bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on the Properties of Low Temperature and Anti‐UV of Asphalt with Nano‐ZnO/Nano‐TiO2/Copolymer SBS Composite Modified in High‐Altitude Areas
Authors: Xie Xiangbing , Hui Tao , Luo Yaofei , Li Han , Li Guanghui , Wang Zhenyu
Published: April 2020

Strong ultraviolet light and low‐temperature are the typical environmental characteristics in high‐altitude areas. The performance of SBS‐modified asphalt in the above environmental characteristics needs further study. To improve the resistance ultraviolet (UV) ageing and low‐temperature performance of copolymer‐ (SBS‐) modified asphalt, an SBS‐modified asphalt containing nano‐ZnO and nano‐TiO2 is proposed. In this paper, nano‐ZnO, nano‐TiO2, and SBS were used as modifiers with the silane coupling agent (KH‐560) as the nanomaterial surface modification. The orthogonal test table was used to analyse the effects of the three modifiers on the physical properties of modified asphalt at different dosages. On this basis, the physical properties, low‐temperature properties, and ageing indices (carbonyl index and sulfoxide index) were studied for base asphalt, SBS‐modified asphalt, nano‐ZnO/SBS‐modified asphalt, and nano‐ZnO/nano‐TiO2/SBS composite‐modified asphalt before and after photoaging. The content changes of characteristic elements (Zn and Ti) in the nano‐ZnO/nano‐TiO2/SBS composite‐modified asphalt before and after ageing were studied by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), and the UV ageing mechanism was revealed. The results indicate that two nanoparticles show the best compatibility with asphalt after surface modification and can improve the binding ability between SBS and base asphalt. The orthogonal test analysis shows that nano‐ZnO has a highly significant effect on the low‐ and high‐temperature performance of the nano‐ZnO/nano‐TiO2/SBS composite‐modified asphalt, and nano‐TiO2 has a significant effect on the high‐temperature performance. Three optimal composite‐modified systems for base asphalt including 4% nano‐ZnO/1.5% nano‐TiO2/3.2% SBS were proposed and had the best antiaging ability. Compared with the sulfoxide index, the carbonyl index changed most obviously before and after ageing. Additionally, the results reveal that nano‐TiO2 has a good absorption effect at a wavelength of 365 nm (ultraviolet light), while nano‐ZnO is liable to photolysis, and its activity decreases at this wavelength.
Robust Fault Detection for Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor via Adaptive Sliding-Mode Observer
Authors: Zhang Miaoying , Xiao Fan , Shao Rui , Deng Zhaojun
Published: April 2020

In this paper, a robust fault detection problem is investigated for a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). By using the adaptive control and the sliding-mode control strategies, an observer is presented for estimating the amplitude demagnetization fault problem under inductance disturbance. The proposed method can effectively attenuate the inductance disturbance of the PMSM by the sliding-mode strategy. And the adaptive control estimation algorithm is adopted for guaranteeing that the real-time detection of demagnetization flux can be realized. The convergency is obtained by the Lyapunov stability theory. Finally, simulation is given for demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Periostin Mediates Oestrogen‐Induced Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells in Ovariectomised Rats
Authors: Li Chunrong , Li Xin , Wang Xian , Miao Pei , Liu Jia , Li Cuixia , Li Doudou , Zhou Weiwei , Jin Zuolin , Cao Meng
Published: April 2020

Osteoporosis is a metabolic disease that results in the progressive loss of bone mass, which, in postmenopausal women, is related to oestrogen deficiency. Periostin (POSTN) plays a key role in the early stages of bone formation. However, whether POSTN participates in oestradiol regulation of osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) from ovariectomised (OVX) rats remains unclear. In vivo, using microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT), immunohistochemistry, and dynamic analysis of femurs, we found that 17β‐E2 promotes bone formation and POSTN expression at the endosteal surface. In vitro, 17β‐E2 upregulated POSTN expression in OVX‐BMSCs. POSTN overexpression activated the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway and enhanced osteogenic differentiation of OVX‐BMSCs. Furthermore, knockdown of Postn blocks the involvement of 17β‐E2 in the osteogenic differentiation of OVX‐BMSCs. Collectively, our study indicated the role of POSTN in the osteogenesis and stemness of OVX‐BMSCs and proves that 17β‐E2 reduces osteoporosis and promotes osteogenesis through the POSTN‐Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. POSTN could, therefore, be a novel target gene for anti‐osteoporosis therapies.
Guarantees of Fast Band Restricted Thresholding Algorithm for Low-Rank Matrix Recovery Problem
Authors: Zhao Fujun , Peng Jigen , Sun Kai , Cui Angang
Published: April 2020

Affine matrix rank minimization problem is a famous problem with a wide range of application backgrounds. This problem is a combinatorial problem and deemed to be NP-hard. In this paper, we propose a family of fast band restricted thresholding (FBRT) algorithms for low rank matrix recovery from a small number of linear measurements. Characterized via restricted isometry constant, we elaborate the theoretical guarantees in both noise-free and noisy cases. Two thresholding operators are discussed and numerical demonstrations show that FBRT algorithms have better performances than some state-of-the-art methods. Particularly, the running time of FBRT algorithms is much faster than the commonly singular value thresholding algorithms.
Biological Removal and Fate Assessment of Diclofenac Using Bacillus subtilis and Brevibacillus laterosporus Strains and Ecotoxicological Effects of Diclofenac and 4′-Hydroxy-diclofenac
Authors: Grandclément Camille , Piram Anne , Petit Marie-Eléonore , Seyssiecq Isabelle , Laffont-Schwob Isabelle , Vanot Guillaume , Tiliacos Nicolas , Roche Nicolas , Doumenq Pierre
Published: April 2020

