021, respectively). This multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging study showed that diffusional kurtosis imaging has the potential to complement existing stroke imaging techniques and revealed its own advantages in elucidating the possible biophysical mechanism of functional restoration underlying ischemic stroke.
Analysis of the Role of Tariff Concessions in East Asia
Authors: Kawasaki Kenichi , Narayanan Badri G. , Guimbard Houssein , Kuno Arata
Published: March 2019

While many studies focus on the impact of trade agreements, the literature has not focused on the extent of their implementation, in terms of the aspects agreed upon therein. In this article, we identify the past achievements of economic partnership agreements (EPAs) in the East Asian region in terms of tariff removals and suggest room for further economic benefits from trade liberalisation in the region. Second, we incorporate the HS6-level tariff concession dataset, which distinguishes between tariff removals agreed in these EPAs in East Asia but not yet implemented, from existing overall tariffs in 2011, in the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) Database, which only incorporates enforced tariff reductions through the base-year applied tariffs. To analyse future trade integration, we include commitments that are not yet implemented. This allows us to analyse partial versus full enforcement of tariff concession commitments. Our results suggest that taking those commitments into account matters economically in East Asia.

JEL Classification: D58, F13, F14, F15, F17
Impact of Age–Structure Transition on India’s Current Account Balance: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Chitgupi Aneesha
Published: March 2019

This article studies the impact of age structure variables on the current account balance (CAB) by using panel data for 57 countries from 1980 to 2014. The Gudmundsson and Zoega (Economic Letters 123[2]:183–186, 2014) methodology is used to calculate the age-adjusted CAB for these countries and India-specific results are analysed in comparison with Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa. Empirical results show that India’s age-adjusted CAB would have experienced surpluses had it not been for the high share of its dependent population, especially the young. Further, the age-adjustment factor for India shows a gradual decline, and a larger share of working-age population in future may help in reducing its current account deficit (CAD). These results highlight the importance of demographic variables in explaining and predicting changes in the CAB and its implication for the attainment of India’s macroeconomic objective of external stabilisation.

JEL Classification: E21, F32, J11
The effectiveness of an emergency physician–led frailty unit for the living-alone elderly: A pilot retrospective cohort study
Authors: Leung Tsz-Hang , Leung Sai-Choi , Wong Chi-Keung Gordon
Published: March 2019

Background:

We are facing an ageing population in Hong Kong. In response to the surge in service demand resulted from Silver Tsunami, a six-bed frailty unit was established in the Emergency Medicine Ward of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in December 2015. Frailty unit offers a bundle of multi-disciplinary approach for geriatric patients with an aim for early supported discharge.

Objective:

To evaluate whether this novel frailty care pathway, compared to the conventional general care pathway, would improve the outcome of the local elderly who were living alone.

Method:

This is a retrospective cohort study. Patients who were admitted from 1 September 2015 to 31 October 2017 were included in this study. Data were retrieved from the electronic patient record (ePR) of Hospital Authority. The outcome measurements are lengths of stay in acute and convalescent hospitals, transferral rate to a convalescent hospital and 28-day re-attendance rate.

Results:

A total of 190 patients were recruited (150 frailty vs 40 general). Baseline characteristics, including age, gender distribution, vital signs, laboratory results, use of mobility aids, Morse fall risk scale, Norton ulcer scale and Barthel Index were similar in both groups; except a higher diastolic blood pressure in novel frailty-care pathway. The length of stay in the acute hospital is significantly shortened (2.38 vs 3.27 days, p = 0.00018). The transferral rate to a convalescent hospital was less in frailty group (21.3% vs 42.5%, p = 0.00655). There was no significant difference in terms of total (7.10 vs 10.99 days, p = 0.09638) and convalescent (22.09 vs 18.16 days, p = 0.48183) length of stay between frailty group and general group, respectively; while the 28-day re-attendance rate was similar (26.7% vs 15.0%, p = 0.12589).

