bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Silicone Doped Chitosan-Acrylamide Coencapsulated Urea Fertilizer: An Approach to Controlled Release Fertilizers
Authors: Siafu Sempeho Ibahati
Published: February 2017

In the absence of special management practices, urea is known to undergo chemical transformations resulting in severe losses (≈60–70%) of total fertilizer applied. In an attempt to design urea controlled release fertilizers in order to counterbalance the 60–70% loss, urea was cross-linked with chitosan and acrylamide under refluxed in situ copolymerization technique; the procedures were repeated with silicone doping prior cross-linking with MBA. The particles were characterized with FTIR/ATR, EDX, XRD, and SEM. The IR bands observed within 3426–409 cm−1revealed the formation of new bands after coencapsulation for theνγN-H,νβN-H,νOH,νsNH2,νCH2,νC=O,δ′NH2,νC=C,δNH2,νC-N,βCH3, $C-N,γNH2,νC=O, and $CH2. Crystallinity indices for urea with and without silicone doping were found to be 50.9% and 72.1%, respectively, with a distinctive split peak at (d) 12.30°. The formation of Microdunes and Microballs 3D network sized 0.64 μm was noted. Release profiles demonstrated that 80% N was released in a period of 30 days at RT and pH 7. The release patterns exhibited linear and deformed sigmoid release models. Empirically, the findings demonstrated that it is possible to design urea controlled release fertilizers with varying particle sizes and morphologies by using chitosan-acrylamide coencapsulation.
Finite Precision Logistic Map between Computational Efficiency and Accuracy with Encryption Applications
Authors: Sayed Wafaa S. , Radwan Ahmed G. , Rezk Ahmed A. , Fahmy Hossam A. H.
Published: February 2017

Chaotic systems appear in many applications such as pseudo-random number generation, text encryption, and secure image transfer. Numerical solutions of these systems using digital software or hardware inevitably deviate from the expected analytical solutions. Chaotic orbits produced using finite precision systems do not exhibit the infinite period expected under the assumptions of infinite simulation time and precision. In this paper, digital implementation of the generalized logistic map with signed parameter is considered. We present a fixed-point hardware realization of a Pseudo-Random Number Generator using the logistic map that experiences a trade-off between computational efficiency and accuracy. Several introduced factors such as the used precision, the order of execution of the operations, parameter, and initial point values affect the properties of the finite precision map. For positive and negative parameter cases, the studied properties include bifurcation points, output range, maximum Lyapunov exponent, and period length. The performance of the finite precision logistic map is compared in the two cases. A basic stream cipher system is realized to evaluate the system performance for encryption applications for different bus sizes regarding the encryption key size, hardware requirements, maximum clock frequency, NIST and correlation, histogram, entropy, and Mean Absolute Error analyses of encrypted images.
The Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components among People with Type 2 Diabetes in the Ho Municipality, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Osei-Yeboah James , Owiredu William K. B. A. , Norgbe Gameli Kwame , Yao Lokpo Sylvester , Gyamfi Jones , Alote Allotey Emmanuel , Asumbasiya Aduko Romeo , Noagbe Mark , Attah Florence A.
Published: February 2017

The cooccurrence of diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome potentiates the cardiovascular risk associated with each of the conditions; therefore characterizing metabolic syndrome among people with type 2 diabetes is beneficial for the purpose of cardiovascular disease prevention. This study aims at evaluating the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components among 162 patients with type 2 diabetes attending the diabetic clinic of the Ho Municipal Hospital, Ghana. Data obtained included anthropometric indices, blood pressure, serum lipids, glucose, and sociodemographics and clinical information. The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome among the study population was 43.83%, 63.58%, and 69.14% using the NCEP-ATP III, the WHO, and the IDF criteria, respectively. The most predominant component among the study population was high blood pressure using the NCEP-ATP III (108 (66.67%)) and WHO (102 (62.96)) criteria and abdominal obesity (112 (69.14%)) for IDF criteria. High blood pressure was the most prevalent component among the males while abdominal obesity was the principal component among the females. In this population with type 2 diabetes, high prevalence of metabolic syndrome exists. Gender vulnerability to metabolic syndrome and multiple cluster components were skewed towards the female subpopulation with type 2 diabetes.
Computational Approaches to Facilitate Epitope-Based HLA Matching in Solid Organ Transplantation
Authors: Geneugelijk Kirsten , Wissing Jeroen , Koppenaal Dirk , Niemann Matthias , Spierings Eric
Published: February 2017

Epitope-based HLA matching has been emerged over the last few years as an improved method for HLA matching in solid organ transplantation. The epitope-based matching concept has been incorporated in both the PIRCHE-II and the HLAMatchmaker algorithm to find the most suitable donor for a recipient. For these algorithms, high-resolution HLA genotype data of both donor and recipient is required. Since high-resolution HLA genotype data is often not available, we developed a computational method which allows epitope-based HLA matching from serological split level HLA typing relying on HLA haplotype frequencies. To validate this method, we simulated a donor-recipient population for which PIRCHE-II and eplet values were calculated when using both high-resolution HLA genotype data and serological split level HLA typing. The majority of the serological split level HLA-determined ln(PIRCHE-II)/ln(eplet) values did not or only slightly deviate from the reference group of high-resolution HLA-determined ln(PIRCHE-II)/ln(eplet) values. This deviation was slightly increased when HLA-C or HLA-DQ was omitted from the input and was substantially decreased when using two-field resolution HLA genotype data of the recipient and serological split level HLA typing of the donor. Thus, our data suggest that our computational approach is a powerful tool to estimate PIRCHE-II/eplet values when high-resolution HLA genotype data is not available.
Orthostatic Intolerance and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome in Joint Hypermobility Syndrome/Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Hypermobility Type: Neurovegetative Dysregulation or Autonomic Failure?
Authors: Celletti Claudia , Camerota Filippo , Castori Marco , Censi Federica , Gioffrè Laura , Calcagnini Giovanni , Strano Stefano
Published: February 2017