Since bacterial consortia involved in conventional wastewater treatment processes are not efficient in removing diclofenac (DCF), an emerging pollutant frequently detected in water bodies, the identification of microorganisms able to metabolise this pharmaceutical compound is relevant. Thus, DCF removal was investigated using bacteria isolated from aqueous stock solutions of this micropollutant and identified as Bacillus and Brevibacillus species using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A 100% DCF removal was achieved after 17 hours of experiment at 20°C in a nutrient medium; the biodegradation kinetic followed a pseudo-first order (kbiol = 11 L·gSS−1·d−1). Quantitative assessment of DCF removal showed that its main route was biotic degradation. The main degradation product of DCF, 4′-hydroxy-diclofenac (4′-OH-DCF), was identified using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation high-resolution mass spectrometry. Since the ecotoxicological impact of 4′-hydroxy-diclofenac was not reported in the literature, the ecotoxicity of DCF and its metabolite were tentatively evaluated using Vibrio fischeri bioassays. Results from these tests showed that this metabolite is not more toxic than its parent compound and may hopefully be an intermediate product in the DCF transformation. Indeed, no significant difference in ecotoxicity was observed after 30 min between DCF (50 should be writtten in subscript all along the manuscript in EC50 = 23 ± 4 mg·L−1) and 4′-hydroxy-diclofenac (EC50 = 19 ± 2 mg·L−1). Besides, the study highlighted a limit of the Microtox® bioassay, which is largely used to assess ecotoxicity. The bioluminescence of Vibrio fischeri was impacted due to the production of microbial activity and the occurrence of some carbon source in the studied medium.
Paclitaxel Induces Immunogenic Cell Death in Ovarian Cancer via TLR4/IKK2/SNARE-Dependent Exocytosis
Authors: Lau Tat San , Chan Loucia Kit Ying , Man Gene Chi Wai , Wong Chi Hang , Lee Jacqueline Ho Sze , Yim So Fan , Cheung Tak Hong , McNeish Iain A. , Kwong Joseph
Published: April 2020

Emerging evidence shows that the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs is reliant on their capability to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), thus transforming dying tumor cells into antitumor vaccines. We wanted to uncover potential therapeutic strategies that target ovarian cancer by having a better understanding of the standard-of-care chemotherapy treatment. Here, we showed in ovarian cancer that paclitaxel induced ICD-associated damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP, such as CALR exposure, ATP secretion, and HMGB1 release) in vitro and elicited significant antitumor responses in tumor vaccination assays in vivo. Paclitaxel-induced TLR4 signaling was essential to the release of DAMPs, which led to the activation of NF-κB–mediated CCL2 transcription and IkappaB kinase 2–mediated SNARE-dependent vesicle exocytosis, thus exposing CALR on the cell surface. Paclitaxel induced endoplasmic reticulum stress, which triggered protein kinase R–like ER kinase activation and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α phosphorylation independent of TLR4. Paclitaxel chemotherapy induced T-cell infiltration in ovarian tumors of the responsive patients; CALR expression in primary ovarian tumors also correlated with patients' survival and patient response to chemotherapy. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of paclitaxel relied upon the activation of antitumor immunity through ICD via TLR4 and highlighted the importance of CALR expression in cancer cells as an indicator of response to paclitaxel chemotherapy in ovarian cancer.
Developing Smartphone-Based Objective Assessments of Physical Function in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: The PARADE Study
Authors: Hamy Valentin , Garcia-Gancedo Luis , Pollard Andrew , Myatt Anniek , Liu Jingshu , Howland Andrew , Beineke Philip , Quattrocchi Emilia , Williams Rachel , Crouthamel Michelle
Published: April 2020

Background: Digital biomarkers that measure physical activity and mobility are of great interest in the assessment of chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, as it provides insights on patients’ quality of life that can be reliably compared across a whole population. Objective: To investigate the feasibility of analyzing iPhone sensor data collected remotely by means of a mobile software application in order to derive meaningful information on functional ability in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Methods: Two objective, active tasks were made available to the study participants: a wrist joint motion test and a walk test, both performed remotely and without any medical supervision. During these tasks, gyroscope and accelerometer time-series data were captured. Processing schemes were developed using machine learning techniques such as logistic regression as well as explicitly programmed algorithms to assess data quality in both tasks. Motion-specific features including wrist joint range of motion (ROM) in flexion-extension (for the wrist motion test) and gait parameters (for the walk test) were extracted from high quality data and compared with subjective pain and mobility parameters, separately captured via the application. Results: Out of 646 wrist joint motion samples collected, 289 (45%) were high quality. Data collected for the walk test included 2,583 samples (through 867 executions of the test) from which 651 (25%) were high quality. Further analysis of high-quality data highlighted links between reduced mobility and increased symptom severity. ANOVA testing showed statistically significant differences in wrist joint ROM between groups with light-moderate (220 participants) versus severe (36 participants) wrist pain (p < 0.001) as well as in average step times between groups with slight versus moderate problems walking about (p < 0.03). Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the potential to capture and quantify meaningful objective clinical information remotely using iPhone sensors and represent an early step towards the development of patient-centric digital endpoints for clinical trials in rheumatoid arthritis.
Adverse Drug Reactions during Real-Life Use of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Italy: An Update Based on Data from the Italian National Pharmacovigilance Network
Authors: Lavalle Carlo , Di Lullo Luca , Bellasi Antonio , Ronco Claudio , Radicchia Stefano , Barbera Vincenzo , Galardo Gioacchino , Piro Agostino , Magnocavallo Michele , Straito Martina , Uguccioni Massimo
Published: April 2020

