bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Exposure to Bisphenol A during Pregnancy on the Pup Testis Function
Authors: Yang Qingtao , Sui Xuxia , Cao Junjun , Liu Caixia , Zheng Shukai , Bao Mian , Huang Yuanni , Wu Kusheng
Published: May 2019

Testosterone plays an important prenatal role in male testis development. Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure during pregnancy affects testosterone levels and germ cell apoptosis of male pups, but little information is available for the mechanism. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism by which BPA alters testosterone levels and germ cell apoptosis. Pregnant female C57BL/6J mice, throughout gestation, had access to drinking water containing BPA at 5 and 50μg/mL. Male pups were euthanized on postnatal days (PNDs) 1, 14, and 35. Relative to control, BPA exposure at 5 and 50μg/ml decreased testosterone level, as measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay, on PND14. Real-time PCR indicated mRNA levels for steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1), and 3-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/△-5-4 isomerase (3β-HSD) were significantly lower in the BPA pups compared to control. Additionally, BPA increased the percentage of TUNEL-positive seminiferous tubules, decreased the mRNA level of Bcl-2, and increased Bax expression, indicative of increased apoptosis. These results suggest that BPA exposure in utero decreases the testosterone concentration by decreasing steroidogenic enzymes (StAR, CYP11A1, and 3β-HSD). Furthermore, BPA exposure increases the apoptosis of germ cells, which is associated with proapoptotic changes in the levels of Bcl-2 and Bax.
In Silico and In Vitro Analysis of the 4,4′,4′′-((1,3,5-Triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tris(azanediyl))triphenol), an Antioxidant Agent with a Possible Anti-Inflammatory Function
Authors: Castro Ricardo I. , Valenzuela-Riffo Felipe , Morales-Quintana Luis
Published: May 2019

Inflammation is a consequence of an array of biological reactions that occur in response to pain sensation, local injury, and cell damage. A large number of studies have demonstrated that quercetin and other flavonoids show anti-inflammatory effects; thus, in the present work, we evaluated a triazine-phenol derivative (TP derivative) compound as a possible drug candidate with anti-inflammatory activity. This compound was studied as a possible anti-inflammatory drug using synthesis and characterization by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and mass spectrometry (MS). The derivative of melamine was evaluated for its antioxidant activity and exhibited good DPPH and FRAP antioxidant activity. Additionally, we evaluated the putative effect of the molecule on the COX-2 enzyme through molecular dynamic simulation (MDS), and the result suggested that the TP derivative is a potential anti-inflammatory agent that can interact with the COX-2 enzyme because of the high number of protein-ligand interactions observed with MDS. Finally, the study of theoretical physicochemical properties, the observation of low toxicity (hemolysis assay), and the evaluation of oral bioavailability of the TP derivative showed that it is a possible anti-inflammatory drug candidate.
Single-Session versus Multisession Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Large Brain Metastases from Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Park Kawngwoo , Kim Jin Wook , Chung Hyun-Tai , Paek Sun Ha , Kim Dong Gyu
Published: May 2019

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKS) in patients with large brain metastases by comparing single-session radiosurgery (S-GKS) and multisession radiosurgery (M-GKS), we retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent GKS for brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2016, 66 patients with 74 lesions ≥10 cm3 from large brain metastases from only NSCLC were included. Fifty-five patients with 60 lesions were treated with S-GKS; 11 patients with 14 lesions were treated with M-GKS. Median doses were 16 Gy (range, 11–18 Gy) for the S-GKS group and 8 Gy (range, 7–10 Gy) in three fractions for the M-GKS group. Results: With a mean follow-up period of 13.1 months (range, 1.3–76.4 months), the median survival duration was 21.1 months for all patients. Median tumor volume was 14.3 cm3 (range, 10.0–58.3 cm3). The local control rate was 77.0% and the progression-free survival rate was 73.6% at the last follow-up. There were no significant between-group differences in terms of local control rate (p = 0.10). Compared with S-GKS, M-GKS did not differ significantly in radiation-induced complications (38.1 vs. 45.4%, p =0.83). While 8 patients who underwent S-GKS experienced major complications of grade ≥3, no toxicity was observed in patients treated with M-GKS. Conclusions: M-GKS may be an effective alternative for large brain metastases from NSCLC. Specifically, severe radiation-induced toxicity (≥grade 3) did not occur in M-GKS for large-volume metastases. Although the long-term effects and results from larger samples remain unclear, M-GKS may be a suitable palliative treatment for preserving neurological function.
Overall Effects of Risk Factors Associated with Dental Caries Indices Using the Marginalized Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial Model
Authors: Bakhshi Enayatollah , Yazdanipour Mohammad Ali , Rahgozar Mehdi , Ghorbani Zahra , Deghatipour Marzieh
Published: May 2019