Background. Joint hypermobility syndrome/Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hypermobility type (JHS/EDS-HT), is a hereditary connective tissue disorder mainly characterized by generalized joint hypermobility, skin texture abnormalities, and visceral and vascular dysfunctions, also comprising symptoms of autonomic dysfunction. This study aims to further evaluate cardiovascular autonomic involvement in JHS/EDS-HT by a battery of functional tests.Methods. The response to cardiovascular reflex tests comprising deep breathing, Valsalva maneuver, 30/15 ratio, handgrip test, and head-up tilt test was studied in 35 JHS/EDS-HT adults. Heart rate and blood pressure variability was also investigated by spectral analysis in comparison to age and sex healthy matched group.Results. Valsalva ratio was normal in all patients, but 37.2% of them were not able to finish the test. At tilt, 48.6% patients showed postural orthostatic tachycardia, 31.4% orthostatic intolerance, 20% normal results. Only one patient had orthostatic hypotension. Spectral analysis showed significant higher baroreflex sensitivity values at rest compared to controls.Conclusions.This study confirms the abnormal cardiovascular autonomic profile in adults with JHS/EDS-HT and found the higher baroreflex sensitivity as a potential disease marker and clue for future research.
Flexural Behavior of Concrete Beam Strengthened by Near-Surface Mounted CFRP Reinforcement Using Equivalent Section Model
Authors: Jung Woo-tai , Park Jong-sup , Kang Jae-yoon , Keum Moon-seoung
Published: February 2017

FRP (fiber reinforced polymer) has found wide applications as an alternative to steel rebar not only for the repair and strengthening of existing structures but also for the erection of new structures. Near-surface mounted (NSM) strengthening was introduced as an alternative of externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) but this method also experiences early bond failure, which stresses the importance of predicting accurately the bond failure behavior in order to evaluate precisely the performance of NSM reinforcement. This study proposes the equivalent section model assuming monolithic behavior of the filler and CFRP reinforcement. This equivalent section model enables establishing a bond failure model applicable independently of the sectional shape of the CFRP reinforcement. This so-derived bond failure model is then validated experimentally by means of beams flexure-strengthened by NSM CFRP reinforcements with various cross-sections. Finally, analytical analysis applying the bond failure model considering the equivalent section and defined failure criteria is performed. The results show the accuracy of the prediction of the failure mode as well as the accurate prediction of the experimental results regardless of the sectional shape of the CFRP reinforcement.
Turing Bifurcation and Pattern Formation of Stochastic Reaction-Diffusion System
Authors: Zheng Qianiqian , Wang Zhijie , Shen Jianwei , Iqbal Hussain Muhammad Ather
Published: February 2017

Noise is ubiquitous in a system and can induce some spontaneous pattern formations on a spatially homogeneous domain. In comparison to the Reaction-Diffusion System (RDS), Stochastic Reaction-Diffusion System (SRDS) is more complex and it is very difficult to deal with the noise function. In this paper, we have presented a method to solve it and obtained the conditions of how the Turing bifurcation and Hopf bifurcation arise through linear stability analysis of local equilibrium. In addition, we have developed the amplitude equation with a pair of wave vector by using Taylor series expansion, multiscaling, and further expansion in powers of small parameter. Our analysis facilitates finding regions of bifurcations and understanding the pattern formation mechanism of SRDS. Finally, the simulation shows that the analytical results agree with numerical simulation.
A Method for Consensus Reaching in Product Kansei Evaluation Using Advanced Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Yang Yan-pu
Published: February 2017

Consumers’ opinions toward product design alternatives are often subjective and perceptual, which reflect their perception about a product and can be described using Kansei adjectives. Therefore, Kansei evaluation is often employed to determine consumers’ preference. However, how to identify and improve the reliability of consumers’ Kansei evaluation opinions toward design alternatives has an important role in adding additional insurance and reducing uncertainty to successful product design. To solve this problem, this study employs a consensus model to measure consistence among consumers’ opinions, and an advanced particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm combined with Linearly Decreasing Inertia Weight (LDW) method is proposed for consensus reaching by minimizing adjustment of consumers’ opinions. Furthermore, the process of the proposed method is presented and the details are illustrated using an example of electronic scooter design evaluation. The case study reveals that the proposed method is promising for reaching a consensus through searching optimal solutions by PSO and improving the reliability of consumers’ evaluation opinions toward design alternatives according to Kansei indexes.
YAP/TAZ-Mediated Upregulation of GAB2 Leads to Increased Sensitivity to Growth Factor–Induced Activation of the PI3K Pathway
Authors: Wang Chao , Gu Chao , Jeong Kang Jin , Zhang Dong , Guo Wei , Lu Yiling , Ju Zhenlin , Panupinthu Nattapon , Yang Ji Yeon , Gagea Mihai (Mike) , Ng Patrick Kwok Shing , Zhang Fan , Mills Gordon B.
Published: February 2017

