bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inflammatory Cytokine Pattern Is Sex-Dependent in Mouse Cutaneous Melanoma Experimental Model
Authors: Surcel Mihaela , Constantin Carolina , Caruntu Constantin , Zurac Sabina , Neagu Monica
Published: November 2017

We present the evaluation of inflammatory cytokines in mouse cutaneous melanoma experimental model, as markers of disease evolution. Moreover, to test our experimental model, we have used low doses of dacarbazine (DTIC). C57 BL/6J mouse of both sexes were subjected to experimental cutaneous melanoma and treated with low doses of DTIC. Clinical parameters and serum cytokines were followed during tumor evolution and during DTIC therapy. Cytokine/chemokine pattern was assessed using xMAP technology and the following molecules were quantified: interleukins (IL)-1-beta, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), interferon (IFN)-gamma, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), and keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC). Significant differences were found between normal females and males mice, female mice having a statistically higher serum concentration of IL-1-beta compared to male mice, while males have a significantly higher concentration of MIP-1-alpha. During melanoma evolution in the female group, IL-1-beta, MIP-1-alpha, and KC circulatory levels were found 10-fold increased, while other cytokines doubled their values. In the male mice group, only circulatory KC increased 4 times, while IL-1-beta and TNF-alpha doubled their circulatory values. Various serum cytokines correlated with the disease evolution in cutaneous melanoma mouse model.
Seroprevalence against Rickettsia and Borrelia Species in Patients with Uveitis: A Prospective Survey
Authors: Madsen Kim B. , Wallménius Katarina , Fridman Åke , Påhlson Carl , Nilsson Kenneth
Published: November 2017

Vector-borne diseases such as Lyme borreliosis and rickettsioses have been associated with ocular inflammation. Our aim was to study patients with diagnosed uveitis to evaluate serological signs of infection or exposure to these tick-borne agents. Forty-eight patients were prospectively examined with serology together with medical records and a questionnaire concerning previous exposure, diseases, and treatments. Seven patients (14.6%) showed seroconversion to Rickettsia spp. between acute and convalescent phase sera, which provides support for a positive Rickettsia diagnosis according to guidelines. The specificity was confirmed by Western blot. Additional 28 patients had stationary titres of which eight (16.6%) had 1 : 256 or higher titre in the first serum, and another 13 patients were seronegative. No epidemiological risk factor or marker could be identified. For Borrelia, only three patients showed moderate IgG titres. A control group of 100 blood donors, 60 patients with rheumatic disease, and 56 patients seeking medical care were tested of which 2.0–7.1% showed low anti-Rickettsia titres and 3.0–8.3% anti-Borrelia titres. The findings are indicative for an association between infection or exposure to Rickettsia spp. and uveitis with a seropositivity among patients with recurrent uveitis in concordance with the spread of rickettsial exposure in a tick-exposed population.
Successful Outcome and Biliary Drainage in an Infant with Concurrent Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency and Biliary Atresia
Authors: Wang Andrew W. , Newton Kimberly , Kling Karen
Published: November 2017

We describe the rare instance of concomitant biliary atresia and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency and the first documented successful portoenterostomy in this scenario. The potential for dual pathology must be recognized and underscores that prompt diagnosis of biliary atresia, despite concomitant alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, is essential to afford potential longstanding native liver function.
Levonorgestrel-Releasing Intrauterine Device-Related Acute Liver Injury
Authors: Cheema Hira Imad , Gupta Ashutosh
Published: November 2017

Oral contraceptives have long been associated with liver injury. However, very little attention is paid to the metabolic side effects of hormone-releasing intrauterine devices (IUDs). These devices are generally considered safe and commonly used. We report for the first time acute liver injury associated with a levonorgestrel-releasing IUD. Our patient did not have any comorbidities that could have caused or exacerbated liver injury. A detailed workup and liver biopsy remained negative for any other potential cause of liver injury. The patient’s symptoms resolved with removal of the device. She remained symptom free on subsequent outpatient follow-ups.
Mitochondrial Complex I Deficiency in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder and Medication Influence
Authors: Rollins Brandi L. , Morgan Ling , Hjelm Brooke E. , Sequeira Adolfo , Schatzberg Alan F. , Barchas Jack D. , Lee Francis S. , Myers Rick M. , Watson Stanley J. , Akil Huda , Potkin Steven G. , Bunney William E. , Vawter Marquis P.
Published: November 2017