Background: The availability of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) in clinical practice has transformed the health care provided to patients for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolism. Safety and efficacy data guide clinicians in the choice of the drug used. To date, no evidence is available from head-to-head trials comparing different DOAC with regard to safety and efficacy; information is mainly derived from several meta-analyses and real-life studies. Conclusions from these studies are inconsistent and unsatisfactory. The evaluation of self-reported adverse drug reactions (ADR) available from databases of drug-regulatory agencies such as the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) pharmacovigilance database represents a novel aid to guide decision-making. Objective: To analyze potential suspected ADR of DOAC using a previously described risk index (RI) in daily clinical practice in Italy. Methods: The National Pharmacovigilance Network database (from the AIFA website) was searched in order to retrieve information on all ADR related to oral anticoagulants occurring from 2013 to 2018. The ADR RI for each drug was calculated, where an RI = 1 indicates a balance between the percentage of ADR share and the percentage of market share for each DOAC; and an RI <1 indicates a rate of ADR lower than the rate of market share (safer DOAC). The following DOAC molecules were considered: dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban. Results: The results showed that rivaroxaban is the DOAC with the lowest RI among the 4 molecules available today in Italy. Conclusions: Based on the RI, we identified rivaroxaban as the DOAC having the best safety profile.
Diagnosis of Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome in Pseudophakic Patients
Authors: Sternfeld Amir , Luski Moshe , Sella Ruti , Zahavi Alon , Geffen Noa , Pereg Avihu , Megiddo Elinor , Gaton Dan
Published: April 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of pseudoexfoliation syndrome diagnosis in pseudophakic patients and potential means of improving it. Methods: This prospective, nonrandomized study comprised 41 consecutive patients (41 eyes) scheduled for cataract surgery at a tertiary medical center during 2016 and 2017. Preoperatively, all patients underwent a detailed slit-lamp examination, including gonioscopic assessment of the iridocorneal angle. The examination was performed by a glaucoma specialist who completed an assessment form documenting the presence/absence of clinical signs of pseudoexfoliation syndrome. It was repeated 1–2 weeks postoperatively by a second, masked, glaucoma specialist. Results: Sixteen patients (39.0%) were diagnosed with pseudoex­foliation syndrome preoperatively. The diagnosis was confirmed postoperatively in 11/16 patients (68.8% sensitivity) and in an additional patient not diagnosed preoperatively (96% specificity). The ability to diagnose pseudoexfoliation syndrome postoperatively was significantly worse than preoperatively (Z = 12.161, p < 0.0001). Pupillary border deposits (75% of cases) and the Sampaolesi line (83.3%) were the cornerstones of the postoperative diagnosis; anterior capsular deposits were evident in only 41.6% of cases diagnosed postoperatively (31.3% of the originally diagnosed cases). Conclusions: Underdiagnosis of pseudoexfoliation syndrome is common in pseudophakic patients and may have significant implications for future management. Careful attention to pupillary border anatomy and meticulous gonioscopic assessment of the iridocorneal angle are essential for accurate diagnosis. Preoperative documentation of pseudoexfoliation syndrome could help prevent this diagnostic pitfall.
Avaliação do conhecimento sobre HIV/AIDS e uso de preservativo em um grupo de idosos da Cidade de São Paulo
Authors: Liberali Bruna Martins , Neves Stella Carvalho Moreno das , Oliveira Lais Dos Santos , Batista Bruno Dias , Nacaratto Daniela Cristina Feliciano Ferreira , Cavazzana Cinthya Luzia
Published: April 2020

Introdução: O processo de transição demográfica no Brasil vem sendo acompanhado de um aumento na incidência de HIV em idosos, fator esse que deve ser investigado a fim de encontrar possíveis condições relacionadas, permitindo a criação de estratégias eficazes para a redução de tal incidência. Objetivos: Avaliar o conhecimento sobre HIV/AIDS e o uso de preservativo em um grupo de idosos da cidade de São Paulo. Métodos: Estudo analítico, transversal e quantitativo realizado a partir da aplicação do “Questionário sobre conhecimento e prevenção pessoal de HIV/AIDS“ em 115 idosos de ambos os sexos com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos, orientados em tempo e espaço e que aceitaram os termos do TCLE. A análise de dados foi feita de forma quantitativa, sob os aspectos: conhecimento sobre HIV/AIDS (conceito, transmissão e prevenção) e prevenção pessoal. Os dados foram analisados por estatística descritiva e inferencial pelo programa R 3.6.0. Resultados: Houve predominância de respondentes do sexo feminino (68,7%). A maioria dos entrevistados não faz o uso de preservativo (75%). Apesar de 83% apresentarem conhecimento suficiente sobre HIV/AIDS, 66% acreditam que existe cura para a doença e 54% afirmaram que o vírus pode ser transmitido por picada de mosquito. Conclusões: constatou-se que, apesar do bom nível de conhecimento demonstrado pelos participantes sobre o HIV/AIDS, ainda persistem dúvidas quanto às formas de transmissão e possibilidade de cura da doença. Demonstra-se a necessidade de compreensão do processo de expansão do HIV/AIDS pelos profissionais de saúde e que a população acima de 60 anos entenda como a doença funciona, seus mecanismos de transmissão e prevenção.
Validation of the Handbook “Endocrinology for Primary Care Physicians”
Authors: Carballo Mariela Carolina Santos , Botelho Nara Macedo , Andrade Mariseth Carvalho
Published: April 2020