Conclusion:

This is a pilot study to first report a novel frailty-care model for the local geriatric population. It has shown a reduction in length of stay in acute hospital and transferral rate to convalescent hospitals, while introducing a non-significant reduction in total hospital stay, maintaining 28-day re-attendance rate and at an expense of a probable increase in the convalescent stay.
Effects of metrical dissonance and expertise on perceived emotion in Schumann’s Carnaval
Authors: Sommer Jessica , Simmons Kimberly , Tan Daphne
Published: March 2019

Numerous studies have investigated the effects of pitch structures on perceived emotion in music, but the emotional effects of rhythm and meter have received far less attention. In the experiment reported here, we manipulated the metrical framework of music by Robert Schumann and asked participants to judge perceived emotion in the resulting excerpts. The distinction between metrical dissonance and consonance offered by Harald Krebs (1999) was the theoretical basis of this study. Stimuli were 10 metrically dissonant excerpts from Schumann’s Carnaval and 10 metrically consonant recompositions of these excerpts. Recompositions maintained original tempi, global meters, and harmonic frameworks. Participants—graduate-level pianists and non-musicians—heard all 20 excerpts in randomized order. On each trial, they chose a cluster of emotion words, based on Schubert (2003), that best described the excerpt, a cluster that worst described the excerpt, and rated their level of interest. Results indicate significant effects of both metrical character and expertise on perceived emotion. There were also significant differences in the likelihood of participants changing their responses between metrically dissonant and consonant versions as a function of musical excerpt. This last finding leads to suggestions for future investigations on degrees of metrical dissonance.
Naturalistic Augmentative and Alternative Communication Instruction for Practitioners and Individuals With Autism
Authors: Ganz Jennifer B. , Hong Ee Rea , Leuthold Elizabeth , Yllades Valeria
Published: March 2019

Using speech as an effective communication method is a challenge for many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Research suggests aided augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) used with young individuals with complex communication needs (CCN) can result in improved communication quality and frequency. The effectiveness of AAC with individuals with ASD and CCN is in part due to its visual nature and utilization of concrete representations of abstract concepts, making it manageable to use. Teaching in natural settings integrates learning into their routine and benefiting individuals with ASD who tend to have difficulty generalizing learning to new situations. Blending naturalistic techniques to teach AAC with behavior techniques is an innovative way to integrate an individual’s ability to generalize with his or her need for direct teaching. This paper offers methods of implementing naturalistic techniques as a tool for practitioners to engage in communication development with individuals with ASD.
Evaluation of Lactation Compatibility Reference Recommendations
Authors: Holmes Amy P. , Harris John Brock , Ware Savannah
Published: March 2019

Background: Multiple resources aid the interprofessional health care team when recommending medications for lactating patients. Varying degrees of breastfeeding compatibility and safety are recommended in different resources. New Food and Drug Administration labeling for lactation is being phased in to provide more consistent language in safety recommendations. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate lactation recommendations for select medications from different drug information resources to determine the compatibility recommendations for lactating patients. Methods: The breastfeeding recommendations for 19 medications were analyzed in 10 drug information resources. Each drug was reviewed in each resource and the published recommendations evaluated. Results: Medications and Mothers’ Milk 18th Edition and LactMed had the most medications listed as compatible with breastfeeding, with Lexicomp Online, Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation Online, and Epocrates following. LactMed stands out from the group with an average of 15.1 references per medication and number of references ranging from 0 to 58. Date ranges of references used by select resources varied. References to support recommendations ranged from 1979 to 2018 for the select resources. Conclusion and Relevance: Variation continues to exist across resources with regard to recommendations for medication safety in lactation. LactMed represents the most up-to-date and comprehensive review of literature in this review. When making decisions regarding medication use during lactation, health care professionals should consider reviewing data behind the recommendations and consulting multiple resources.
Extra-Adrenal Adult Neuroblastoma With Aberrant Germ Cell Marker Expression: Maturation After Chemotherapy as an Important Clue to a Challenging Diagnosis
Authors: Martinez-Ciarpaglini Carolina , Machado Isidro , Yoshida Akihiko , Nieto Gema , Berbegall Ana P. , Blanquer-Maceíras Maria Teresa , Noguera Rosa , Ferrández Antonio , Navarro Samuel
Published: March 2019