Subjects with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) show decreased protein and transcript levels for mitochondrial complex I. In vitro results suggest antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs may be responsible. We measured complex I activity in BD, SZ, and controls and presence of antipsychotic and antidepressant medications, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, and the mtDNA “common deletion” in the brain. Complex I activity in the prefrontal cortex was decreased by 45% in SZ compared to controls (p = 0.02), while no significant difference was found in BD. Complex I activity was significantly decreased (p = 0.01) in pooled cases (SZ and BD) that had detectable psychotropic medications and drugs compared to pooled cases with no detectable levels. Subjects with age at onset in their teens and psychotropic medications showed decreased (p < 0.05) complex I activity compared to subjects with an adult age at onset. Both SZ and BD groups displayed significant increases (p < 0.05) in mtDNA copy number compared to controls; however, common deletion burden was not altered. Complex I deficiency is found in SZ brain tissue, and psychotropic medications may play a role in mitochondrial dysfunction. Studies of medication-free first-episode psychosis patients are needed to elucidate whether mitochondrial pathophysiology occurs independent of medication effects.
Coding of Tissue and Cell Preparations Using Eurocode
Authors: Knels Ralf , Stüpmann Kirstin , Pruß Axel , Klerke Jan , Kardoeus Joachim , Hiller Jens
Published: November 2017

Traceability of products requires their unique identification. In Germany blood products have been encoded by Eurocode since 1998. EU Directives 2004/23/EC, 2006/86/EC and 2015/565/EC demanded unique identification and safe traceability procedure also for tissues and cells. Eurocode IBLS e.V. and the German Society of Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology (DGTI) working parties ‘Tissue Preparations' and ‘Automation and Data Processing' supplemented the already available Eurocode nomenclature for blood products with further data structures for tissue preparations. Based on an agreement with the European Commission, Eurocode Product Codes can be used as ‘product number' within the Single European Code (SEC). Several data elements of Eurocode can be used to create the complete SEC data structure, except the tissue establishment number. This can be found on the EU Coding Platform in the internet. Consequently, existing software and labeling solutions in Eurocode format could be easily upgraded with SEC.
Difficult Renal Pathological Classification in a Case of Pediatric Nephrotic Syndrome
Authors: Yamaguchi Hiroshi , Shiratori Atsutoshi , Nakagawa Taku , Kanda Kyoko , Hara Shigeo , Yoshikawa Norishige , Tanaka Ryojiro
Published: November 2017

The underlying histopathology is very important in determining patient management, as the histopathology usually has direct repercussions on the treatment response and clinical course. However, the impact of the method used to assess renal biopsies, i.e., light microscopy (LM), immunofluorescence (IF), and electron microscopy (EM), on the occurrence of a difficult biopsy classification in the native kidneys of pediatric nephrotic patients is unknown. A 12-month-old Japanese boy was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome (NS); he was administered prednisolone (60 mg/m2/day), and a continuous albumin infusion was started. A renal biopsy using LM revealed minimal change. However, an IF study showed granular staining for immunoglobulin G along the glomerular basement membrane. Therefore, he was diagnosed with membranous nephropathy (MN). As his proteinuria was so severe, we started immunosuppressant therapy and continued the albumin infusion for more than 2 months. However, he did not attain complete remission. A month later, EM examination of his renal biopsy showed extensive foot process fusion without electron-dense deposits. Although the result of the IF study suggested MN, the results of the LM and EM studies indicated minimal change. We finally diagnosed the patient with minimal change NS, in consideration of his clinical condition and course. Because of the failure of previous treatments, pulse steroid therapy was started. After five rounds of therapy the patient attained complete remission. A difficult renal biopsy finding classification, dependent on the diagnostic method used, might occur in the native kidneys of pediatric nephrotic patients. Therefore, a diagnosis should be made after considering all renal biopsy findings and the clinical course.
Short-Term Outcomes of Extended Pancreatectomy: A Single-Surgeon Experience
Authors: Low Tze-Yi , Koh Ye-Xin , Teo Jin-Yao , Goh Brian K.P.
Published: November 2017

Background/Aims: The International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery recently published a consensus statement on the definition of extended pancreatectomy (EP). We aimed to determine the safety profile and short-term outcomes of EP compared to standard pancreatectomy (SP). To mitigate surgeon bias, only pancreatectomies performed by a single surgeon were included. Methods: Ninety consecutive patients who underwent pancreatectomy by a single surgeon over a period of 5 years and who met our study criteria were classified into an SP or an EP group. Sixty-two patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), including total pancreatectomy, and 28 patients underwent distal pancreatectomy. Results: The 25 patients who underwent EP had significantly increased operation time, estimated blood loss, postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) transfer, and postoperative stay compared to the 65 patients who underwent SP. There was 1 (1.1%) 30-day mortality and 4 (4.4%) in-hospital mortalities. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were similar between both groups. Subgroup analysis of the patients who underwent PD demonstrated that the EP group (n = 22) had significantly increased operation time and postoperative ICU transfers. Conclusion: Although patients who underwent EP experienced significantly increased operative time, blood loss, and postoperative stay, they did not experience significantly higher postoperative morbidity or mortality compared to patients who underwent SP.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatment Prevents Post-Stroke Dysregulation of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases
Authors: Chelluboina Bharath , Nalamolu Koteswara Rao , Mendez Gustavo G. , Klopfenstein Jeffrey D. , Pinson David M , Wang David Z , Veeravalli Krishna Kumar
Published: November 2017