Introduction: handbooks’ elaboration and validation have been important as far as the concept of Evidence-Based Medicine is consolidated, allowing the creation of protocols or guidelines. Objective: to validate the handbook “Endocrinology for Primary Care Physicians”. Method: The handbook was developed in eight chapters (pre-diabetes, diabetes, gestational diabetes, dyslipidemias, thyroid nodules, hypo and hyperthyroidism, climacteric and menopause, overweight and obesity) based on international and current guidelines. The chapters dealt with the diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and referral of each disease and had their technical content reviewed by experts in endocrinology, and with experience in medical education. The handbook was validated by the Likert scale method, regarding the scientific adequacy of the content, as well as method-pedagogical adequacy. Results: the handbook was validated with 98% of scientific adequacy and 96% of method-pedagogical adequacy. Conclusion: the handbook “Endocrinology for Primary Care Physicians” was validated with an average of 97% of scientific and methodological-pedagogical adequacies.
Apneia obstrutiva do sono e tabagismo
Authors: Alves Juliane Cardozo , Silva Joyce Kelly Lima Santos da , Furlan Sofia Fontanello
Published: April 2020

A apneia obstrutiva do sono (AOS) é caracterizada por obstruções totais ou parciais das vias aéreas superiores, é altamente prevalente e subdiagnosticada na população geral e pode ocasionar múltiplas consequências deletérias. Evidências recentes mostram um efeito sinérgico entre o tabagismo e a AOS para o desenvolvimento de doenças cardiovasculares e aumento da morbimortalidade. No entanto, os mecanismos pelos quais o tabagismo contribui com o desenvolvimento da AOS, permanecem pouco discutidos até o momento. O objetivo do presente estudo é revisar a correlação dos efeitos do tabagismo no desenvolvimento da AOS. Este trabalho foi elaborado a partir de uma revisão da literatura nas bases de dados Pubmed (104 artigos), SciELO (42 artigos) e Lilacs (9 artigos) no período entre 1999 a 2017, totalizando 155 artigos. Como critério de inclusão, foram utilizados apenas artigos que correlacionavam o tabagismo com a AOS e foram excluídos artigos que relacionavam a AOS com outras condições clínicas, que utilizaram questionários de sono como método diagnóstico, que não foram publicados dentro do período estipulado que encontravam-se repetidos nas bases de dados utilizados.
CARD3 Promotes Cerebral Ischemia‐Reperfusion Injury Via Activation of TAK1
Authors: Wu Xiaolin , Lin Lijin , Qin Juan‐Juan , Wang Lifen , Wang Hao , Zou Yichun , Zhu Xueyong , Hong Ying , Zhang Yan , Liu Ye , Xin Can , Xu Shuangxiang , Ye Shengda , Zhang Jianjian , Xiong Zhongwei , Zhu Lihua , Li Hongliang , Chen Jincao , She Zhi‐Gang
Published: April 2020

Background

Although multiple signaling cascades and molecules contributing to the pathophysiological process have been studied, the treatments for stroke against present targets have not acquired significant clinical progress. Although CARD3 (caspase activation and recruitment domain 3) protein is an important factor involved in regulating immunity, inflammation, lipid metabolism, and apoptosis, its role in cerebral stroke is currently unknown.

Methods and Results

Using a mouse model of ischemia‐reperfusion (I‐R) injury based on transient blockage of the middle cerebral artery, we have found that CARD3 expression is upregulated in a time‐dependent manner during I‐R injury. Further animal study revealed that, relative to control mice, CARD3‐knockout mice exhibited decreased inflammatory response and neuronal apoptosis, with reduced infarct volume and lower neuropathological scores. In contrast, neuron‐specific CARD3‐overexpressing transgenic (CARD3‐TG) mice exhibited increased I‐R induced injury compared with controls. Mechanistically, we also found that the activation of TAK1 (transforming growth factor‐β–activated kinase 1) was enhanced in CARD3‐TG mice. Furthermore, the increased inflammation and apoptosis seen in injured CARD3‐TG brains were reversed by intravenous administration of the TAK1 inhibitor 5Z‐7‐oxozeaenol.