Adult neuroblastoma is an extremely infrequent neoplasm, usually occurring in the adrenal medulla or in the paraspinal sympathetic ganglia, as its childhood counterpart. We report a very unusual case of a Schwannian stroma-poor adult neuroblastoma of inguinal location, showing aberrant expression of germ cell markers: SALL4 and OCT4. This aberrant marker expression, the unusual positivity for NKX2.2 and the very scattered (instead of diffuse strong) PHOX2B expression, complicated the initial diagnosis. In this case, the posttreatment histological evaluation revealed the neuroblastic nature of the lesion. Neuroblastoma maturation after treatment is an unusual finding in adults, and in this case, added an important clue for the final diagnosis. Germs cells markers expression in neuroblastoma is an interesting feature to explore and may define a subset of neuroblastomas with a different biological nature.
Development of Multidisciplinary Anticoagulation Management Guidelines for Patients Receiving Durable Mechanical Circulatory Support
Authors: Levesque Amy A. , Lewin Andrea R. , Rimsans Jessica , Sylvester Katelyn W. , Coakley Lara , Melanson Frank , Mallidi Hari , Mehra Mandeep , Givertz Michael M. , Connors Jean M.
Published: March 2019

Patients receiving durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) require life-long anticoagulation with a vitamin K antagonist (VKA). Due to alternations in hemostasis, concomitant therapy with antiplatelet agents and critical illness, they are at increased risk of thromboembolic and bleeding complications compared with the general population managed on VKAs. To prevent thrombotic events, current guidelines recommend that patients with MCS receive long-term anticoagulation with a VKA to maintain a target international normalized ratio (INR) as specified by device manufacturers, but limited data exist regarding specific routine management of anticoagulation therapy and its potential complications. To optimize anticoagulation management and minimize risk in these patients, we have centralized anticoagulation management in a collaborative approach between the inpatient hemostatic and antithrombotic (HAT) stewardship service and between ambulatory anticoagulation management service (AMS) and the advanced heart disease team. Patients are followed by these three services beginning when the device is implanted and extending the duration that patients have the device. The teams include multiple clinicians from cardiac surgery, cardiology, hematology, pharmacy, nursing, case management, nutrition, and psychiatry, therefore, in order to standardize practice among clinicians without compromising patient centered decision making, we assembled an interdisciplinary team to create multiple treatment guidelines. In addition to a centralized and collaborative approach, our guidelines ensure seamless transitions of care between the inpatient and outpatient settings. We believe our approach has demontrated a positive improvement in the care of these challenging patients. In this article, we present our comprehensive centralized anticoagulation management approach for patients with left ventricular assist systems (LVAS).
Selective inversion recovery quantitative magnetization transfer imaging: Toward a 3 T clinical application in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Bagnato Francesca , Franco Giulia , Ye Fei , Fan Run , Commiskey Patricia , Smith Seth A , Xu Junzhong , Dortch Richard
Published: March 2019

Background:

Assessing the degree of myelin injury in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is challenging due to the lack of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods specific to myelin quantity. By measuring distinct tissue parameters from a two-pool model of the magnetization transfer (MT) effect, quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) may yield these indices. However, due to long scan times, qMT has not been translated clinically.

Objectives:

We aim to assess the clinical feasibility of a recently optimized selective inversion recovery (SIR) qMT and to test the hypothesis that SIR-qMT-derived metrics are informative of radiological and clinical disease-related changes in MS.

Methods:

A total of 18 MS patients and 9 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent a 3.0 Tesla (3 T) brain MRI, including clinical scans and an optimized SIR-qMT protocol. Four subjects were re-scanned at a 2-week interval to determine inter-scan variability.

Results:

SIR-qMT measures differed between lesional and non-lesional tissue ( p < 0.0001) and between normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) of patients with more advanced disability and normal white matter (WM) of HCs ( p < 0.05). SIR-qMT measures were associated with lesion volumes, disease duration, and disability scores ( p ⩽ 0.002).