Background/Aims: Stem cell treatment is one of the potential treatment options for ischemic stroke. We recently demonstrated a protective effect of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUCB-MSCs) in a rat model of ischemic stroke. The treatment attenuated apoptosis and prevented DNA damage. A collection of published studies, including several from our laboratory, indicated the induction and detrimental role for several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in post-stroke brain injury. We hypothesized that the HUCB-MSCs treatment after focal cerebral ischemia prevents the dysregulation of MMPs and induces the expression of endogenous tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) to neutralize the elevated activity of MMPs. Methods: To test our hypothesis, we administered HUCB-MSCs (0.25 million cells/animal and 1 million cells/animal) intravenously via tail vein to male Sprague-Dawley rats that were subjected to a transient (two-hour) right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and one-day reperfusion. Ischemic brain tissues obtained from various groups of rats seven days after reperfusion were subjected to real-time PCR, immunoblot, and immunofluorescence analysis. Results: HUCB-MSCs treatment prevented the induction of MMPs, which were upregulated in ischemia-induced rats that received no treatment. HUCB-MSCs treatment also prevented the induction of TIMPs expression. The extent of prevention of MMPs and TIMPs induction by HUCB-MSCs treatment is similar at both the doses tested. Conclusion: Prevention of stroke-induced MMPs upregulation after HUCB-MSCs treatment is not mediated through TIMPs upregulation.
Isogambogenic Acid Inhibits the Growth of Glioma Through Activation of the AMPK-mTOR Pathway
Authors: Zhao Wenyang , Peng Fei , Shu Mengting , Liu Huailei , Hou Xu , Wang Xiaoxiong , Ye Junyi , Zhao Boxian , Wang Kaikai , Zhong Chen , Xue Linmeng , Gao Ming , Liu Yaohua , Zhao Shiguang
Published: November 2017

Background/Aims: Glioma is the most devastating cancer in the brain and has a poor prognosis in adults. Therefore, there is a critical need for novel therapeutic strategies for the management of glioma patients. Isogambogenic acid, an active compound extracted from the Chinese herb Garcinia hanburyi, induces autophagic cell death. Methods: Cell viability was detected with MTT assays. Cell proliferation was assessed using the colony formation assay. Morphological changes associated with autophagy and apoptosis were tested by TEM and Hoechst staining, respectively. The apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry. Western blot, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical analyses were used to detect protein expression. U87-derived xenografts were established for the examination of the effect of isogambogenic acid on glioma growth in vivo. Results: Isogambogenic acid induced autophagic death in U87 and U251 cells, and blocking late-stage autophagy markedly enhanced the antiproliferative activities of isogambogenic acid. Moreover, we observed the activation of AMPK-mTOR signalling in isogambogenic acid-treated glioma cells. Furthermore, the activation of AMPK or the inhibition of mTOR augmented isogambogenic acid-induced autophagy. Inhibition of autophagy attenuated apoptosis in isogambogenic acid-treated glioma cells. Finally, isogambogenic acid inhibited the growth of U87 glioma in vivo. Conclusion: Isogambogenic acid inhibits the growth of glioma via activation of the AMPK-mTOR signalling pathway, which may provide evidence for future clinical applications in glioma therapy.
Single-Incision Laparoscopic Splenectomy for an Unruptured Aneurysm of the Splenic Artery
Authors: Toyoda Yoshitaka , Igami Tsuyoshi , Ochiai Yosuke , Ebata Tomoki , Yokoyama Yukihiro , Sugawara Gen , Mizuno Takashi , Yamaguchi Junpei , Nagino Masato
Published: November 2017

Objective: We describe our experience of single-incision laparoscopic splenectomy (SILS) for an unruptured aneurysm of the splenic artery. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 73-year-old woman was diagnosed as having a splenic aneurysm which grew from 14 to 22 mm in diameter within 2 years. Due to a contrast agent allergy, transcatheter arterial embolization could not be performed; therefore, SILS was performed with a 4-cm Z-shaped incision. The operative time and intraoperative blood loss were 132 min and 27 mL, respectively. The patient was discharged 4 days after surgery. Conclusion: In selected cases, SILS is a suitable and safe procedure for an unruptured aneurysm of the splenic artery.
Factors associated with self-reported discrimination against men who have sex with men in Brazil
Authors: Magno Laio , Dourado Inês , Silva Luís Augusto V da , Brignol Sandra , Brito Ana Maria de , Guimarães Mark Drew Crosland , Benzaken Adele , Pinho Adriana de A , Kendall Carl , Kerr Ligia Regina Franco Sansigolo
Published: November 2017