The purpose of this paper is to identify risk factors for decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) in a population of 12–15-year-old schoolchildren and to apply the marginalized zero-inflated negative binomial (MZINB) model for determination and estimation of the overall effects of the risk factors. A cross-sectional survey comprising 764 students aged between 12 and 15 years was used to analyze the association between caries in children and some background characteristics in children and their parents. Information on the samples’ social, behavioral, and demographic status was obtained through a series of closed questions. The incidence rate ratios (IRR) were used to associate some risk factors with caries. In the entire sample, the frequency of zero was 194 (25.4%). The result of the shared-parameter marginalized zero-inflated negative binomial (SP-MZINB) model showed that being a girl (IRR = 1.18; p value = 0.021), higher dental visits frequency (IRR = 1.20; p value <0.001), lower tooth brushing frequency (IRR = 0.91; p value = 0.019), higher flossing frequency (IRR = 1.11; p value = 0.001), and lower mothers’ education (IRR = 0.89; p value = 0.042) are associated with DMFT. Our results may provide better insights of the factors associated with DMFT, and health programs should focus their efforts on healthcare services, for both preventive and curative purposes. This regression model provides an appropriate ﬁt and meaningful interpretation to handling zero-inflated count outcomes. Also, it provides direct estimates of the effects of risk factors on the overall mean that does not require postmodeling computations.
Gonadal Function Recovery and Fertility in Women Treated with Chemo- and/or Radiotherapy for Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Gini Guido , Annibali Ombretta , Lupasco Diana , Bocci Caterina , Tomarchio Valeria , Sampaolo Michela , Trappolini Silvia , Tafuri Maria Antonietta , Cacciagiù Sonia , Ciccarone Mariavita , Barucca Alessandra , Sarlo Chiara , Vincenzi Bruno , Avvisati Giuseppe , Leoni Pietro , Olivieri Attilio
Published: May 2019

Background: Fertility and gonadal function represent one of the most important aspects for long-term lymphoma survivors. Aims: The aim of our study was to determine possible risk factors, such as age at treatment, chemotherapeutic regimen, protection with oral contraceptives (OCs), and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues in female patients treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) at a reproductive age. Methods: Patients between the age of 16 and 50 years at the time of HL or NHL diagnosis were selected. Eligible patients were requested to respond to a questionnaire by phone interview about fertility, menstrual status, sexual aspects, and treatment with OCs or GnRH analogues during chemotherapy. Results: The resumption of menstrual activity was associated with the use of the OCs and GnRH analogues during chemotherapy (p = 0.008 and 0.034, respectively). At univariate analysis, the use of OCs during chemotherapy was associated with a lower risk of amenorrhea (prevalence ratio [PR] = 0.37; 95% CI 0.17–0.82). A higher age at the time of treatment correlated positively with therapy-induced amenorrhea, with a difference of 12.8 years between the mean age at diagnosis of the women with therapy-induced amenorrhea and those who resumed their menses. Amenorrhea was significantly higher in women receiving R-CHOP than in women treated with ABVD (PR = 6.00; 95% CI 2.32–15.54). Moreover, NHL had an infertility PR of 1.51 (95% CI 0.86–2.45) at multivariate analysis compared to HL. Conclusions: This study suggests a possible role of pharmacological prophylaxis with OCs and GnRH analogues.
Alcohol Withdrawal and Proopiomelanocortin Neuropeptides in an Animal Model of Alcohol Dependence
Authors: Müschen Lars Hendrik , Rhein Mathias , Hoppe Viktoria , John Nadine , Schwabe Kerstin , Frieling Helge , Bleich Stefan , Muschler Marc André Nicolas
Published: May 2019

Background: Alcohol is one of the leading threats to health worldwide. Craving for alcohol makes abstinence a difficult challenge by maintaining alcohol dependence. Many studies suppose the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, especially the proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived neuropeptides, to mediate craving during withdrawal in alcohol dependence. Evidence is available that the two POMC proteins, α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and β-endorphin (β-END) are altered by alcohol consumption and influence alcohol consumption, respectively. Objectives: We investigated the dynamics of α-MSH and β-END during alcohol withdrawal and the influence of intraperitoneal administration of either α-MSH or β-END in an established rodent model (Wistar rats) for alcohol dependence. Results: After long-term alcohol self-administration over 12 months and repeated deprivation periods for 3 days, we found a significant decrease in α-MSH levels during withdrawal in rodents (p = 0.006) compared to controls, while β-END levels remained unchanged. Treatment with intraperitoneally administered α-MSH and β-END did not affect alcohol drinking behavior after deprivation. Conclusion: We demonstrate the effects of alcohol deprivation on α-MSH in alcohol-dependent rodents, which appear to mimic α-MSH alteration found after fasting periods during appetite regulation. Therefore, low α-MSH levels are a possible indicator for craving in alcohol-dependent individuals and hence would be a potential target for anti-craving treatment.
Timing and Relevance of Clinical Improvement After Mechanical Thrombectomy in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Rudilosso Salvatore , Urra Xabier , Amaro Sergio , Llull Laura , Renú Arturo , Laredo Carlos , Obach Victor , Chamorro Ángel
Published: May 2019

Background and Purpose—

The clinical course in patients with ischemic stroke treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is heterogeneous. We aimed to study the relevance of the timing of clinical improvement in the prediction of long-term outcome in patients treated with MT.

Methods—

We studied a cohort of 423 patients with anterior circulation stroke treated with MT, of whom 334 patients (79.0%) achieved good outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2 at 90-day follow-up). National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores were assessed before MT, at the end of MT (d0), at day 1 (d1), and at day 7 or discharge (d7). We explored the predictive value for good outcome of different cutoffs based on absolute and percentage changes in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at each assessment (d0, d1, and d7) and selected the corresponding most informative cutoffs to define substantial clinical improvement (SCI) over time. Then, we classified patients in SCI subgroups according to the delay from MT to SCI (SCI-d0, SCI-d1, and SCI-d7) and analyzed their adjusted odds ratio for good outcome compared with patients not presenting SCI (no-SCI). Additionally, we identified the independent factors predicting SCI-d0 in multivariate models.