Conclusions

These results indicate that CARD3 promotes I‐R injury via activation of TAK1, which not only reveals a novel regulatory axis of I‐R induced brain injury but also provides a new potential therapeutic approach for I‐R injury.
The Cyclical Time and Burūz (Projection) of the Saint: Thematic Connections in the Early Modern Islamic Landscape
Authors: Yavuz F. Betul
Published: April 2020

This essay studies the concept of burūz, i.e. the spiritual projection of saints, as found in the Ṣoḥbetnāme (The Book of Companionship), a compilation of Oğlan Shaykh Ibrahim’s (d. 1655) oral discourses as recorded by his disciple, Ṣunʿullāh Gaybī (d. ca. 1676). Raised in the Balkans among a non-conformist Sufi milieu, Ibrahim Efendi operated as a prominent Sufi shaykh in the Ottoman capital for over fifty years. He was also a poet, and his instructions as recorded in the Ṣoḥbetnāme provide a rare view into a world that was defined by a consciousness of poetry and oral traditions. They also offer insight into the psyche and terminology that defined the mystico-messianic movements of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in various corners of the Islamic world. In this sense, the essay tries to foster a more detailed discussion of Turkish “heterodoxy” in connection with the broader Islamic world.
Christian Material Culture and the Mongols: the Case of William of Rubruck
Authors: Valtrová Jana
Published: April 2020

The paper discusses the role of Christian material culture for the encounter between the Franciscan friar William of Rubruck (1220-93) and the Mongol rulers and high officers, as it is narrated in Rubruck’s Itinerarium. The analysis of the amount and nature of the items taken by Rubruck lead us to reconsider his commitment to Christian mission, which is often underestimated in favour of diplomacy. The discourse of Rubruck’s handling of Christian liturgical equipment, its loss and substitution reveals his faithfulness both to the ideals of the Franciscan order, as well as loyalty to the French King Louis IX. The frictions with Mongolian habits regarding gift giving reveal some of the practical troubles of the Franciscan mission among the Mongols.
New empidoid flies (Diptera: Atelestidae; Dolichopodidae) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

Authors: JOUAULT CORENTIN , NGÔ-MULLER VALÉRIE , ZHANG QINGQING , NEL ANDRÉ
Published: April 2020

Examination of mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber reveals a new species of Atelestidae: Alavesia myanmarensis sp. nov., and the female of the dolichopodid Microphorites pouilloni Ngô-Muller & Nel, 2020. Both are described and illustrated. Alavesia myanmarensis sp. nov. is the first species of Alavesia from the mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar. The oldest records of this genus of small Diptera are from the Early to Late Cretaceous ambers of Spain, while the Burmese amber was probably produced on an island during the mid-Cretaceous, which had separated from Gondwana during the Jurassic. It suggests a possible Late Jurassic origin of the genus Alavesia.
A newly discovered enantiornithine foot preserved in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

Authors: XING LIDA , COCKX PIERRE , O’CONNOR JINGMAI K. , MCKELLAR RYAN C.
Published: April 2020

Recent discoveries of enantiornithine remains in Burmese amber have provided a wealth of paleobiological data on this extinct clade of Mesozoic birds. Amber, as a unique medium of fossilization, preserves in three dimensions structures with details unmatched elsewhere in the fossil record. This provides the opportunity to combine osteological information with more detailed information on integumentary structures, including soft tissues and the plumage of the specimens. Herein, we describe an isolated bird foot, DIP-V-19354, consisting of complete metatarsals and digits, including the claws. Placement among the Enantiornithes is supported by the presence of a metatarsal IV with a trochlea formed by a single condyle and the large size and curvature of the claws. The bones of the right foot are preserved fully encased in soft tissue. Scutellae scale filaments (SSFs) are present along the metatarsals and digits, and are similar to those previously described in other enantiornithines. The distribution and relative size of the SSFs on the longest digit support the hypothesis of a mechanosensory tactile role of these structures: this may implicate the digit in the feeding strategy of the animal, as has been suggested for Elektorornis. Unlike many of the previously described enantiornithine remains from this deposit, the taphonomic history of DIP-V-19354 suggests that the foot was trapped in resin flows above the forest floor, likely on the trunk of a tree, after the bird had died.
Lebanese amber: latest updates
Authors: MAKSOUD SIBELLE , AZAR DANY
Published: April 2020

Amber in Lebanon is found in more than 450 outcrops. It constitutes the oldest amber with intensive biological inclusions and is considered among the most important material enabling the knowledge of continental palaeobiodiversity from the very important Lower Cretaceous, a crucial period for the coevolution between flowering plants (angiosperms) and insects. This period is largely admitted to witnessing the first occurrence and early evolution of angiosperms. Most times biological inclusions in Lebanese amber represent records of the earliest representatives of modern living insect families or the youngest ones for extinct families. Latest literature, geological data on age and lists of amber outcrops (yielding fossil inclusions), and described taxa from Lebanese amber are given.
A small gear to enhance the observation of amber inclusions

Authors: SCHUBNEL THOMAS , NGÔ-MULLER VALÉRIE , NEL ANDRE
Published: April 2020

Paleoentomologists well know that the examination of fossil insects in amber is often complicated. Even if the amber is well-polished, the presence of small scratches at the surface and inner impurities generates reflections that limit observations. Prominent characters for taxonomy thus may not be visible even when preserved. Several solutions have been proposed to enhance the observation of fossil insects in amber. Most of them aim at limiting the number of optical medium interfaces, and thus reducing optical artefacts such as refraction and reflection. For example, amber may be embedded in Canada balsam or artificial resins (Azar & Nel, 1998; Green, 2001; Sidorchuk, 2013; Penney & Jepson, 2014; Sidorchuk & Vorontsov, 2018). However, these methods limit viewing angles and thus the observation of characters, are technically challenging and often irreversible. Another type of method is to immerse the piece of amber in a liquid with a refractive index as close as possible to the amber, such as sugared water, or oils (Sidorchuk, 2013). In this case, the interface between the objective lens and the amber is the coverslip that is placed on the surface of the liquid in order to avoid reflection on the water surface. Compounding the difficulty in observation is that an immersed piece of amber is observable only from one angle at a time, and the whole setting must be dismantled and reassembled to manually change the observation angle, which can result in a lengthy procedure.
Two new species of Supraserphites (Hymenoptera, Serphitidae) in Burmese amber