OBJECTIVE: To estimate self-reported discrimination due to sexual orientation among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Brazil and to analyze associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 3,859 MSM recruited in 2008–2009 with respondent driven sampling. Data collection conducted in health centers in 10 Brazilian cities. A face-to-face questionnaire was used and rapid HIV and syphilis tests conducted. Aggregated data were weighted and adjusted odds ratio estimated to measure the association between selected factors and self-reported discrimination due to sexual orientation. RESULTS: The sample was predominantly young, eight plus years of schooling, pardo (brown), single, low-income, and identified themselves as gay or homosexual. The prevalence of self-reported discrimination due to sexual orientation was 27.7% (95%CI 26.2–29.1). Discrimination was independently associated with: age < 30 years, more years of schooling,community involvement and support, history of sexual and physical violence, suicidal thoughts, and unprotected receptive anal intercourse. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of self-reported discrimination among MSM in Brazil is high. These results challenge the assumptions that MSM-specific prevention and support programs are not required or that health professionals do not need special training to address MSM needs.
Depression and unemployment incidence rate evolution in Portugal, 1995–2013: General Practitioner Sentinel Network data
Authors: Rodrigues Ana Paula , Sousa-Uva Mafalda , Fonseca Rita , Marques Sara , Pina Nuno , Matias-Dias Carlos
Published: November 2017

OBJECTIVE: Quantify, for both genders, the correlation between the depression incidence rate and the unemployment rate in Portugal between 1995 and 2013. METHODS: An ecological study was developed to correlate the evolution of the depression incidence rates estimated by the General Practitioner Sentinel Network and the annual unemployment rates provided by the National Statistical Institute in official publications. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between the depression incidence rate and the unemployment rate in Portugal, which was significant only for males (R2 = 0.83, p = 0.04). For this gender, an increase of 37 new cases of depression per 100,000 inhabitants was estimated for each 1% increase in the unemployment rate between 1995 and 2013. CONCLUSIONS: Although the study design does not allow the establishment of a causal association between unemployment and depression, the results suggest that the evolution of unemployment in Portugal may have had a significant impact on the level of mental health of the Portuguese, especially among men.
Maternal education and age: inequalities in neonatal death
Authors: Fonseca Sandra Costa , Flores Patricia Viana Guimarães , Camargo Junior Kenneth Rochel , Pinheiro Rejane Sobrino , Coeli Claudia Medina
Published: November 2017

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the interaction between maternal age and education level in neonatal mortality, as well as investigate the temporal evolution of neonatal mortality in each stratum formed by the combination of these two risk factors. METHODS: A nonconcurrent cohort study, resulting from a probabilistic relationship between the Mortality Information System and the Live Birth Information System. To investigate the risk of neonatal death we performed a logistic regression, with an odds ratio estimate for the combined variable of maternal education and age, as well as the evaluation of additive and multiplicative interaction. The neonatal mortality rate time series, according to maternal education and age, was estimated by the Joinpoint Regression program. RESULTS: The neonatal mortality rate in the period was 8.09‰ and it was higher in newborns of mothers with low education levels: 12.7‰ (adolescent mothers) and 12.4‰ (mother 35 years old or older). Low level of education, without the age effect, increased the chance of neonatal death by 25% (OR = 1.25, 95%CI 1.14–1.36). The isolated effect of age on neonatal death was higher for adolescent mothers (OR = 1.39, 95%CI 1.33–1.46) than for mothers aged ≥ 35 years (OR = 1.16, 95%CI 1.09–1.23). In the time-trend analysis, no age group of women with low education levels presented a reduction in the neonatal mortality rate for the period, as opposed to women with intermediate or high levels of education, where the reduction was significant, around 4% annually. CONCLUSIONS: Two more vulnerable groups – adolescents with low levels of education and older women with low levels of education – were identified in relation to the risk of neonatal death and inequality in reducing the mortality rate.
Night work and BMI: is it related to on-shift napping?
Authors: Silva-Costa Aline , Griep Rosane Härter , Rotenberg Lúcia
Published: November 2017

On-shift napping can benefit night workers regarding sleep loss, synchronization of circadian rhythms, and alertness. However, few studies on napping can be found in the literature focused on possible health benefits. This cross-sectional study has investigated the role of on-shift napping on the association between night work and BMI in 409 night-shift nursing professionals. The number of working nights and the years of exposure to night work were significantly associated with increased BMI levels among non-nappers, but not among nappers. Results suggest a benefit of napping for weight gain, thus subsidizing occupational health policies on the regulation of on-shift napping among nursing workers.
On the occurrence of Black Baza Aviceda leuphotes Dumont, 1820 (Aves: Falconiformes: Accipitridae) in the Gupteswar forests of the Eastern Ghats, Odisha, India
Authors: Purohit Swetashree , Nair Manoj V. , Palita Sharat Kumar
Published: November 2017