Results—

The most informative cutoffs were 30% at d0, 40% at d1, and 70% at d7. The adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for good outcome were 47.4 (22.1–101.7, n=172) for SCI-d0, 27.7 (11.8–65.0, n=76) for SCI-d1, and 12.6 for SCI-d7 (95% CI, 3.8–41.4, n=17) compared with no-SCI (n=158). The independent factors predicting SCI-d0 were successful reperfusion (odds ratio, 25.79; 95% CI, 12.92–51.47) and shorter time to treatment (odds ratio per hour 0.90; 95% CI, 0.85–0.96).

Conclusions—

Shorter delay to clinical improvement is strongly related to better chances of a long-term good outcome, and an improvement >30% in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at the end of MT represents a reliable prognostic marker for clinicians and also for clinical research.
Primate cognition test battery in parrots
Authors: Krasheninnikova Anastasia , Berardi Roberta , Lind Mari-Ann , O’Neill Laurie , von Bayern Auguste M.P.
Published: May 2019

Systematic, broad phylogenetic comparisons of diverse cognitive abilities are essential to understand cognitive evolution. Few studies have examined multiple skills comparatively, using identical tasks across species. Previous research centered on primates, but recent evidence suggests that complex cognition may have evolved in distantly related taxa. We administered the tasks of the primate cognition test battery (PCTB) to 4 parrot species for a first direct comparison with primates. The parrots did not perform significantly worse than the previously tested primates in all but one of the test scales, but remained at chance levels throughout. Chimpanzees outperformed them in the physical but not the social domain. No differences between the domains nor across the parrot species were detected. It remains questionable whether the chance level performance reflects the parrots’ cognitive capacity or results from task constraints, which would limit the suitability of PCTB for phylogenetic comparisons. Possible implications for the field are discussed.
Morphological and molecular characterisation of Chitwoodius coffeae sp. n. (Dorylaimida: Tylencholaimidae) from Vietnam, with a revised taxonomy of the genus
Authors: Hoang Ha , Chu Hoang Ha , Nguyen Thi Anh Duong , Trinh Quang Phap , Abolafia Joaquín , Peña-Santiago Reyes
Published: May 2019

Chitwoodius coffeae sp. n. is described, including SEM observations and molecular (D2-D3 expansion segment of the rDNA 28S) analysis, from a coffee plantation in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The new species is characterised by its 1.69-2.01 mm long body in females and 1.29-1.51 mm in males, lip region offset by deep constriction and 15-17 μm broad, odontostyle 27-30 μm long, neck 340-473 μm long, pharyngeal expansion occupying 52-54% of total neck length, uterus a simple tube-like structure 68-106 μm long, vulva longitudinal (V = 54-59), tail short and rounded conoid (20-28 μm, c = 54-88, c′ = 0.6-0.8) with a nearly terminal projection of inner cuticle layer, spicules 60-64 μm long, and 7-10 spaced ventromedian supplements without hiatus. SEM pictures, available for the first time for a representative of the genus, show a hexagonal (nearly hexastellate) oral field divided into six sectors by the existence of six deep incisures. Molecular analyses, also presented for the first time for a representative of the genus, results in a narrow evolutionary relationship among Chitwoodius and Tylencholaimus, and supports the monophyly of the Tylencholaimidae. This is the first record of Chitwoodius in Asian Far East territories. Chitwoodius ahmadi sp. n. is proposed for a misattributed population of C. seshadrii.
Evaluation of soybean cultivars for their susceptibility to root-lesion nematodes under temperate conditions
Authors: Elhady Ahmed , Thünen Torsten , Höppner Frank , Balko Christiane , Heuer Holger , Hallmann Johannes
Published: May 2019

Soybean, Glycine max, is a relatively new crop in Europe gaining increasing interest for its potential to fix atmospheric nitrogen and thus increase sustainability of modern agricultural production systems. Under temperate conditions, root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) are one of the most prominent plant-parasitic nematode taxa of economic concern in soybean. Here, we investigated the susceptibility of soybean cultivars towards naturally occurring populations of Pratylenchus spp. and their effects on soybean yield. At the site Bundesallee the cultivars ‘Abelina’, ‘Primus’ and ‘Taifun3’ supported the highest infestation and multiplication of a mixed population of P. neglectus and P. crenatus, while ‘Sultana’ and ‘Solena’ were least susceptible. At the field site Groß Lüsewitz, ‘Primus’ and ‘Merlin’ cultivars were significantly more susceptible to P. neglectus than ‘Sultana’. Soybean yield was reduced by high initial densities of Pratylenchus spp. Results are expected to contribute to a better nematode management.
Description of Bursaphelenchus irokophilus n. sp. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) isolated from Milicia excelsa (Welw.) C.C. Berg wood imported into Italy from Cameroon
Authors: Torrini Giulia , Strangi Agostino , Mazza Giuseppe , Marianelli Leonardo , Roversi Pio Federico , Kanzaki Natsumi
Published: May 2019