The transcription regulators YAP and TAZ function as effectors of the HIPPO signaling cascade, critical for organismal development, cell growth, and cellular reprogramming, and YAP/TAZ is commonly misregulated in human cancers. The precise mechanism by which aberrant YAP/TAZ promotes tumor growth remains unclear. The HIPPO tumor suppressor pathway phosphorylates YAP and TAZ, resulting in cytosolic sequestration with subsequent degradation. Here, we report that the PI3K/AKT pathway, which is critically involved in the pathophysiology of endometrial cancer, interacts with the HIPPO pathway at multiple levels. Strikingly, coordinate knockdown of YAP and TAZ, mimicking activation of the HIPPO pathway, markedly decreased both constitutive and growth factor–induced PI3K pathway activation by decreasing levels of the GAB2 linker molecule in endometrial cancer lines. Furthermore, targeting YAP/TAZ decreased endometrial cancer tumor growth in vivo. In addition, YAP and TAZ total and phosphoprotein levels correlated with clinical characteristics and outcomes in endometrial cancer. Thus, YAP and TAZ, which are inhibited by the HIPPO tumor suppressor pathway, modify PI3K/AKT pathway signaling in endometrial cancer. The cross-talk between these key pathways identifies potential new biomarkers and therapeutic targets in endometrial cancer. Cancer Res; 77(7); 1637–48. ©2017 AACR.
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Confers Neuroprotection in a Murine Model of Japanese Encephalitis
Authors: Kulkarni Sahil , Mukherjee Sandeepan , Pandey Anupama , Dahake Ritwik , Padmanabhan Usha , Chowdhary Abhay S.
Published: February 2017

Objective: Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a debilitating disease caused by infection with the JE virus (JEV; family: Flaviviridae), which leaves neurological sequelae in survivors but more often leads to mortality. Neurodegeneration caused by inflammation is the primary pathology behind the clinical manifestation of encephalitis caused by JEV. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has been used in immunoprophylaxis for tuberculosis and in the adjuvant therapy of many malignancies, and has exhibited neuroprotective activities in experimental models of Parkinson and Alzheimer disease. This study aimed at assessing the neuroprotective role of BCG in a murine model of JE. Methods: Suckling mice were inoculated with 106 CFU of BCG and at 18 days postinoculation were challenged with 100 LD50 of JEV. PBS-inoculated mice were used as controls. Mice were sacrificed on days 2, 4, 6, and 8. Brain tissue was homogenized for RNA extraction. One-step real-time RT-PCR was performed to assess the relative gene expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS. Results: The BCG-inoculated (BCG+JEV) group exhibited a significant delay in the presentation of neuropathological symptoms, longer survival, and a downregulation in the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS on days 2, 4, and 6 post-JEV challenge compared to the JEV group. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the administration of BCG offers neuroprotection in the murine model of JE. BCG should therefore be further investigated as an adjuvant in the management of JE. BCG is an accepted vaccine for tuberculosis in many countries that are endemic for JEV. This approach may have a significant impact on the public health burden in these countries.
Improving the In Silico Assessment of Proarrhythmia Risk by Combining hERG (Human Ether-à-go-go-Related Gene) Channel–Drug Binding Kinetics and Multichannel Pharmacology
Authors: Li Zhihua , Dutta Sara , Sheng Jiansong , Tran Phu N. , Wu Wendy , Chang Kelly , Mdluli Thembi , Strauss David G. , Colatsky Thomas
Published: February 2017

Background—

The current proarrhythmia safety testing paradigm, although highly efficient in preventing new torsadogenic drugs from entering the market, has important limitations that can restrict the development and use of valuable new therapeutics. The CiPA (Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay) proposes to overcome these limitations by evaluating drug effects on multiple cardiac ion channels in vitro and using these data in a predictive in silico model of the adult human ventricular myocyte. A set of drugs with known clinical torsade de pointes risk was selected to develop and calibrate the in silico model.

Methods and Results—

Manual patch-clamp data assessing drug effects on expressed cardiac ion channels were integrated into the O’Hara–Rudy myocyte model modified to include dynamic drug–hERG channel (human Ether-à-go-go-Related Gene) interactions. Together with multichannel pharmacology data, this model predicts that compounds with high torsadogenic risk are more likely to be trapped within the hERG channel and show stronger reverse use dependency of action potential prolongation. Furthermore, drug-induced changes in the amount of electronic charge carried by the late sodium and L-type calcium currents was evaluated as a potential metric for assigning torsadogenic risk.