The black baza Aviceda leuphotes Dumont, 1820 is a pigeon sized raptor disjunctly distributed in the Indian subcontinent mainly in Western Ghats and Eastern Himalayas. It is also known to migrate across the peninsula. Here the first confirmed sighting of the species from Odisha is reported from Gupteswar Forests, Koraput along with sighting records spanning across two months in the breeding season. Further surveys are needed for confirming the breeding of the species in the region.
A note on the distribution of two highly threatened butterflies in Sri Lanka (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Spindasis greeni and Rapala lankana), with a report on the range extension of S. greeni
Authors: Priyadarshana Tharaka Sudesh , Wijewardhane Ishara Harshajith , Karunarathna Mithila
Published: November 2017

The distribution records of Sri Lankan butterflies belonging to the families Lycaenidae is far from complete. The present paper reports recent sightings of two highly threatened lycaenids, Rapala lankana (Malabar Flash) and Spindasis greeni (Green’s Silverline) from Adam’s Peak (Samanala Nature Reserve), Sri Lanka. In addition, the new locality of S. greeni at Adam’s Peak, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka denotes a range extension for the species.
Recovery of Musk Deer Moschus chrysogaster Hodgson, 1839 (Artiodactyla: Moschidae) in Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhutan
Authors: Tobgay Sonam , Wangdi Thinley , Dorji Kumbu
Published: November 2017

Evidence from recent camera trap and biodiversity survey in Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhutan has revealed the presence of Musk Deer, which was thought to be locally extirpated before the establishment of the Sanctuary.  The finding suggests the importance of the protected area and the intensive species recovery initiatives implemented in the recent past.
Distribution and population of Himalayan Marmot Marmota himalayana (Hodgson, 1841) (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Leh-Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, India
Authors: Chaudhary Vipin , Tripathi R. S. , Singh Surjeet , Raghuvanshi M. S.
Published: November 2017

The Himalayan Marmot Marmota himalayana is one of the largest rodents of cold desert habitats, found mainly between 3,500–5,200 m above the timberline.  It is regarded as an ecosystem engineer and constitutes part of the diet of some globally endangered carnivores in the Trans-Himalayan region.  Being one of the least studied rodents, a survey was carried out in different habitats of Leh District along the altitude gradient to assess the status and distribution of Himalayan Marmots.  A total of 110 individuals of Himalayan Marmots were sighted in the surveyed stretches of Leh District with a maximum mean count of encounter of 2.71 in the Tangtse-Chushul sector.  The grasslands were the most preferred habitat (41.67% activity observed), whereas, cultivation area being frequently disturbed for agricultural operation were least preferred by the marmot.  Most of the population of marmot was found between 4,000–4,500 m altitude and the steep slopes (42.05%) where loose soil was available for excavation of burrows.
The Vulnerable Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis Swainson, 1838 (Aves: Charadriiformes: Laridae) breeding in Odisha, eastern India
Authors: Debata Subrat , Kar Tuhinansu , Swain Kedar Kumar , Palei Himanshu Shekhar
Published: November 2017

The Indian Skimmer is a globally threatened bird native to Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Vietnam.  In India, it is more confined to the north, from Punjab through Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh to West Bengal, extending up to Odisha.  Earlier, the bird was known to breed only in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, we confirm here the breeding of the Indian Skimmer along the river Mahanadi near Mundali, Odisha, eastern India.  So, further monitoring at the breeding site and survey along the entire Mahanadi River are essential to understand the status of the Indian skimmer in Odisha.  The information will also aid in reassessing its global status and formulating conservation plans.
New locality records of the Stout Sand Snake Psammophis longifrons Boulenger, 1890 (Reptilia: Squamata: Lamprophiidae) in Telangana, India
Authors: Visvanathan Avinash C , Anne Sandeep , Kolli Aditya Kesav
Published: November 2017

The Stout Sand Snake Psammophis longifrons Boulenger, 1890 is reported herein based on two live specimens, rescued from Boduppal & Hayathnagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, southern India.  This documentation is the first record from the state of Telangana.
A new record of grass Ottochloa (Poaceae) to the Eastern Ghats, India
Authors: Kumar Midigesi Anil , Anjaneyulu P. , Rao Ravi Prasad
Published: November 2017

Ottochloa Dandy (Poaceae), represented by Ottochloa nodosa collected from Maredumilli forests of East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, is being reported as a new distributional record to the state of Andhra Pradesh and the Eastern Ghats of India.
First record of the Asiatic Brush-tailed Porcupine Atherurus macrourus Linnaeus, 1758 (Mammalia: Rodentia: Hystricidae) from western Bhutan
Authors: Dhendup Tashi , Dorji Rinzin
Published: November 2017

The Asiatic Brush-tailed Porcupine, known to be one of the rarest porcupines in South Asia was first recorded in Bhutan at Royal Manas National Park in 2010.  This paper reports the occurrence of the species in western Bhutan in Gedu Territorial Forest Division and is the second record from the country.
An annotated checklist of microbes associated with bamboo in the Indian subcontinent
Authors: Remadevi O. K. , Sharada P. , Nagaveni H. C.
Published: November 2017