A new species of Bursaphelenchus, extracted from unprocessed logs of Milicia excelsa from Cameroon and arriving in the port of Leghorn, Tuscany, Central Italy, is described. Bursaphelenchus irokophilus n. sp. is based upon morphological and molecular characters and is characterised by the two-lined lateral field, mitten-shaped spicule possessing cucullus and well-developed and slightly dorsally curved condylus with narrowly rounded tip, female vulva with side flap, and long, smoothly tapering and strongly ventrally recurved female tail. The new species belongs to the abietinus-group and is similar to, but distinguished from, B. abietinus and B. rainulfi by the position of secretory-excretory pore, longer and slender female tail and some morphometric values. In addition, the phylogeny based on SSU and D2-D3 LSU regions shows that this species belongs to the abietinus-group, the relationship among the species of this group being discussed.
Does Dewey Have an “epistemic argument” for Democracy?
Authors: Festenstein Matthew
Published: May 2019

The analysis and defence of democracy on the grounds of its epistemic powers is now a well-established, if contentious, area of theoretical and empirical research. This article reconstructs a distinctive and systematic epistemic account of democracy from Dewey’s writings. Running like a thread through this account is a critical analysis of the distortion of hierarchy and class division on social knowledge, which Dewey believes democracy can counteract. The article goes on to argue that Dewey’s account has the resources to defuse at least some important forms of the broader charges of instrumentalism and depoliticization that are directed at the epistemic project. The gloomy conviction of the stratified character of capitalist societies and the conflictual character of their politics shapes Dewey’s view of political agency, and this article outlines how this epistemic conception of democracy is deployed as a critical standard for judging and transforming existing political forms but also serves as a line of defence for democratic political forms against violent and authoritarian alternatives.
‘Growth’, Economic and Human: Reconstructing Economics through Pragmatism and the Capabilities Approach
Authors: Stikkers Kenneth W.
Published: May 2019

Economist Amartya Sen’s and philosopher Martha Nussbaum’s capabilities approach to economic development enjoys global attention, and there has been considerable interest in connections between it and pragmatism.
1
This paper argues, first, that there are indeed strong, productive affinities between Sen’s and Nussbaum’s understanding of ‘capabilities’ in rethinking how economies are to be developed and measured, on the one hand, and John Dewey’s notion of ‘growth’ and applications of pragmatism to economics, by economists such as Thorstein Veblen, John Commons, and, more recently, Daniel Bromley, to rethink and to reconstruct their discipline, on the other. Second, the paper suggests that Dewey’s notion of ‘growth’ can do much to strengthen and to deepen Sen’s and Nussbaum’s “capabilities approaches” to economics. Third, it suggests that Dewey enriches notions of ‘science’ and ‘democracy’, which are largely underdeveloped in capabilities approaches.
Sámi’s Reindeer Husbandry and EU Legislation (beyond Finland and Sweden’s Accession Treaty)
Authors: Albanesi Enrico
Published: May 2019

The 1995 Treaty concerning the accession of Finland and Sweden to the EU makes some express exceptions for their domestic legislation vis-à-vis EU legislation regarding some aspects of traditional reindeer husbandry carried out by the Sámi people. However, other fields in the EU law lack an express regulation concerning reindeer husbandry and this has led to much controversy. In Sweden, legislation on EU Natura 2000 areas identifies reindeer herders as stakeholders among many others, i.e. it does not as such address the Sámi as indigenous people. In Finland, the Act on Metsähallitus was amended in 2016 to be in compliance with EU trade laws; however, the new Act does not recognise any special status of the Sámi as indigenous people, giving rise to concerns especially with regards to reindeer husbandry. The extension of Protocol No 3 to the Accession Treaty to other matters by a unanimous vote of the Council could be a solution to protect Sámi’s reindeer husbandry vis-à-vis EU legislation. Simultaneously, EU legislation should be interpreted in the light of the relevant rules of international law concerning indigenous peoples.
Indigenous Persons with Disabilities: The Quest for Legal Recognition of Intersectionality and the Prohibition of Multiple Discrimination using the Example of the Sámi People in Finland
Authors: Heinämäki Leena
Published: May 2019

Indigenous peoples have attracted a lot of attention in international legal and political instruments during the last couple of decades. Only very recently, however, have international institutions started to address the situation of minorities within minorities that often experience multiple discrimination. This article focuses on the vulnerable situation and the rights of Sámi persons with disabilities in Finland as the case study to demonstrate the inadequacy of different legal regimes to recognise and thus help to prevent and overcome the multiple discrimination of persons with disabilities who also belong to the indigenous community. The article calls for an intersectional approach to law, in order to recognise that persons with multiple identities may need legal protection that recognises the problem of multiple discrimination, and thereby adequately protects their rights and equality.
Transboundary Environmental Harm in the Arctic – In Search of Accountability for an Oil Spill
Authors: Penttilä Outi
Published: May 2019

Recently, the Arctic has transformed from a peripheral region to an area of great interest, for instance in terms of oil drilling. Nonetheless, no legal instrument has addressed the matter of accountability for transfrontier oil pollution damage. This article accordingly evaluates whether the current legal constructs, meaning State responsibility, international liability, civil liability regimes, and multilateral environmental agreements, allow accountability to be established for transboundary environmental harm resulting from hydrocarbon exploitation in the Arctic. It also examines whether these constructions could serve as the basis for future legislative actions. This article treats these four constructions as layers of accountability. After examining all of the layers in their current formulation, this article asserts that the existing layers cannot establish accountability for transboundary environmental damage in the Arctic, nor do they as such offer an effective way to regulate accountability in the future. Therefore, the article concludes that the law of accountability necessitates a new approach, such as a non-compliance mechanism or hybrid system combining elements of multiple layers. Finally, the article calls for immediate legislative actions.
Environmental Governance of the Arctic: Next Steps – Diverse, Compatible, Needed
Authors: DiMento Joseph F.C. , Schrottenbaum Christine , Taylor Elizabeth
Published: May 2019