Conclusions—

Modeling dynamic drug–hERG channel interactions and multi-ion channel pharmacology improves the prediction of torsadogenic risk. With further development, these methods have the potential to improve the regulatory assessment of drug safety models under the CiPA paradigm.
Initiation, Continuation, or Withdrawal of Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Gilstrap Lauren G. , Fonarow Gregg C. , Desai Akshay S. , Liang Li , Matsouaka Roland , DeVore Adam D. , Smith Eric E. , Heidenreich Paul , Hernandez Adrian F. , Yancy Clyde W. , Bhatt Deepak L.
Published: February 2017

Background

Guidelines recommend continuation or initiation of guideline‐directed medical therapy, including angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin
II
receptor blockers (
ACE
i/
ARB
), in hospitalized patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Methods and Results

Using the Get With The Guidelines‐Heart Failure Registry, we linked clinical data from 16 052 heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (ejection fraction ≤40%) patients with Medicare claims data. We divided
ACE
i/
ARB
‐eligible patients into 4 categories based on admission and discharge
ACE
i/
ARB
use: continued (reference group), started, discontinued, or not started on therapy. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine the association between
ACE
i/
ARB
category and outcomes. Most, 90.5%, were discharged on
ACE
i/
ARB
(59.6% continued and 30.9% newly started). Of those discharged without
ACE
i/
ARB
, 1.9% were discontinued, and 7.5% were eligible but not started. Thirty‐day mortality was 3.5% for patients continued and 4.1% for patients started on
ACE
i/
ARB
. In contrast, 30‐day mortality was 8.8% for patients discontinued (adjusted hazard ratio [
HR
adj
] 1.92; 95%
CI
1.32‐2.81;
P
<0.001) and 7.5% for patients not started (
HR
adj
1.50; 95%
CI
1.12‐2.00;
P
=0.006). The 30‐day readmission rate was lowest among patients continued or started on therapy. One‐year mortality was 28.2% for patients continued and 29.7% for patients started on
ACE
i/
ARB
compared to 41.6% for patients discontinued (
HR
adj
1.35; 95%
CI
1.13‐1.61;
P
<0.001) and 41.7% (
HR
adj
1.28; 95%
CI
1.14‐1.43;
P
<0.001) for patients not started on therapy.

Conclusions

Compared with continuation, withdrawal of
ACE
i/
ARB
during heart failure hospitalization is associated with higher rates of postdischarge mortality and readmission, even after adjustment for severity of illness.
A Concise Taxonomy for Describing Data as an Art Material
Authors: Freeman Julie , Wiggins Geraint , Starks Gavin , Sandler Mark
Published: February 2017

How can we describe data when used as an art material? As the number of artists using data in their work increases, so too must our ability to describe the material in a way that is understood by both specialist and general audiences alike. Based on a review of existing vocabularies, glossaries and taxonomies of data, we propose our own concise taxonomy. To conclude, we propose the adoption of this concise taxonomy by artists, critics and curators, and suggest that ongoing refinement of the taxonomy takes place through crowdsourced knowledge sharing on the Web.
Distribution of haploniscids (Isopoda, Asellota, Haploniscidae) in Icelandic waters, with description of Haploniscus astraphes n. sp. from the Iceland basin and the Southeast Atlantic Ocean
Authors: BRÖKELAND WIEBKE , SVAVARSSON JÖRUNDUR
Published: February 2017

Ten species of Haploniscidae Hansen, 1916 were sampled in Icelandic waters during expeditions in the framework of the BIOICE project. Nine of these were known from the North Atlantic Ocean, i.e. Haploniscus aduncus Lincoln, 1985, H. ampliatus Lincoln, 1985, Haploniscus angustus Lincoln, 1985, H. bicuspis (Sars, 1877), H. foresti Chardy, 1974, H. hamatus Lincoln, 1985, H. spinifer Hansen, 1916, Antennuloniscus simplex Lincoln, 1985 and Chauliodoniscus armadilloides (Hansen, 1916). All but H. bicuspis and H. angustus were restricted to the Atlantic Ocean south of the Greenland-Iceland-Faeroe Ridge (GIF Ridge), while H. bicuspis occurred at considerable depth ranges both north and south of the GIF Ridge. A new species, Haploniscus astraphes n. sp., is described based on material from the Denmark Strait, North Atlantic and the Guinea Basin, South Atlantic. H. astraphes n. sp. belongs to a group of Haploniscus species closely related to the genus Antennuloniscus and shares several characters with species from that genus, especially the spine row on pleopod 1, the stout sensory seta on the carpus of pereopod 7 and characters of the antennae. H. astraphes n. sp. is characterized by a rectangular body shape, the straight frontal margin of the head and the strongly convex posterior margin of the pleotelson.
Description of a new species of Euptychiina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) from South America
Authors: ZACCA THAMARA , CASAGRANDE MIRNA M , MIELKE OLAF H H , HUERTAS BLANCA , NEILD ANDREW F E , BENMESBAH MOHAMED
Published: February 2017

A new species of Magneuptychia Forster, 1964 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae), Magneuptychia andrei Zacca, Casagrande & Mielke sp. n., is described and illustrated from Venezuela, French Guiana, Trinidad and Tobago and northern Brazil. A comparative diagnosis between the new species and Magneuptychia ocypete (Fabricius, 1776), M. fugitiva Lamas, [1997] and Cissia terrestris (Butler, 1867) is also provided due the similarities in wing pattern.
A new species of Euricrium Enderlein from southern Brazil, new records for E. varians (Lane), a new combination, and a key for the Neotropical species of the genus
Authors: AMORIM DALTON DE SOUZA , SCHÜHLI GUILHERME SCHNELL E
Published: February 2017