Conclusion:

SIR-qMT at 3 T is clinically feasible and predicts both radiological and clinical disease severity in MS.
MOG antibody–associated encephalomyelitis/encephalitis
Authors: Salama Sara , Khan Majid , Pardo Santiago , Izbudak Izlem , Levy Michael
Published: March 2019

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody disease is a rare autoimmune disorder with antibodies against the MOG predominantly involving the optic nerve and spinal cord leading to vision loss and paralysis. When MOG antibody disease involves the brain, the phenotype is similar to acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). In this review, we discuss MOG-positive cases presenting with encephalitis, encephalopathy, or ADEM-like presentation based on recently published series.
The Northwestern Amazon malocas: Craft now and then
Authors: Gutierrez Maria Paz
Published: March 2019

In the Northwestern Amazon, resilience in construction has been traditionally conceived as a capacity for social, climatic, and spatial adaptability. Through methods of seasonal reconstruction based on lightweight enclosures made mainly from palms, vernacular housing, or malocas, in the region have proven efficient from environmental, human comfort, and cultural perspectives. Intricately woven palms, layered to shape roofs and walls, form enclosures that repel water, insulate heat, and reflect light while embodying specific projections of the body in space as the basis of unique cosmological perspectives of spatial organization. The palm-weave is the very root of the construction ethos of Northwestern Amazon housing. In the last few decades, these complex woven enclosures have been progressively replaced with industrial panels made of materials such as galvanized steel or cement, simply because of their low economic cost and availability. The loss of the palm-weave in roof-walls is not a mere replacement but a supplantation of material culture and has profound environmental, human comfort, and social implications. In a context where resilience has been shaped cognitively and physically through a plant-based material culture of adaptability, what is the extent of a potential craft disruption? The supplantation of the palm-weave technical practice implies a loss of social engagement in a craft that has defined an understanding of belonging and inhabitation. This article addresses how the geometric, scale, and spatial characteristics originating from the distinctive palm-weave craft of the Western Amazon malocas of the Bora, Miraña, Muiname (Witoto), Murui (Witoto), Yukuna, Tikuna, and Makuna groups perform as a living entity. By questioning the differences between craft preservation vis-à-vis reclamation, the author explores the specific architectural and social characteristics that are locally valued in the inherited craft to create a path for discussing future generations of palm-weave in the Northwestern Amazon.
Insertion or voice-off in rendition of graphic codes: an experiment in Persian dubbing
Authors: Mehdizadkhani Milad , Khoshsaligheh Masood
Published: March 2019

Concerning graphic codes, there are currently three methods for their rendition in dubbing: audio-rendition of the target graphic codes (TGC) with an actor’s voice-off and adding the voice-off when the close shot is on the original graphic code (OGC); subtitling the OGC; and editing and inserting new TGCs replacing the OGCs in the film. The purpose of the current mixed-methods study was to compare the efficiency of voice-off versus insertion, two methods of rendition of graphic codes in dubbing, in terms of viewers’ comprehension and information processing. To this end, the Persian-dubbed versions of the Sherlock TV series broadcast on BBC Persian, using the insertion method, and on Iranian official television, using voice-off, were selected. The findings of the experiment revealed that the participants experienced better information recall and comprehension of the content of the graphic codes when they were translated using the insertion method. In the qualitative phase, the retrospective interview data involved issues in terms of the genre of audiovisual material, dialogue interaction, types of graphic codes, target language cultural references, literacy and viewing ability of the audience as relevant variables in the preference of each of the two methods.
Treatment of Violent and Sexual Obsessions Using Exposure and Response Prevention During a Concurrent Depressive Episode
Authors: Palmer Amanda M. , Schlauch Robert C. , Darkes Jack
Published: March 2019

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) frequently co-occurs during a major depressive episode (i.e., Major depressive disorder, MDD). Concurrent depressive episodes may present additional challenges and barriers in OCD treatment; therefore, clinicians should address both symptom domains simultaneously. The present case study illustrates an example of an individual presenting with OCD symptoms falling under aggressive and sexual domains. The treatment utilized was exposure and response prevention (ERP), which is empirically supported to address OCD symptoms. Additional treatment elements, such as behavioral activation, building self-concept through mastery, and emotional processing were incorporated to specifically address depression symptoms, which enhanced the efficacy of ERP. The current case presentation provides evidence that the utilized combination of treatment modalities is feasible to implement and may effectively reduce OCD symptoms during a depressive episode.