The urgency of applying effective legal strategies to respond to environmental change in the Arctic is ever more apparent. The existing framework for environmental governance has matured and its constituents are numerous, and many are promising. However, policymakers and other stakeholders contend that new approaches to confronting environmental conditions, including mitigation of climate change and adapting to it, are needed. Many ideas have been offered; they range considerably in their assessment of what changes are needed and by when. Here we briefly describe the cluster of constituents of environmental governance, the international environmental regime, of the Arctic; we briefly note newly recommended approaches; and we analyse two approaches we consider most promising. These, cooperative scientific-based management strategies and adversarial legal actions, are dissimilar – to the point that some policy makers consider them incompatible. We argue, however, that both are needed and we describe elements of their successful use.
The Interconnectedness of Digitalisation and Human Security in the European High North: Cybersecurity Conceptualised through the Human Security Lens
Authors: Zojer Gerald
Published: May 2019

Digitalisation has increased rapidly in recent decades, and became integral part of the development agenda of most states. The development of cyberspace has led to numerous opportunities for human development, but it also has presented certain challenges to societies. In acknowledging the importance of digital technologies, many states have endorsed strategies for digital development and cybersecurity. Because these strategies are often state-centric, techno-deterministic, and simplistic, they disregard the interconnectedness and complexity of the opportunities and challenges these technologies can entail in a region-specific context.

This paper argues that the human security framework may be applied to analyse and study the region-specific implications of digitalisation. The multidimensional and comprehensive human security approach includes state-centric concerns as well as the needs and fears of people and communities in a specific region. Moreover, the human security framework enables the local population to voice their concerns. The insights that the human security approach offers could contribute to developing meaningful and targeted policies that address the concerns of people and communities in specific regions. The paper uses the argument on the European High North as a case study to show that digitalisation has region specific impacts and how digitalisation is interrelated with human security.
Arctic Governance and China’s First Arctic Policy: An UNCLOS Perspective
Authors: Li Xueping
Published: May 2019

Unique geological and geographical characteristics and immense economic potential have made Arctic governance an issue of global attraction, as evidenced by China’s recently published first Arctic policy. One important part of Arctic governance is the UNCLOS, and China has to evaluate its Arctic involvement from the perspective of this treaty. While a number factors motivate China’s Arctic interests, the contemporary legal regime of Arctic governance is focused on respect for the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Arctic States as well as the UNCLOS principles. On its journey to Arctic governance, China must comprehensively elaborate on its legal choices by thinking more carefully of the UNCLOS in order to reply to the comments or criticism from other countries.
Differences in Emotion Recognition From Body and Face Cues Between Deaf and Hearing Individuals
Authors: Ferrari Chiara , Papagno Costanza , Todorov Alexander , Cattaneo Zaira
Published: May 2019

Deaf individuals may compensate for the lack of the auditory input by showing enhanced capacities in certain visual tasks. Here we assessed whether this also applies to recognition of emotions expressed by bodily and facial cues. In Experiment 1, we compared deaf participants and hearing controls in a task measuring recognition of the six basic emotions expressed by actors in a series of video-clips in which either the face, the body, or both the face and body were visible. In Experiment 2, we measured the weight of body and face cues in conveying emotional information when intense genuine emotions are expressed, a situation in which face expressions alone may have ambiguous valence. We found that deaf individuals were better at identifying disgust and fear from body cues (Experiment 1) and in integrating face and body cues in case of intense negative genuine emotions (Experiment 2). Our findings support the capacity of deaf individuals to compensate for the lack of the auditory input enhancing perceptual and attentional capacities in the spared modalities, showing that this capacity extends to the affective domain.
Taste the Bass: Low Frequencies Increase the Perception of Body and Aromatic Intensity in Red Wine
Authors: Burzynska Jo , Wang Qian Janice , Spence Charles , Bastian Susan Elaine Putnam
Published: May 2019

Associations between heaviness and bass/low-pitched sounds reverberate throughout music, philosophy, literature, and language. Given that recent research into the field of cross-modal correspondences has revealed a number of robust relationships between sound and flavour, this exploratory study was designed to investigate the effects of lower frequency sound (10 Hz to 200 Hz) on the perception of the mouthfeel character of palate weight/body. This is supported by an overview of relevant cross-modal studies and cultural production. Wines were the tastants — a New Zealand Pinot Noir and a Spanish Garnacha — which were tasted in silence and with a 100 Hz (bass) and a higher 1000 Hz sine wave tone. Aromatic intensity was included as an additional character given suggestions that pitch may influence the perception of aromas, which might presumably affect the perception of wine body. Intensity of acidity and liking were also evaluated. The results revealed that the Pinot Noir wine was rated as significantly fuller-bodied when tasted with a bass frequency than in silence or with a higher frequency sound. The low frequency stimulus also resulted in the Garnacha wine being rated as significantly more aromatically intense than when tasted in the presence of the higher frequency auditory stimulus. Acidity was rated considerably higher with the higher frequency in both wines by those with high wine familiarity and the Pinot Noir significantly better liked than the Garnacha. Possible reasons as to why the tones used in this study affected perception of the two wines differently are discussed. Practical application of the findings are also proposed.
Pollen morphology of subfamily Maloideae (Roseaceae) with special focus on the genus Photinia
Authors: PATHAK MITRA LAL , IDREES MUHAMMAD , XU BO , GAO XIN FEN
Published: May 2019