A new species of the genus Euricrium is described—Euricrium edwardsi sp. n.—from the State of Paraná, southern Brazil. Additional material of E. varians is identified and illustrated, expanding the known distribution of the species. E. unimacula (Lane), n.com. is redescribed based on the female holotype and illustrated, and formally transferred to Euricrium. A key for the Neotropical species of Euricrium is presented and comments are made on the known diversity of the genus.
Two new species in the genus Phoxokalliapseudes Drumm & Heard, 2011 (Crustacea: Tanaidacea: Kalliapseudidae) from the southwestern and southern coasts of Korea
Authors: WI JIN HEE , KANG CHANG-KEUN , SOH HO YOUNG
Published: February 2017

Two new species of Phoxokalliapseudes from the southwestern and southern coasts of Korea are described. Phoxokalliapseudes aculeatus n. sp. is distinguished by the two robust spiniform setae on the ventral margin of the cheliped basis, pereonites 2–6 each with a hyposphaenium and small spinules, and the setiferous lobe on the mandibles with different numbers of serrated spiniform setae in the female and male (five and six, respectively). Phoxokalliapseudes cinctus n. sp. can be distinguished by the propodus of the male cheliped with the largest length to width ratio (2.5: 1) of the genus, and the fixed finger with small denticles on the cutting edge and near the insertion of the dactylus. The female has the largest dactylus to propodus length ratio of pereopod 6 in the genus. Only four species of Phoxokalliapseudes have been described or redescribed previously, of which some exhibit morphological differences with the type specimens, possibly indicating additional new species. To minimize identification difficulties caused by morphometric variations in developmental stages, the morphological characteristics of the new species are described in detail for a fixed size range and compared to different-sized individuals. Additionally, a comprehensive comparison of the new Phoxokalliapseudes species with the other known species is provided and discussed.
Synonymy and problematic species of Eiconaxius Spence Bate, 1888, with descriptions of new species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Axiidea: Axiidae)
Authors: POORE GARY C. B.
Published: February 2017

The genus Eiconaxius Spence Bate, 1888, is rediagnosed. Eiconaxiopsididae Sakai, 2011 and its type genus,                         Eiconaxiopsis Sakai, 2011 are shown to be based largely on an error—the dactylus of pereopod 3 of the type species, Eiconaxiopsis heinrichi Sakai, 2011 is not as was originally illustrated but similar to all other species of Eiconaxius. The synonymies of Eiconaxiopsis with Eiconaxius and Eiconaxiopsididae with Axiidae are confirmed. Eiconaxius faxoni Sakai, 2011 is made an objective junior synonym of Eiconaxius albatrossae Kensley, 1996 (both share the same types). Eiconaxius malaku sp. nov. is erected to replace Eiconaxius indonesicus Sakai, 2011 (nomen nudum). Eiconaxius parvus Spence Bate, 1888 is redescribed based on numerous specimens from Fiji, and Wallis and Futuna. Eiconaxius vaubani sp. nov., which differs from all other species of the genus in the shape of the rostrum and proportions of pereopod 4, is described.
Four new species, taxonomic, and nomenclatural notes in Hammatoderus Gemminger & Harold, 1873 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae)
Authors: BOTERO JUAN PABLO , SANTOS-SILVA ANTONIO
Published: February 2017

Plagiohammus Dillon & Dillon, 1941 is considered a junior synonym of Hammatoderus Gemminger & Harold, 1873. Four new species are described: Hammatoderus juliae, from Colombia; H. migueli and H. antonkozlovi, from Ecuador; and H. lingafelteri, from Mexico. Hammoderus spinipennis Thomson, 1860, and Hammoderus quadriplagiatus Breuning, 1943 are placed as junior synonyms of Hammoderus thoracicus White, 1858 (= Hammatoderus thoracicus). Consequently, Hammatoderus jacobyi Nonfried, 1894, synonym of H. spinipennis, is also a junior synonym of H. thoracicus. The synonymy between Hammoderus strandi Breuning, 1943 and Plagiohammus olivescens Dillon & Dillon, 1941 is formally established. Plagiohammus mexicanus Breuning, 1950 is provisionally transferred to Monochamus Dejean, 1821, and the type locality is questioned. Eight types are figured for the first time: Plagiohammus strandi; Plagiohammus mexicanus; Plagiohammus confusor Dillon & Dillon, 1941; Hammoderus spinipennis; Hammoderus quadriplagiatus; Hammoderus inermis (Thomson, 1857); Hammoderus sallei (Thomson, 1860); Hammoderus lacordairei (Thomson, 1860).
A new species of Manoa Fittkau (Diptera: Chironomidae), with DNA barcodes from Xianju National Park, Oriental China
Authors: QI XIN , WANG XIN-HUA , ANDERSEN TROND , LIN XIAO-LONG
Published: February 2017

The genus Manoa and the tribe Pseudochironomini are recorded from the Oriental region for the first time. Manoa xianjuensis Qi & Lin sp. n. from Xianju National Park, Zhejiang, China is described and illustrated as adult male and female, the latter associated with the male by standard DNA barcodes. A neighbor joining tree based on available Pseudochironomini DNA barcodes and keys to the adults in Manoa are given.
New species of Mutillid Mimicking Enoclerus Gahan (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae) from Mexico and Central America
Authors: RIFKIND JACQUES
Published: February 2017

