bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ripartitella brunnea, a new species from subtropical China
Authors: ZHANG MING , LI TAI-HUI , WEI TIE-ZHENG , LIANG XI-SHEN , LIU ZHU-XIANG
Published: January 2019

Ripartitella brunnea, collected from southern China, is described, illustrated and discussed as a new species based on unique morphological characteristics and molecular data. Ripartitella brunnea is characterized by its light brown to violet brown pileus covered with dark brown squamules, slightly involute margin appendiculate with white to yellowish white veil remnant; white and crowded lamellae; fleeting annulus; echinulate basidiospores 4.5–6 × 3.5–4 µm in size and lageniform pleurocystidia often covered with yellowish crystals at apex. Phylogenetic analyses based on the combined datasets ITS and LSU sequences confirmed that R. brunnea is a new member of Ripartitella.
Validation of the name Oenothera italica (Onagraceae)
Authors: WOŹNIAK-CHODACKA MONIKA
Published: January 2019

Oenothera italica Rostański & Soldano (1981: 376) (sect. Oenothera subsect. Oenothera) is one of about 100 taxa of the genus Oenothera Linnaeus (1753: 346) which have been formally recognized in Europe (Hudziok 1968, Soldano 1993, Rostański in Rostański et al. 2004, 2010). The species was described from Italy by Rostański and Soldano (1981) and assigned later to the typical series Oenothera by Rostański (1985). However, its name was not validly published because two different gatherings were indicated as syntypes. I have searched for a proper typification in several relevant sources (e.g. Soldano 1993, Rostański et al. 2004, Rostański et al. 2010), with no success.
A new earthworm eel of the genus Chaudhuria from the Ayeyarwaddy River Drainage, Myanmar (Teleostei: Synbranchiformes: Chaudhuriidae)
Authors: BRITZ RALF
Published: January 2019

Chaudhuria ritvae, new species, from the lower Ayeyarwaddy River Drainage, southern Myanmar, is distinguished from C. caudata by a greater number of caudal vertebrae, shorter jaws, larger and broader ribs, neural arches of vertebrae without fenestration, absence of spots associated with base of dorsaland anal-fin rays, sparse body pigmentation consisting of only minute widely separated melanophores, and absence of pigmentation along pectoral-fin rays. It differs from its only other congener, C. fusipinnis, by having the dorsal and anal fins separate from the caudal fin, by a smaller number of dorsaland anal-fin rays, by a greater number of caudal-fin rays and by the presence of teeth on hypobranchial 3.
A review of the genus Oxychalepus Uhmann, 1937 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae)
Authors: STAINES C. L.
Published: January 2019

The species of Oxychalepus Uhmann, 1937 are reviewed. Thirteen species are treated as valid. Oxychalepus alienus (Baly, 1885) is removed from synonymy; O. angulatus from Argentina and Bolivia is described as new; O. insignatus (Chapuis, 1877) is reinstated to full species status; O. trispinosus (Pic, 1931) is treated as incertae sedis. All species are illustrated and a key to the species is presented.
Three new species of Itagonia Reitter, 1887 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae: Blaptini) from Sichuan, China
Authors: SHI AI-MIN , YUAN SHI-BIN , WU CHUN-LIAN
Published: January 2019

Three new species of Itagonia Reitter, 1887, I. tuberculata, sp. nov., I. xinlongensis, sp. nov. and I. medvedevi, sp. nov. are described from Sichuan, China. The formerly unknown female of I. elegans Medvedev, 1998 is described for the first time. A key to the known species of Itagonia from China is given.
New species and new records of Fannia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera, Fanniidae) from the Brazilian Amazon Region
Authors: WENDT LISIANE DILLI
Published: January 2019

There are 44 species of Fannia known to occur in Brazil, however, only seven of them are recorded from the Brazilian Amazon Region. Fannia bifolia sp. nov. from Pará, Brazil, is described and illustrated. Fannia itatiaiensis Albuquerque and F. pusio (Wiedemann) are newly recorded from the Brazilian Amazon Region. The known distributions of F. flavicornis Stein, F. obscurinervis (Stein), F. trimaculata (Stein) and F. trimaculatoides Couri & Pamplona are expanded. Keys to males and females of Fannia from the Brazilian Amazon Region are also provided.
Kali colubrina Melo, 2008: a senior synonym of Kali caribbaea Prokofiev, 2008 (Acanthomorphata: Chiasmodontidae)
Authors: MELO MARCELO R. S.
Published: January 2019