Pollen morphology of 27 species of Photinia sensu stricto and five closely related genera of subfamily Maloideae (Rosaceae) were studied in detail. Palynomorphological characteristics were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Comparative pollen analysis was accomplished based on pollen size, shape, polar and equatorial views, polar and equatorial diameter ratio (P/E ratio), width of aperture, and exine ornamentation. The pollen grains of studied species were found to be monad, tricolporate, small to medium in size (P=17.42–30.45 μm, E=9.26–20.18 μm) and to have shapes oblate-spheroidal (0.88–1.0 μm), prolate-spheroidal (1.01–1.14 μm), sub-prolate (1.15–1.33 μm), prolate (1.34–2 μm), and perprolate (>2 μm). The exine ornamentation was perforated-striate, and two different types were identified. The result of quantitative characters has paltry taxonomic importance. The characters studied here delimit at generic level for some genera but not at species level. The obtained result was partially consistent with that of molecular studies published earlier. The pollen size and shape were found to be different between Asian and American species of Photinia. Especially exine sculpture was found to be an important feature to distinguish species of all genera studied. PCA analysis showed that the pollen shape, pollen sculpture, pollen size, and polarity are the key characters to distinguish the species of Photinia and the closely related genera in subfamily Maloideae. Based on pollen exine, two groups (Type I and Type II) were distinguished. The aim of the present study was to find out the taxonomic significance of palynomorphological characteristics in subfamily Maloideae (Rosaceae).
Transfer of the Philippine species of Hemigraphis Nees to Strobilanthes Blume (Acanthaceae)
Authors: DENG YUNFEI
Published: May 2019

Fourteen species originally described in the genus Hemigraphis are formally transferred to the genus Strobilanthes, following currently accepted generic delimitation in the family. Thirteen new combinations and one new name are proposed.
A new bathyal Fusinus (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Fasciolariidae) from New Caledonia
Authors: SNYDER MARTIN A. , HADORN ROLAND
Published: May 2019

A new bathyal species of Fusinus is described from New Caledonia. Fusinus laviniae new species is distinguished from other New Caledonia Fusinus by its long siphonal canal and angular sculpture. This new species is compared to F. colus (Linnaeus, 1758), F. nicobaricus (Röding, 1798), F. nobilis (Reeve, 1847), F. salisburyi Fulton, 1930, F. similis (Baird, 1873), and F. undatus, (Gmelin, 1791). A range extension for F. nobilis to New Caledonia is noted.
Proboscis ornamentation as a diagnostic character for the Anoplodactylus californicus-digitatus complex (Arthropoda: Pycnogonida) with an example from the Anoplodactylus eroticus female
Authors: ARANGO CLAUDIA P. , MAXMEN AMY
Published: May 2019

Females of the Indo-Pacific species Anoplodactylus eroticus (Arthropoda: Pycnogonida: Phoxichilidiidae) are described for the first time. The presence of peculiar ventral outgrowths or protuberances on the female proboscis of A. eroticus and 13 other Anoplodactylus species motivates an evaluation of a californicus-digitatus complex, based on external morphology and species distribution. The anatomy and development of proboscis protuberances is assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Nomarski optics, and flourescence microscopy. External morphology of A. eroticus is compared to that of apparently related species. An identification key for the 14 species of Anoplodactylus with females bearing a proboscis with ventral protuberances is provided here as an identification tool.
Two new American species of Paraxenylla (Collembola: Hypogastruridae) and ecological notes
Authors: PALACIOS-VARGAS JOSÉ G. , JANSSENS FRANS
Published: May 2019

Two new species of Paraxenylla are described and illustrated, Paraxenylla cubana sp. nov. from Cuba and Paraxenylla peruensis sp. nov. from Peru. The species Paraxenylla mangle (Murphy, 1965) stat. nov., comb. nov. is revalidated and recombined. Paraxenylla arenosa (Uchida & Tamura, 1967) comb. nov. and Paraxenylla oceanica (Yosii, 1960) comb. nov. are transferred from Xenylla. A key for the 8 species known in the genus is also given and detailed information about the ecology of Paraxenylla peruensis sp. nov. is provided.
Taxonomic revision of the monotypic genus Acyphus Heller (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) with comments on infraspecific variation
Authors: LANTERI ANALIA A. , DEL RIO M. GUADALUPE
Published: May 2019

Acyphus Heller, 1921 is a monotypic genus of Entiminae, Naupactini, ranging in north-central Argentina, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Its single species is mainly associated to trees of the genus Prosopis (Leguminosae), with several species ranging throughout the xerophytic forests of the Chacoan subregion. The genus is easily recognized by the presence of 20 elytral striae and the robust antennae, with strongly dilated scape, compressed from near base onwards. Acyphus renggeri (Labram & Imhoff) -senior synonym of Acyphus funicularis Hellershows variation in the distribution and density of the scaly vestiture of the elytra. There is a morphotype devoid of distinct scales and two squamose morphotypes with different irregular nebulose pattern. The paper includes descriptions of the genus and its only species, habitus photographs, line drawings of genitalia and mouth parts, and a map of distribution.
Free-living Platyhelminthes of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, a Peruvian Amazon floodplain
Authors: NOREÑA CAROLINA , DAMBORENEA CRISTINA , BRUSA FRANCISCO , ESCOBEDO MARIO
Published: May 2019