Six new species of Enoclerus are described: E. delusus n. sp. from Costa Rica and Panamá, E. incanus n. sp. from México, E. zip n. sp. from México and El Salvador, E. reductesignatus n. sp. from Panamá, and E. citrinifrons n. sp. and E. philogenes n. sp. from Costa Rica. The new species are hypothesized to participate in a Batesian mimicry complex with boldly marked diurnal mutillid wasps as their model. Enoclerus crabronarius var. deletus Wolcott is elevated to species rank as E. deletus Wolcott new status. The identity of E. crabronarius is discussed.
Tests of conspecificity for closely related black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) species of the Simulium striatum group in Thailand
Authors: PANGJANDA SIRINAPA , PRAMUAL PAIROT
Published: February 2017

Four black fly species of the Simulium striatum species group have been recorded in Thailand. These species are morphologically highly similar in all developmental stages except for the number and arrangement of the pupal gill filaments. In this study, we used multiple characters sources, including morphology, cytology, molecular biology and ecology, to test the hypothesis of conspecificity for S. quinquestriatum (Shiraki), S. nakhonense Takaoka & Suzuki and S. chiangmaiense Takaoka & Suzuki. A molecular study based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) was unable to separate these taxa. In contrast, the elongation complex protein 1 (ECP1) sequences clearly differentiate S. quinquestriatum from S. chiangmaiense and S. nakhonense. However, the latter two taxa could not be differentiated based on molecular DNA sequences. Simulium chiangmaiense and S. nakhonense are also similar in the larval habitat characteristics and have undifferentiated polytene chromosome banding patterns. Morphological examination of the number and arrangement of the pupal gill filaments found a number of intermediate forms. Therefore, S. chiangmaiense and S. nakhonense are apparently the same biological species that is polymorphic for the number and arrangement of gill filaments. Thus, we synonymized S. chiangmaiense with S. nakhonense.
Review of two genera of Nirvanini leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Evacanthinae) from Africa
Authors: WANG YANG , DIETRICH CHRISTOPHER H. , ZHANG YALIN
Published: February 2017

Two Nirvanini genera, Afronirvana Evans and Afrokana Heller, including two new species, Afronirvana leptoclada sp. nov. and Afrokana transmaculata, sp. nov. from Africa are described. One new combination, Afronirvana africana (Heller) n. comb., is proposed. The female genitalia of these two genera are described and illustrated for the first time. Afronirvana and Afrokana are similar to the Oriental Kana Distant (= Yaoundea Linnavuori, syn. nov. with K. semela (Linnavuori), n. comb.) in having the aedeagus straight through most of its length but with a posteroventrally curved distal section that is strongly appressed to the shaft. Descriptions, illustrations and a key to species of Afronirvana and Afrokana are provided.
Two new species of Bradynobaenus Spinola, 1851 (Hymenoptera: Bradynobaenidae) in the semiarid area of Argentina
Authors: TORRÉNS JAVIER , FIDALGO PATRICIO
Published: February 2017

Bradynobaenus diminutus Torréns & Fidalgo, sp. nov. and B. porteri Torréns & Fidalgo, sp. nov. (Argentina: La Rioja) are described and illustrated. A revised key of the genus is provided.
Revision of Chimarrogale (Lipotyphla: Soricidae) from Vietnam with comments on taxonomy and biogeography of Asiatic water shrews
Authors: ABRAMOV ALEXEI V. , BANNIKOVA ANNA A. , LEBEDEV VLADIMIR S. , ROZHNOV VIATCHESLAV V.
Published: February 2017

We analyzed the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene and fragments of four nuclear loci: ApoB, RAG2, IRBP1 and BRCA1. These data allowed us to provide new insights into the diversity of the Asiatic water shrews of Indochina. A new, highly divergent genetic lineage of Chimarrogale was found in southern Vietnam, and this lineage included specimens from the provinces of Kon Tum, Dak Lak, and Lam Dong. Such finding represents the newest and southernmost records of Chimarrogale in Indochina. Morphological analysis classified the specimens from southern Vietnam as C. varennei proper, which is restricted to that region, whereas the polymorphic C. himalayica, which contained at least four cytochrome b haplogroups, occurred in central and northern Vietnam and southern China. This distinct C. varennei lineage closely related to the C. platycephalus + C. leander clade suggests the existence of an unknown glacial refuge in Tay Nguyen Plateau, southern Vietnam. Because the Bornean C. phaeura (i) was sister-group of the rest of Chimarrogale sensu lato and (ii) had a high genetic divergence (~15% for cytochrome b) and geographical isolation, we suggest that C. phaeura be placed into a separate genus, Crossogale Thomas, 1921. This genus should also include C. sumatrana (Sumatra) and C. hantu (Peninsular Malaysia). On those grounds, we propose a new classification system for Asiatic water shrews.
A new species of seagrass-boring Limnoria (Limnoriidae, Isopoda, Crustacea) from Japan
Authors: YOSHINO HIROKI , WATABE HIKARI , OHSAWA TAKESHI A.
Published: February 2017

The marine seagrass-boring isopod, Limnoria rhombipunctata sp. nov. (Limnoriidae) is described from the rhizome of Phyllospadix iwatensis seagrass, in shallow coastal waters off Chiba Prefecture, Japan. L. rhombipunctata sp. nov. is distinguished from other Limnoria species by the unique carinae of pleonite 5 and pleotelson, two branched lacinia mobilis of the right mandible, 3 flagellar articles of antenna 1, and triangular epipod of the maxilliped. Specimens of L. magadanensis, a species similar to L. rhombipunctata sp. nov., are re-examined and compared with L. rhombipunctata sp. nov.
Fundamental Causes of Propagating and Nonpropagating MJOs in MJOTF/GASS Models
Authors: Wang Lu , Li Tim , Maloney Eric , Wang Bin
Published: February 2017