In India, the area occupied by bamboo is found to be around 1,003 hectares with about 23 genera and 128 species. The most common and economically important bamboo species are Bambusa bambos, B. nutans, B. tulda, B. vulgaris, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, D. strictus, Ochlandra travancorica and Melacona baccifera.  The present paper deals with the appraisal of the bamboo microbes in India encountered on different species of bamboo, along with their taxonomic status, the details of diseases/infection, and the location of reporting and the author.  Records of association of microbes/ pathogens on bamboo are scattered in a wide array of journals, books and dissertations. Hence, this comprehensive checklist of microbes associated with bamboo in India has been prepared.  This review documents the data of the known 432 microbes associated with bamboo belonging to 12 phyla and 46 orders.  The fungal associations have diverse habits- as saprobes, pathogens and also as symbionts. Pathogens belonging to the phylum Deuteromycota were the highest (39.35%), followed by 26.85% in Ascomycota and 20.83% in Basidiomycota.  Some of the phyla had pathogens causing various diseases. The highest record of the foliage disease incidence was 40.99% and 24.12% respectively by pathogenic ‘Ascomycota’ and ‘Deuteromycota’.  Among Basidiomycota, pathogens causing culm diseases were the highest (26.25%), 66.66% of pathogens belonging to Phylum Proteobacteria were responsible for causing infection of seeds. Among the viral diseases, foliage diseases were more (75%).  Myxomycetes were observed to cause the decay and deterioration of bamboo culms upto about 54.54%.  It was observed that fungal isolates belonging to the order Moniliales dominated in causing foliage diseases (22.75%), culm diseases (25.36%), and nursery diseases (45.1%) and also infection of seeds (77.94%).
Fandom and Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More: Audience Ethnography of Immersive Dance
Authors: Ritter Julia M.
Published: November 2017

Fan blogs devoted to Punchdrunk’s long-running immersive production of Sleep No More reveal the impact of dance and immersion on spectatorship. Positioned as participant observers within the SNM world — with its own rules, codes of behavior, values, social dynamics, and environments — fans channel their postperformance perceptions into visual ethnographies that include poetry, digital painting, illustration, collage, sculpture, and other forms of fan art.
Transmitting, Transforming, and Documenting Dance in the Digital Environment: What Dance Does Now that It Didn’t Do Before
Authors: Whatley Sarah
Published: November 2017

Dance artists and researchers have worked together and with digital media to produce tools, resources, and “choreographic objects” — experiments in how to document and transmit the processual, somatic, and multisensory properties of dance. These objects impact the artists, modes of analysis, and archival strategies in dance, and make a wider contribution to performing arts practice, theory, and education.
Caught by Caught
Authors: Schechner Richard
Published: November 2017

Christopher Chen’s Caught in the Play Company’s 2016 production at La MaMa provokes its spectators by denying them easy access to “truth,” either in the theatre or in the social life that theatre represents. By investigating the situation of dissident artists in today’s China, Caught engages questions about truth in and beyond art. In Caught very little turns out to be what it seems.
The Productive Powers of Labour and the Redundant Transformation to Prices of Production
Authors: Reuten Geert
Published: November 2017

The famous Marxian ‘transformation problem’ originated from a research manuscript written by Marx in 1864/65, from which Engels assembledCapitaliii(1894). Unequal capital compositions, equal rates of surplus-value and equal rates of profit among different sectors are posited, and reconciled using the problematic concept of ‘prices of production’. Yet the assumption of equal rates of surplus-value is at odds with the subsequent text ofCapitali(1867), where Marx presents various determinants of the rate of surplus-value, and connects productive powers of labour diverging between sectors with divergentvalue-generating potenciesof labour. Given the other determinants, diverging rates of surplus-value then result. Marx disregarded these productive power differentials when he originally formulated his transformation. In a reconstruction, building onCapitali, this omission is rectified. It makes prices of production and hence the dual account systems redundant. The transformation problem then evaporates.
Sensitivity Analysis of the WRF Model: Wind-Resource Assessment for Complex Terrain
Authors: Fernández-González Sergio , Martín María Luisa , García-Ortega Eduardo , Merino Andrés , Lorenzana Jesús , Sánchez José Luis , Valero Francisco , Rodrigo Javier Sanz
Published: November 2017