Authors: RASNITSYN ALEXANDR P. , ÖHM-KÜHNLE CHRISTOPH
Published: April 2020

Through the ongoing research on Burmese amber, our knowledge about mid-Cretaceous life on an island in the Tethys ocean continuingly increases (Ross, 2019, 2020; Westerwheel et al., 2019), a life that was exotic and highly endemic (Zhang, 2018; Rasnitsyn & Öhm-Kühnle, 2018a). Among its rich biota is the extinct, strictly Cretaceous family Serphitidae of the Hymenoptera, which still is underexplored. Serphitidae are known in Burmese amber in two subfamilies, one of them (Supraserphitinae) is confined exclusively to Burmese amber and recorded just with one genus and, before the present study, two species (Rasnitsyn & Öhm-Kühnle, 2018b, c). Another subfamily, Serphitinae, is known from three genera, with the type genus Serphites Brues, 1937 (Engel, 2015), which is the most diverse serphitid genus in other Cretaceous ambers and most likely in Burmese amber as well. While the description of Burmese Serphitinae needs to be reserved for our future research, the present work is devoted to the recently described genus Supraserphites Rasnitsyn & Öhm-Kühnle, 2018, the only one in the subfamily Supraserphitinae. We are adding two new species to this genus, hereby doubling its numbers.
The oldest long-legged fly of the subfamily Medeterinae (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from the Early Eocene of France

Authors: NGÔ-MULLER VALERIE , GARROUSTE ROMAIN , NEL ANDRÉ
Published: April 2020

We describe Paleothrypticus eocenicus gen. et sp. nov., oldest and first Medeterinae from the Early Eocene Oise amber (France). Representatives of the tribes Medeterini and Systenini are recorded in the Middle Eocene Baltic amber and the Miocene amber of Mexico. These fossils show that this subfamily was already well diversified at the beginning of the Eocene.
A New Genus and Species Representing the First Leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from Eocene Rovno Amber

Authors: DIETRICH CHRISTOPHER H. , PERKOVSKY EVGENY E.
Published: April 2020

Rovnotettix brachypterus gen. et sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Eocene Rovno (Ukraine) amber and tentatively placed in subfamily Bathysmatophorinae, tribe Malmaemichungiini. The new fossil is the first cicadellid described from Rovno amber from the Volyn region and the second brachypterous leafhopper adult described from the fossil record. It does not appear to be closely related to Brevaphrodella Dietrich & Gonçalves from Eocene Baltic amber, indicating that multiple flightless cicadellid lineages, now mostly associated with dry habitats with patchy vegetation, had evolved in Europe by the Eocene.
Comprehensive analysis of Actiniopteris Link and Onychium Kaulf. (Pteridophyta) relationships according to their phylogeography, phylogeny and spore morphology

Authors: VAGANOV ALEXEY V. , METZGAR JORDAN S. , SINITSYNA TATIANA A. , SHMAKOV ALEXANDER I.
Published: April 2020

This research is the first comprehensive analysis of the intrageneric relationships of Actiniopteris and Onychium based on original data including spore morphology, phylogeny and phylogeography. Actiniopteris and Onychium are members of the large subfamily Pteridoideae of the family Pteridaceae. The Pteridaceae family is considered one of the most taxonomically confusing families due to its representatives high level of polymorphism.         We used an interdisciplinary approach to study the “Onychium clade”: 13 taxa were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to characterize the morphology and morphometry of spores; 14 taxa were studied from a phylogenetic perspective, including character evolution and ancestral character state reconstructions; 15 taxa of “Onychium clade” were studied using herbarium data (B, P, PE, LE, VLA, TI, KYO, ALTB and TK) according to global botanical and geographical zones.                As a result of this integrated analysis, we established a deep divergence of the taxa O. tenuifrons and O. siliculosum from the main composition of the genus Onychium and the division the genus Actiniopteris into two clades: A. radiata–A. semiflabellata and A. australis–A. dimorpha. We found that representatives of Actiniopteris and Onychium had originated in a common African-Indo-Malesian area. The “Onychium clade” center of diversity is the Indian Region, which is experiencing high levels of human impact, leading to disjunctions among the studied taxa.
Four freshwater dematiaceous hyphomycetes in Sordariomycetes with two new species of Parafuscosporella

Authors: YANG HAO , DONG WEI , YU XIAN-DONG , BHAT D. JAYARAMA , BOONMEE SARANYAPHAT , ZHANG HUANG
Published: April 2020