This study investigates the fundamental causes of differences in the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) eastward propagation among models that participated in a recent model intercomparison project. These models are categorized into good and poor groups characterized by prominent eastward propagation and nonpropagation, respectively. Column-integrated moist static energy (MSE) budgets are diagnosed for the good and the poor models. It is found that a zonal asymmetry in the MSE tendency, characteristic of eastward MJO propagation, occurs in the good group, whereas such an asymmetry does not exist in the poor group. The difference arises mainly from anomalous vertical and horizontal MSE advection. The former is attributed to the zonal asymmetry of upper-midtropospheric vertical velocity anomalies acting on background MSE vertical gradient; the latter is mainly attributed to the asymmetric zonal distribution of low-tropospheric meridional wind anomalies advecting background MSE and moisture fields. Based on the diagnosis above, a new mechanism for MJO eastward propagation that emphasizes the second-baroclinic-mode vertical velocity is proposed. A set of atmospheric general circulation model experiments with prescribed diabatic heating profiles was conducted to investigate the causes of different anomalous circulations between the good and the poor models. The numerical experiments reveal that the presence of a stratiform heating at the rear of MJO convection is responsible for the zonal asymmetry of vertical velocity anomaly and is important to strengthening lower-tropospheric poleward flows to the east of MJO convection. Thus, a key to improving the poor models is to correctly reproduce the stratiform heating. The roles of Rossby and Kelvin wave components in MJO propagation are particularly discussed.
Influences of Large-Scale Flow Variations on the Track Evolution of Typhoons Morakot (2009) and Megi (2010): Simulations with a Global Variable-Resolution Model
Authors: Huang Ching-Yuang , Zhang You , Skamarock William C. , Hsu Li-Huan
Published: February 2017

Influences of large-scale flow variations on the track evolution of two typhoons, moderate Morakot (2009) and superintense Megi (2010), are investigated using the global variable-resolution model MPAS with a higher-resolution region of 15 km for the simulated typhoons. For Morakot, the associated track and extreme rainfall over southern Taiwan captured by MPAS compared well with the regional WRF simulations. To isolate the influences of various large-scale flows, three modes are filtered out from global reanalysis: the synoptic-scale mode, quasi-biweekly oscillation (QBW) mode, and the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) mode. In the absence of QBW or MJO, the simulated Morakot moves westward across Taiwan without the observed north turn after landfall. When the intensity of the MJO mode is increased by 50% in the experiment (MJO+50%), a much earlier northward turn is induced. The simulated Morakot under the observed MJO lies in between MJO+50% and MJO−50% results. The MJO variations also show similar impacts on the track evolution of Typhoon Megi.

The wavenumber-1 decompositions of vorticity budget terms are shown to highlight important contributions to the vorticity tendency and typhoon translation with and without the MJO. The northward turn of both typhoons in the presence of the MJO is mainly in response to positive horizontal vorticity advection to the north of the typhoon center. However, vorticity tilting is relatively more important for Morakot due to its slantwise structure. Furthermore, positive vorticity stretching and vertical advection are significant in the vicinity of southern Taiwan due to the effects of the Central Mountain Range and tend to retard the departing Morakot.
The Hybrid Transoral-Pharyngotomy Approach to Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: Technique and Outcome
Authors: Sinha Parul , Pipkorn Patrik , Zenga Joseph , Haughey Bruce H.
Published: February 2017

Background:

The indications, techniques, and outcomes for a minimally invasive surgical approach in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) unsuitable for transoral resection are not well-described.

Methods:

A retrospective case series was performed using a prospectively assembled database of transoral surgery–treated OPSCC patients who also underwent a “hybrid” approach of combined transoral and limited pharyngotomy for tumor resection. Disease and functional outcomes were evaluated.

Results:

Twenty patients underwent complete tumor resection using the hybrid approach. Median follow-up was 48 months. No postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistula occurred. One patient (5%) had a local recurrence. Kaplan-Meier estimates for disease-specific survival at 2 and 5 years were 94.4% (95% CI, 84%-100%) and 87% (95% CI, 70%-100%). All but 1 patient (due to chemoradiotherapy-related chondroradionecrosis) were decannulated, and 2 required long-term gastrostomy.

Conclusion:

In the absence of a favorable transoral access, the “hybrid” approach of combined transoral and limited pharyngotomy can accomplish margin-negative primary tumor resection, with a high degree of disease control and functional recovery in selected OPSCC patients.
Clearing the fog for an overall view on state-owned enterprises: quality of aggregate holdings reporting by public administrations in 12 countries
Authors: Papenfuß Ulf , Steinhauer Lars , Friedländer Benjamin
Published: February 2017

In the context of current debates on sustainable public service provision, austerity, debts and cutback management, the governance and management of and in state-owned enterprises is a crucial issue. An aggregate holdings report is an important tool for public administrations to provide accountability and the necessary overall view on the institutional service provision structures of core administration and state-owned enterprises. On the basis of a developed quality index with 175 test criteria, this study analyses the diffusion of aggregate holdings reports in 17 countries and the quality of 12 existing reports at the national level. First, the study provides a conceptual contribution for assessing aggregate holdings reports and future research on the issues of the model categories. Second, for an empirical contribution, the analysis enhances our state of knowledge on aggregate holdings report diffusion and quality patterns. Findings show that, in many cases, public administrations do not meet the requirements from theory and practice. Newer Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and European Union members reach comparably higher quality scores. This comparative study offers new insights that can enhance the sustainable public management and control of state-owned enterprises.