Wind energy requires accurate forecasts for adequate integration into the electric grid system. In addition, global atmospheric models are not able to simulate local winds in complex terrain, where wind farms are sometimes placed. For this reason, the use of mesoscale models is vital for estimating wind speed at wind turbine hub height. In this regard, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model allows a user to apply different initial and boundary conditions as well as physical parameterizations. In this research, a sensitivity analysis of several physical schemes and initial and boundary conditions was performed for the Alaiz mountain range in the northern Iberian Peninsula, where several wind farms are located. Model performance was evaluated under various atmospheric stabilities and wind speeds. For validation purposes, a mast with anemometers installed at 40, 78, 90, and 118 m above ground level was used. The results indicate that performance of the Global Forecast System analysis and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts interim reanalysis (ERA-Interim) as initial and boundary conditions was similar, although each performed better under certain meteorological conditions. With regard to physical schemes, there is no single combination of parameterizations that performs best during all weather conditions. Nevertheless, some combinations have been identified as inefficient, and therefore their use is discouraged. As a result, the validation of an ensemble prediction system composed of the best 12 deterministic simulations shows the most accurate results, obtaining relative errors in wind speed forecasts that are <15%.
A profile of social, separation and generalized anxiety disorders in an Australian nationally representative sample of children and adolescents: Prevalence, comorbidity and correlates
Authors: Spence Susan H , Zubrick Stephen R , Lawrence David
Published: November 2017

Objective:

To examine (1) the 12-month prevalence of social anxiety disorder (SOC), separation anxiety disorder (SEP) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in a large, nationally representative sample of Australian youth; (2) patterns of comorbidity between these disorders; (3) demographic and socio-environmental correlates and (4) the psychosocial impact and service use associated with each condition.

Method:

Data are from the 2013/2014 Australian national, face-to-face household Young Minds Matter survey of mental health and wellbeing. Informants were parents or carers reporting on 6310, 4- to 17-year-olds (55% of eligible households). The presence of each of the three anxiety disorders was determined based on the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children–Version IV.

Results:

In the past 12 months, 6.6% of youth had experienced at least one of SOC, SEP or GAD, with rates of 2.3% for SOC, 4.3% for SEP and 2.3% for GAD. Rates did not differ by gender but were significantly higher for SOC and GAD and lower for SEP in 12- to 17-year-olds than 4- to 11-year-olds. Comorbidity between these disorders was high, although lower for SEP. Having SOC, SEP or GAD was associated with not living with both biological parents, having a parent with a mental health problem, elevated negative family events, low carer employment and peer victimization. The association with family risk factors was greater for SEP than for SOC and GAD. Although the majority of anxious youth had received professional help, this was less likely in the younger cohort.

Conclusion:

Social, separation and generalized anxiety disorders in young people are relatively common and impairing, with a high level of comorbidity. There are both commonalities and differences in socio-environmental correlates. The majority of anxious youth received some form of professional assistance, although the rate was lower among children compared to adolescents.
Assessing (In)Equality in the Structural Covariates of Drug-Specific Arrest Counts
Authors: Thomas Shaun A. , Dierenfeldt Rick
Published: November 2017

Prior research assessing the structural covariates of drug arrests has focused on composite measures of arrests. Prior studies have also neglected to simultaneously consider the influence of characteristics of communities, law enforcement agencies, police officers, and drug-specific mortality rates on drug-specific arrests. As such, the extant literature offers an incomplete understanding of the structural correlates of drug arrests. The current study addresses these limitations by assessing the structural covariates of drug-specific measures of arrests for cocaine, crack, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine. Results highlight substantive distinctions in the structural covariates of drug-specific arrests across places, particularly related to racial diversity within the community and local police departments, and drug-specific mortality (i.e., overdose) rates findings that have important implications for future research.
Energy Flow Control with Using Arduino Microcontroller in Off-Grid Hybrid Power Generation System Including Different Solar Panels and Fuel Cell
Authors: Özer Tolga , Oğuz Yüksel , Çimen Hasan
Published: November 2017

This study included a practice for efficient and effective energy use when control algorithms related to energy flow of hybrid energy generation system consisting of different types of solar panels (monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin film) and fuel cell were performed. An Arduino microcontroller–based control system was designed in order to use the energy generated efficiently and effectively in hybrid power generating systems which consist of solar panels, battery packs, fuel cell and direct current and alternating current loads. Routing of energy was performed by relays, and the processes such as monitoring and saving of data belonging to the energy generating system and manual control of the relays optionally were performed via a LabVIEW program on the computer. The electrical energy produced by each solar panel, energy demand of the load and charge–discharge conditions of the batteries were monitored through the control system designed for energy flow control. The data were analyzed and the performances of these three control algorithms were compared. It was determined which of these three different control algorithms had the most effective and efficient energy usage.
Governance and policy relevance of the Nigerian 40-year grassroots revolution: 1976–2016
Authors: Olowu Dele
Published: November 2017

This article assesses the 40-year-old program of building a third level of governance in Nigeria to improve the democratic and developmental aspirations of Africa’s largest democracy, one of only two federally governed countries on the continent. The assessment relies on secondary and primary sources. The article finds that even though the reform was sustained over the years in terms of structural, financial and human resources capacity infusion and a raft of changes to democratize the institution, the program was only successful in the first four years while the military was in power. The article proposes measures to make this institution adapt to civilian governance through enhancing accountability arrangements at all the three levels of governance and an asymmetric approach to financing infrastructures in the cities and rural areas. These would enable the local government institutions to actually function as grassroots structures for building and sustaining democracy and development from below complementing the export-led strategy of the present government.