A collection of lignicolous freshwater fungi in the Greater Mekong Subregion resulted in four interesting dematiaceous hyphomycetes with similar morphology. The taxa had sporodochial colonies, micronematous to semi-macronematous conidiophores and subglobose, ellipsoidal to broadly pyriform, 0–1-septate, dark brown to black conidia. Based on morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, SSU, ITS and RPB2 sequence data, Parafuscosporella aquatica sp. nov., P. pyriformis sp. nov., Conioscypha tenebrosa and Vanakripa minutiellipsoidea are identified. Parafuscosporella aquatica and P. pyriformis cluster within Fuscosporellaceae (Fuscosporellales), while C. tenebrosa and V. minutiellipsoidea are placed within Conioscyphales. This is the first report on the phylogenetic placement of Vanakripa. Descriptions and illustrations of the new collections are provided.
Affinities of four freshwater putative “Chantransia” stages (Rhodophyta) in Southern China from molecular and morphological data

Authors: HAN JIN-FEN , NAN FANG-RU , FENG JIA , LV JUN-PING , LIU QI , LIU XU-DONG , XIE SHU-LIAN
Published: April 2020

Four putative “Chantransia” isolates were collected from four locations in Hubei and Yunnan Provinces, China. Morphological analyses were conducted on all isolates. Two specimens (HB26 and YN2) fit the morphological description of A. pygmaea, while the other two isolates (YN1 and YN3) varied in morphology, but were within the circumscription of Audouinella hermannii. Due to the fact that the morphological characters of the “Chantransia” stages of order Batrachospermales and the species of genus Audouinella are too similar to be distinguished, a molecular analysis was performed to clarify the phylogenetic position of these four isolates based on rbcL and psbA sequences. Two “pygmaea” specimens collected from Jiugong Mountain, Hubei Province (HB26) and Shimen Gorge, Yunnan Province (YN2), such as S. jiugongshanensis and S. shimenxiaensis, are proposed primarily based on the DNA sequence data generated in this study. The description of these two new species provides more molecular data for phylogenetic analysis of the genus Sheathia. In addition to these newly described species, the results strongly support that those “hermannii” isolates (YN1 and YN3) collected from Yunnan Province were the “Chantransia” of S. arcuata. However, their gametophyte stages have not been found, meaning that critical diagnostic morphological features were unavailable and molecular methods were the only means for ascertaining their phylogenetic position. Considering the extensive application of the rbcL and psbA genes in phylogenetic analyses of freshwater red algae, we recommend using these two genes to identify species when no morphological characteristics are available.
Review of the species of Aclees described by Kȏno (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae)
Authors: MEREGALLI MASSIMO , BORIANI MARCO , BOLLINO MAURIZIO , HSU CHEN-FU
Published: April 2020

Lectotypes and paralectotypes of Aclees taiwanensis Kȏno, 1933 and A. hirayamai Kȏno, 1933 are designated and illustrated. The holotype of A. saipanensis Kȏno, 1942 is illustrated.
Recent family-group names (2013–2019) in the scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha)
Authors: WILLIAMS D.J.
Published: April 2020

A list is provided of scale insect (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha) family-group names published between 2013 and the end of 2019. This is a supplement to two previous lists by Williams, covering names published from 1814–1968, and those published from 1969–2012. As in the previous lists, each entry is headed by the nominal genus on which each family‑group name is based followed by any new ranks.
Long-Term Follow-Up of Men Invited to Participate in a Population-Based Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Program
Authors: Hultgren Rebecka , Elfström K. Miriam , Öhman Daniel , Linné Anneli
Published: April 2020

A screening program for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), inviting 65-year-old men, was started in Stockholm in 2010 (2.3 million inhabitants). The aim was to present a long-term follow-up of men participating in screening, as well as AAA repair and ruptures among nonparticipants. Demographics were collected for men with screening detected with AAA 2010 to 2016 (n = 672) and a control group with normal aortas at screening (controls, n = 237). Medical charts and regional Swedvasc (Swedish Vascular registry) data were analyzed for aortic repair for men born 1945 to 1951. Ultrasound maximum aortic diameter (AD) as well as Aortic Size Index (ASI) was recorded. Participation was 78% and prevalence of AAA was 1.2% (n = 672). Aortic repair rates correlated with high ASI and AD. During the study period, 22% of the AAA patients were treated with the elective repair; 35 men in surveillance died (5.2%), non-AAA-related causes (82.9%) dominated, followed by unknown causes among 4 (11.4%), and 2 (5.7%) possibly AAA-related deaths. Abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture rate was higher among nonparticipants (0.096% vs 0.0036%, P < .001). The low dropout rate confirms acceptability of follow-up after screening. The efficacy is shown by the much higher rupture rate among the nonparticipating men.
Constructing the capable state: Contested discourses and practices in EU capacity building
Authors: Edmunds Timothy , Juncos Ana E
Published: April 2020

Capacity building has risen to prominence in the vocabulary of the international community as a way to promote security and development in fragile and post-conflict environments. Capacity building seeks to promote a bottom-up approach drawing on and strengthening existing local capacities. This article argues that capacity building can be understood as part of a broader governmentality that seeks to determine from the outside what constitutes a ‘capable’ subject. However, the effects of these governance practices are not straightforward as they are constantly shaped by the way local actors on the ground engage with these. Drawing on both policy documents and interviews conducted in Bosnia, Kosovo and Somalia, the article examines European Union capacity building initiatives in these post-conflict environments. By examining the rationality and problematisations behind this discourse, the article unveils how such assumptions (in particular, regarding the lack of institutions, power and knowledge) result in interactions and contestation between the local and the international in practice, which lead to new outcomes that neither straightforwardly reflect the existing status quo nor represent a linear imposition of power by external capacity builders.
Tolerating and Managing Failure: An Organizational Perspective on Customer Reacquisition Management
Authors: Vomberg Arnd , Homburg Christian , Gwinner Olivia
Published: April 2020