Twenty-one free-living species of turbellaria (Platyhelminthes) were found in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve (Loreto, Peru), a Peruvian Amazon floodplain. The total 21 observed taxa comprise five species of Catenulida, two species of Macrostomida, two species of "Lecithoepitheliata", 10 species of Rhabdocoela and two species of Tricladida. Most of the species are cosmopolitan and occur in freshwater habitats worldwide. Of the species collected, only Mesostoma ehrenbergi was previously known from this region, whereas five species of Rhabdocoela were only recently described from the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. Some morphological, distributional and ecological remarks are provided.
Edotia tangaroa sp. nov. (Crustacea: Isopoda: Idoteidae) from the western Ross Sea, Antarctica
Authors: BRANDT ANGELIKA , BRUCE NIEL
Published: May 2019

Edotia tangaroa sp. nov. is described from the western Ross Sea, Antarctica, the first record of the genus from that region. It is characterised by the dorsal ornamentation, consisting of numerous small, blunt tubercular, structures from the head to the tip of pleotelson, as well as short, blunt dorsal spines on basis of pereopods 1–7. Antenna 1 is slightly longer and more robust than antenna 2. An annotated species list is provided.
Three new species of Empoasca (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae: Empoascini) from northern South America
Authors: SOUTHERN PHILLIP STERLING
Published: May 2019

Three new species of the leafhopper genus Empoasca are described and illustrated from Ecuador and Colombia. The species are placed in a previously published key and relationships to other species of the genus are discussed.
Contributions to the knowledge of the “Staphylinus-complex” (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylinini) of China. Part 11. The genus Wasmannellus Bernhauer, 1920 and Nelmanwaslus gen. nov.
Authors: SMETANA ALEŠ
Published: May 2019

The monotypic genus Wasmannellus Bernhauer, 1920 is redescribed and reevaluated; its relationship with the relevant genera of Staphylinini is briefly discussed; the appropriate portion of the key to genera in Smetana & Davies (2000) is modified to allow the inclusion of the genus. The genus Nelmanwaslus is described as new, with N. ornatus spec. nov. as the type species and another included species: N. stevensi (Cameron, 1932) (comb. nov., from Wasmannellus). Nelmanwaslus is the genus that was misidentified as Wasmannellus in Smetana & Davies (2000).
A new Canariella species (Gastropoda: Helicoidea: Hygromiidae) of the new subgenus Majorata, both endemic to the Jandía Peninsula (Fuerteventura, Canary Islands)
Authors: ALONSO MARÍA R. , PONTE-LIRA CARMEN E. , CASTILLO CAROLINA , YANES YURENA , GROH KLAUS , IBÁÑEZ MIGUEL
Published: May 2019

Canariella jandiaensis sp. nov. and Canariella (Majorata) subgen. nov. are described from the Jandía Peninsula mountains (Fuerteventura Island). The new subgenus, which includes C. jandiaensis and C. eutropis, is characterized mainly by the following synapomorphies: The shell is without hairs and there is a large penial papilla present arising from all the five epiphallar folds. C. jandiaensis differs from C. eutropis in the unkeeled, almost globular shell, which is smaller but taller than that of C. eutropis and has more numerous but smoother radial ribs. Also, C. jandiaensis has a pseudopapilla in the distal penial cavity instead of the thick longitudinal pilaster present in C. eutropis.        The range of Majorata is small, declining from 30,000 years ago and the new species should be classified as “Critically Endangered” based on the very small size of its distribution area (smaller than 1 km2) and the very abundant and free-range livestock present. Mainly goats, grazing freely destroy the habitat in the entire Jandía mountains. Protection of their habitat is recommended, mainly by means of strict livestock control.
Revision of the Chinese species of Ponsadenia (Gastropoda: Helicoidea, Bradybaenidae)
Authors: WU MIN , GUO JIAN-YING
Published: May 2019

Three Ponsadenia species, including Ponsadenia zhongdianensis sp. nov. from Yunnan, are reported from China. In addition to describing P. zhongdianensis, the genitalia of the two previously known species are re-described and illustrated. The distribution pattern of Ponsadenia and many other endemic bradybaenid genera suggests that the belt encircling the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is important in the formation of the bradybaenid diversity.
Contributions to the knowledge of the “Staphylinus-complex” (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini) of China. Part 13. The genus Sphaerobulbus Smetana 2003. Section 3
Authors: SMETANA ALEŠ
Published: May 2019

This is the third paper dealing with the Chinese species of the genus Sphaerobulbus Smetana, 2003. Two species are described as new: S. biplagiatus (from Yunnan) and S. ornatus (from Shaanxi). New distributional records for S. bisinuatus Smetana, 2003 and S. abdominalis Smetana, 2003 are given. Sphaerobulbus ornatus is the first member of the genus to occur in the province of Shaanxi.
A new species of Semaphore gecko Pristurus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Mauretania, represents a 4700km range extension for genus
Authors: GENIEZ PHILIPPE , ARNOLD E. NICHOLAS
Published: May 2019