Points for practitioners

The current Nigerian government is pursuing an export-led strategy comprising three main elements that several industrializing countries have used successfully. Only the first two elements – macro-economic stability, economic freedom for farmers and small-scale entrepreneurs – are in place. These need to be complemented by boosting rural infrastructures which a robust political and administrative system, underpinned by strong grassroots local government system as articulated in this article, makes possible.
Civil service reform in Kazakhstan: trajectory to the 30 most developed countries?
Authors: Janenova Saltanat , Knox Colin
Published: November 2017

Kazakhstan has ambitious plans to become one of the top 30 developed countries in the world by 2050. Its most recent route map to achieve this is the Plan for the Nation: 100 Concrete Steps, announced by the president in May 2015. A key pillar in this reform agenda is the development of a professional civil service. This article considers whether civil service reforms to date and those envisaged under the new plan offer a trajectory to the 2050 stated goal. It finds that despite significant political endorsement at the highest level, reforms have focused on institutional, structural and legal changes without the necessary attention to how these will impact on the quality of public services provision. The article highlights the interdependence between civil service reforms and an outcomes-based approach and adapts the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Better Life framework for Kazakhstan as a way of making this connection.

Points for practitioners

Moving to an outcomes-based approach in a developing country challenges practitioners to focus on the impact of their work and to be judicious and context-specific in the selection of results indicators.
Towards territorial leadership: missions and roles of territorial public organizations (TPO)
Authors: Arnaud Charlène , Soldo Edina
Published: November 2017

This research, conducted from the point of view of management sciences, is based on a hybrid exploratory approach. In view of the experience of the territory of the Pays d’Aix in carrying out a territory project – the development and structuring of a local contemporary music sector – an integrative model of territorial leadership is proposed here. This is hinged around three dimensions (being at the service of the territorial stakeholders, being a local transformer, being a collaborative leader) that are interdependent, making it possible to question the roles and missions of public organizations in the implementation of territory projects.

Points for practitioners

The goal of this research is to question the capacity of a territorial authority to seize leadership in its territory of action. The theoretical construction carried out as well as its managerial implications are aimed at both local elected officials and territorial managers. Indirectly, they can also be of interest to the various territorial stakeholders who will see them as key elements for the understanding of territorial authorities. Territorial leadership is a process that is built around different, interdependent dimensions and is based on territory projects.
Correlates of Organizational Commitment Among Community Correctional Officers in China
Authors: Jiang Shanhe , Lambert Eric G. , Jin Xiaohong , Xiang Deping , Shi Mengfei , Zhang Dawei
Published: November 2017

There has been limited research on the correlates of organizational commitment among community correctional staff, regardless of the nation. Using data from 225 community correction officers from Hubei, China, this study examined community correctional staff commitment to their agencies and its predictors. The study found the majority of the respondents had commitment to their organizations. Organizational structure variables were more powerful than job characteristics in explaining the variance of the organizational commitment. All relationships between organizational structure variables, job characteristics, and organizational commitment were mediated by job satisfaction.
Effect of math-specific self-efficacy on math literacy: Evidence from a Greek survey
Authors: Cheema Jehanzeb R
Published: November 2017

Prior research has suggested a strong link between student-level psychological constructs such as self-efficacy and achievement in academics. In this study, we looked at the relationship between math self-efficacy and mathematics literacy using a large-scale survey from Greece. Our analytical results show that there is a strong association between math self-efficacy and math literacy among Greek high school students, and that this association persists even after controlling for student-level differences such as age, grade, gender, parental education, parental occupation, family wealth, cultural possessions, and availability of educational resources at home, and school-level differences such as school type, school size, student–teacher ratio, and school-level socioeconomic status.
Voices of the Banned
Authors: Søgaard Thomas Friis
Published: November 2017

In Western cities, public authorities are increasingly resorting to the use of patron banning orders as means of reducing alcohol and other drug-related harms in nightlife. While the use of banning orders is often hailed by authorities, due to their presumed deterrent and crime reduction effects, little research exists on how patrons react to being banned. This is a problem, as assessments of whether the policy goals of banning orders are being met and of the wider consequences of banning necessitate understanding the practice from the perspective of its targets. This article combines statistical data from police registers and in-depth interviews with 10 young patrons who have been subjected to a 2-year banning order in Aalborg, Denmark, to explore how patrons experience and negotiate the banning orders imposed upon them. While police use of patron banning orders is often based on a conception of patrons as rational actors, as well as on linear notions of cause and effect, this article challenges such conceptions. Instead, this article draws on actor network theory, and an understanding of banned youth as situated in networks of relations, in order to provide insights into how the effects of banning policies emerge in often unpredictable ways and with unforeseeable consequences dependent on the specific sociomaterial contexts through which they are coproduced. In this way, this article aims to provide a more detailed understanding of the causal mechanisms giving shape to banning policy effects.