Although reacquiring customers can lead to beneficial outcomes, reacquisition processes are often unpleasant for employees, who may be required to admit and address failures. Because many organizational environments reward success and punish failure, companies need to understand how to create an organizational environment that stimulates customer reacquisitions. This study investigates the impact of failure-tolerant cultures and formal reacquisition policies on successful customer reacquisition management. Drawing on organizational design theory and psychological ownership theory, the authors find that failure-tolerant cultures have an inverted U-shaped effect on reacquisition performance because moderate failure tolerance increases reacquisition attempts while not inducing more failures or increasing their severity. Formal reacquisition policies, in contrast, have a positive linear relationship. Notably, formal reacquisition policies do not conflict with failure-tolerant cultures but enhance the beneficial effects of failure tolerance on reacquisition performance; formal reacquisition policies provide guidance for reacquisition attempts that failure-tolerant cultures inspire. Finally, results show that customer reacquisition performance is positively related to overall firm financial performance, a finding that emphasizes the managerial and organizational-level importance of reacquisition management.
Why Unhappy Customers Are Unlikely to Share Their Opinions with Brands
Authors: Hydock Chris , Chen Zoey , Carlson Kurt
Published: April 2020

For brands to thrive, they must understand consumer sentiment; if consumers’ likelihood of sharing their opinion is a function of their attitude toward a brand, then brands’ perception of consumer sentiment may be systematically biased. While research in consumer-to-consumer sharing (i.e., word of mouth) suggests that those with extreme attitude are more likely to share than those with neutral attitude (a U-shaped relationship), the relationship between consumers’ attitude toward a brand and their propensity to share with a brand is unknown. In contrast to the U-shaped pattern observed in word of mouth, the authors find a hockey stick–shaped relationship between attitude and sharing with brands (“__/”). Those with positive attitude (vs. neutral attitude) are more likely to share their opinion, but those with negative attitude do not show a similar increase in sharing. The authors show that this pattern emerges because, among consumers with positive (vs. neutral) attitude toward a brand, reciprocity norms drive increased sharing, but among consumers with negative (vs. neutral) attitude, competing mechanisms drive behavior: the desire to vent increases sharing, but at the same time an aversion to criticize others directly deters sharing. The authors test these ideas using a series of studies, including a field study.
Mucor as a cause of surgical site infection
Authors: Negi Ravikanta , Kaushik Robin , Singh Simrandeep , Punia Rajpal Singh
Published: April 2020

Mucor is an uncommon cause of surgical site infection. We present such a case after intramedullary nailing of the femur and discuss its presentation and management.
The Table-top Visual Search Ability Test for children and young people: Normative response time data from typically developing children
Authors: Waddington Jonathan , Pickering Jade S , Hodgson Timothy
Published: April 2020

Five table-top tasks were developed to test the visual search ability of children and young people in a real-world context, and to assess the transfer of training-related improvements in visual search on computerised tasks to real-world activities. Each task involved searching for a set of target objects among distracting objects on a table-top. Performance on the Table-top Visual Search Ability Test for Children (TVSAT-C) was measured as the time spent searching for targets divided by the number of targets found. A total of 108 typically developing children (3–11 years old) and eight children with vision impairment (7–12 years old) participated in the study. A significant correlation was found between log-transformed age and log-transformed performance ( R2 = .65, p = 4 × 10−26) in our normative sample, indicating a monomial power law relationship between age and performance with an exponent of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] We calculated age-dependent percentiles and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated the third percentile as the optimal cut-off for detecting a visual search deficit, giving a specificity of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and sensitivity of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] for the test. Further studies are required to calculate measures of reliability and external validity, to confirm sensitivity for visual search deficits, and to investigate the most appropriate response modes for participants with conditions that affect manual dexterity. In addition, more work is needed to assess construct validity where semantic knowledge is required that younger children may not have experience with. We have made the protocol and age-dependent normative data available for those interested in using the test in research or practice, and to illustrate the smooth developmental trajectory of visual search ability during childhood.
Treatment of segmental tibial defects by bone transport with circular external fixation and a locking plate
Authors: Lu Yao , Ma Teng , Ren Cheng , Li Zhong , Sun Liang , Xue Hanzhong , Li Ming , Zhang Kun , Zhang Congming , Wang Qian
Published: April 2020

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of bone transport involving circular external fixation and locking plate application for the treatment of segmental tibial defects.

Methods

A retrospective review of 12 patients with segmental tibial defects who underwent bone transport with circular external fixation and locking plate application. We evaluated external fixation time, external fixation index, time to achieve union, and complications. Clinical results were assessed using the Association for the Study and Application of the Methods of Ilizarov (ASAMI) score. Generic health-related outcome was assessed using the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36).

Results

The mean follow-up was 25.8 months, and the mean defect size was 6.7 cm. All of the patients achieved union at the distraction callus and docking site. The average external fixation time was 299.5 days. The mean external fixation index was 16.5 days/cm, and the mean healing index was 44.9 days/cm. The functional outcomes were excellent in eight cases and good in four. The average SF-36 score was 92.

Conclusion

Bone transport with external fixation and locking plate application may be a promising method for the treatment of segmental tibial defects.