A new Semaphore gecko, Pristurus adrarensis, is described from the Adrar Atar region of central Mauritania. It is most closely related to the geographically nearest member of the genus, P. flavipunctatus of northeast Africa and southwest Arabia. P. adrarensis shows an 18% divergence from this species in mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b) and also differs in being smaller, more depressed and more slender, with the dorsal crest of enlarged scales on the tail not extending forwards beyond the vent. The localities of the new species lie 4700km west of the previously known distribution of Pristurus and the phylogenetic topology of the genus indicates that it represents a westward range extension. The degree of genetic divergence suggests P. adrarensis separated from P. flavipunctatus as much as seven million years ago.
Description of Haploblepharus kistnasamyi, a new catshark (Chondrichthyes: Scyliorhinidae) from South Africa
Authors: HUMAN BRETT A. , COMPAGNO LEONARD J.V.
Published: May 2019

A new species of catshark, Haploblepharus kistnasamyi sp. nov. (Class Chondrichthyes, Order Carcharhiniformes, Family Scyliorhinidae) is described from kwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The type series includes the holotype, RUSI 39835, and two paratypes, RUSI 6075 and RUSI 6077. This species was previously recognised as a variant of H. edwardsii (Schinz 1822), which occurs along the southern coast of South Africa. The colour pattern of H. kistnasamyi is superficially similar to H. edwardsii although distinct; however H. kistnasamyi is distinguished from all other Haploblepharus in having a stockier build compared to its congeners, a less depressed head and trunk, and a compressed caudal peduncle.
New genera of Psocoptera (Insecta), from Mexico, Belize and Ecuador (Psoquillidae, Ptiloneuridae, Lachesillidae)
Authors: ALDRETE ALFONSO N. GARCÍA
Published: May 2019

Four new species of Psocoptera are described, each in a new monotypic genus: Rhyopsocoides typhicolus (Psoquillidae) and Omilneura circumvittata (Ptiloneuridae) from Mexico, Belicania cervantesi (Ptiloneuridae) from Belize, and Waoraniella erwini (Lachesillidae) from Ecuador. Relationships within each family are discussed, and keys to the genera in each family are included.
Pyrgopsella (Cirripedia: Balanomorpha: Pyrgomatidae) is not a sponge-inhabiting barnacle
Authors: ACHITUV YAIR , SIMON-BLECHER NOA
Published: May 2019

A new species of coral-inhabiting barnacle, Pyrgopsella youngi, is described. It was found in a colony of the coral Symphyllia radians Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849 from Sulawesi, Indonesia. The barnacles were suspended in the coral tissue and were easily detached. A unique feature of Pyrgopsella is its membranous basis; in P. youngi the calcareous basis is reduced to a vestige by which the barnacle is attached to the coral. Pyrgopsella has been regarded as a genus of sponge-inhabiting barnacle, thus unique in the otherwise coral-associated family Pyrgomatidae, but our findings confirm that this genus too comprises coral-inhabiting barnacles. We propose a new genus, Pyrgospongia, to accommodate the sponge-inhabiting barnacle originally described as Pyrgopsella stellula Rosell, 1973. The relationships of both Pyrgopsella and Pyrgospongia within the Pyrogomatidae are discussed.
Torpedo formosa sp. nov., a new species of electric ray (Chondrichthyes: Torpediniformes: Torpedinidae) from Taiwan
Authors: HAAS DIANE L. , EBERT DAVID A.
Published: May 2019

A new species of torpedo ray, Torpedo formosa, sp. nov., is described from specimens collected from northeastern Taiwan. The new species is placed in the subgenus Tetronarce based on a uniform purplish dorsal coloration and the absence of papillae around the spiracles. It is distinct from the sympatric T. tokionis, the only other known Torpedo (Tetronarce) species from the western North Pacific, by a disc that is wider than long, a shorter tail, a greater number of spiral valve turns, and its dorsal coloration. It has been misidentified as T. nobiliana, but is distinguished from it by having longer snout and spiracle lengths, a lower vertebral count, and a caudal fin height that is greater than the distance from the first dorsal origin to the caudal fin origin. This new species, at present, is known only from the northeast coast of Taiwan between Keelung and Suao primarily at depths of less than 300m.
New mites of the genus Holoparasitus Oudemans, 1936 from northern Austria and Karavanke (Acari: Parasitidae)
Authors: WITALIÑSKI WOJCIECH
Published: May 2019

A new mite species, Holoparasitus rhombogynialis sp. nov. (Acari: Parasitidae) is described from Karavanke (Slovenia-Austria border). H. hemisphaericus (Vitzthum, 1923) is redescribed, including a description of the previously unknown male from the type locality in northern Austria. Both species are considered to be members of the Holoparasitus hemisphaericus species-group, which is newly defined. Ologamasus absoloni Willmann, 1940 is synonymised with H. hemisphaericus, and the female of H. intermedius (Holzmann) sensu Micherdziński is synonymised with H. cornutus Juvara-Bals & Witaliński.
Lubbockichthys myersi, a new species of dottyback fish from Guam (Pseudochromidae: Pseudoplesiopinae)
Authors: GILL ANTHONY C. , EDWARDS ALASDAIR J.
Published: May 2019

Lubbockichthys myersi is described from a single 38.6 mm SL specimen from Blue Hole, Guam. It is unique among pseudoplesiopines in having a very slender body (greatest body depth 15.8 % SL; body depth at dorsal-fin origin 15.3 % SL) and a higher number of vertebrae (14 + 18).