Points for practitioners

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s OECD Guidelines on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises, which were published after an intensive consultation process in 2005 and revised in 2015, demand public authorities to develop aggregate holdings reports that cover all SOEs, and make them a key disclosure tool directed to the general public and politicians. This study develops a quality model for assessing the quality of aggregate holdings reports. The model can also answer questions that are often raised in reform debates, such as ‘Which is the best aggregate holdings report?’ or ‘Which aggregate holdings report can I use as a reference to further develop my own aggregate holdings report?’. The model is a conceptual contribution and the empirical results can be used for international bench-learning. They are also useful for international organisations such as the European Union, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accounting and development aid/cooperation agencies in each country. The results of this study indicate that policymakers at the national and international levels should give more emphasis to the diffusion and quality of aggregate holdings reports and should reflect on establishing and revising legal obligations for aggregate holdings reports because the recommendations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines, as a soft-law approach, are often not put into practice.
An Update of Judicial Rulings Specific to FBAs or BIPs Under the IDEA and Corollary State Laws
Authors: Zirkel Perry A.
Published: February 2017

Exemplifying the insufficient treatment of legal issues in refereed journals in special education and related fields, the limited legal coverage of functional behavioral assessments (FBAs) and behavior intervention plans (BIPs) tends to view the applicable case law through normative lenses. This skewed view characterizes the case law as requiring FBAs and BIPs rather broadly in terms of entitlement and rather rigorously in terms of appropriateness. In stark contrast, this systematic analysis of 91 recent judicial rulings concerning FBAs and BIPs reveals that, aligned with the trajectory of previous court decisions, the outcomes favor the defendant districts on almost a 7:1 ratio and that the pronounced prodistrict trend applies to entitlement as well as appropriateness. Special education professionals need careful differentiation of legal requirements from professional norms to make informed choices about FBAs and BIPs that balance the individual interests and the competing priorities within limited resources of school districts.
Road Traffic Problems in Devon
Authors: Greenwood R. B.
Published: February 2017

Lt.-Col. Greenwood's survey and assessment of Devon's road traffic problems is of the utmost interest to all police officers, in their double capacity as public guardian and private motorist.
The Promotion Exams
Authors: Devlin J. Daniel
Published: February 2017

The eighth of a series of articles of interest to examination candidates and all concerned with training.
Voluntary Attentional Orienting in Schoolchildren
Authors: Commodari Elena
Published: February 2017

Voluntary attentional orienting is the foundation of the capacity to highlight relevant stimuli and suppress competing distractions. It plays a role in the scholastic skills. This study investigated the changes in the orienting skills in 630 schoolchildren (age range: 5.7–10.2 years old), who attended the first ( N = 205, M = 6.1, SD = 0.4), third (212 children, M = 8.2, SD = 0.6), and fifth grade (213 children, M = 10, SD = 0.4) of four primary schools in Italy. Simple attentional orienting, choice attentional orienting on written stimuli, double attentional orienting (auditory and visual), and re-orienting were investigated. The tasks required pressing a key in response to some target stimuli. The stimuli were digits, images of objects, written words, letters, geometric forms, and auditory verbal stimuli. Results showed that attentional orienting improved with age. The children's performances depended on the type of stimuli and activities required for the task. The accuracy of re-orienting with written verbal stimuli did not improve during primary school. With increasing age, children became faster but not more able to focus on written verbal stimuli when shifting of attention was required.
Behavior Patterns, Performance Expectations, Gender, and Task Focus: A Replication and Extension
Authors: Webster Murray , Walker Lisa Slattery
Published: February 2017

Previous work by Webster and Rashotte (2010) experimentally tested a theory of behavior and performance expectations, and female and male participants acted quite differently in the experiment. Theories of status processes predict no differences in how women and men use status information. We replicated two conditions and added two more conditions to assess a plausible cause of gender effects here. New results do not show a gender difference. We also find that: (1) theoretical predictions are confirmed more strongly in the replication than in the first experiment, (2) extraneous processes that may have affected the earlier experiment did not appear in the replication, (3) steps to enhance task focus did not improve the data and so are not needed in this experimental design, and (4) results are robust across participant pools, experimenters, computer equipment, and eight years of historical and cohort differences.
Impact of News on Indian Stock Market: A Periodic Study with Asymmetric Conditional Volatility Models
Authors: Amit  , Bammi Ruchika
Published: February 2017

The article analyzes the leverage effect for Indian stock market. The effect of good and bad news on volatility during the period of growth, recession and the post-recession period is investigated taking American recession of 2008–2009 as the benchmark. Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) 30 index was used as the proxy for Indian stock market. Using suitable asymmetric generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) models based on information criterions to study the asymmetry for the period and sub-periods, it was found that Indian stock market reacts differently to positive and negative news confirming leverage effect in all periods considered. However, the leverage effect was seen prominent during the period of gloom than other periods shown by the news impact curve.