The genus Kali is a member of the deep-sea fish family Chiasmodontidae with seven valid species. A taxonomic revision of Kali was recently conducted by Melo (2008), which included the description of two new species: K. colubrina and K. falx. I was unaware that parallel to that revision, Prokofiev (2008) was describing K. caribbaea. Both publications were published during a very short time interval. Upon having access to Prokofiev (2008), it became clear that K. colubrina and K. caribbaea are actually synonyms. After further investigation about the date of publication of both works, K. colubrina Melo, 2008 is herein placed as the senior synonym of K. caribbaea Prokofiev, 2008.
Saltipedis (Spinosaltipedis) puertoricensis, a new subgenus and species of apseudomorphan (Crustacea: Tanaidacea: Parapseudidae) from coastal waters off Culebra Island, Puerto Rico, with keys and taxonomic observations
Authors: MORALES-NÚÑEZ ANDRÉS G. , HEARD RICHARD W. , ALFARO MÓNICA
Published: January 2019

Saltipedis (Spinosaltipedis) puertoricensis, n. subgen, n. sp., is described from eastern Puerto Rico off Culebra Island at a depth of 28 m. The new species is the fourth representative of the genus Saltipedis Guţu to be described from the western Atlantic. The new subgenus is distinguished from the currently recognized members of the subgenus Saltipedis Guţu by the presence of strongly developed accessory setae on the mandible between the base of the palp and the molar process. A combination of other characters that further distinguish S. puertoricensis from its congeners includes: (1) rostrum having an acute tip and with lateral margins convex; (2) absence of epistomal spine; (3) setation patterns on the first pereopod, inner margin of uropodal basal article, and the pleotelson; and (4) male chela having a distinct tooth on both the fixed and movable fingers. Pending further systematic study, Longipedis Larsen and Shimomura is resurrected to full generic status. Keys for the separation of the females and known males of Saltipedis are presented. Some of the taxonomic problems defining the genus Saltipedis and related genera are briefly discussed.
The water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) of the Balkan peninsula, a revised survey with new records and descriptions of five new taxa
Authors: PEŠIĆ VLADIMIR , SMIT HARRY , GERECKE REINHARD , SABATINO ANTONIO DI
Published: January 2019

Based on published records and original data from recent research, a list is presented of the water mite (Acari: Hydrachnidia) fauna of the Balkan countries, i.e. Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece. It includes 382 species and subspecies in 77 genera and 34 families. Numerous new records for national faunas are reported, and five taxa, Sperchon pelopeius (Greece), Atractides stankovici (Croatia), Axonopsis graeca (Greece), Woolastookia minuta (Bosnia and Hercegovina, Greece) and Arrenurus ornatus graecus (Greece) are described as new to science. Atractides moniezi (Motaş, 1927) is synonymized with A. lacustris (Lundblad, 1925). The assumption of K. O. Viets (1987) that Pionopsis subruber Đ orđević, 1903 is a synonym of P. lutescens (Hermann, 1804) is confirmed. The characteristics of the water mite fauna in the treated area are briefly outlined. Additional field work is highly desirable for a more appropriate evaluation of the extant water mite biodiversity in the Balkans.
Annotated check list of Arachnida type specimens deposited in the Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro. II—Araneae
Authors: DA SILVA MOREIRA THIAGO , BAPTISTA RENNER L. C. , KURY ADRIANO B. , GIUPPONI ALESSANDRO P. L. , BUCKUP ERICA H. , BRESCOVIT ANTONIO D.
Published: January 2019

A check list of the Araneae type specimens deposited in the Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, is given, including also all the type specimens of species described by Mello-Leitão without a clear repository. From a total of 923 type lots (which comprises 813 valid species names) cited in the list, 667 are available, 239 were not located (76 of them with uncertain repositories) and 17 are lost. The spelling of Olios hieroglyphicus Mello-Leitão, 1919 is fixed by action of first reviser. Based on the comparison of these type specimens, the following taxonomic changes are proposed on this paper: Actinopodidae: Actinopus ceciliae Mello-Leitão, 1931c = A. crassipes (Keyserling, 1891) n. syn.; Theraphosidae: Cyclosternum melloleitaoi Bücherl, Timotheo da Costa & Lucas, 1971 = Hapalopus nondescriptus Mello-Leitão, 1926b n. syn.; Anyphaenidae: Aysha garruchos Brescovit, 1992 = Aysha caxambuensis (Mello-Leitão, 1926a) (originally described as Teudis c.) n. syn., n. comb.; Sillus spinifrons Mello-Leitão, 1926a = Patrera longipes (Keyserling, 1891) n. syn.; Araneidae: Wagneriana janeiro Levi, 1991 = Wagneriana dimastophora (Mello-Leitão, 1940g) (originally described as Verrucosa d.) n. syn., n. comb.; Pholcidae: Pholcophora juruensis Mello-Leitão, 1922c = Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874) n. syn.
Revision of the southern South American species of Philonthus Stephens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)
Authors: CHANI-POSSE MARIANA
Published: January 2019

The southern South American species of the genus Philonthus Stephens, 1829 (Staphylininae: Staphylinini) are revised using characters of external morphology and male and female genitalia. Three species of Philonthus are transferred to the genus Belonuchus Nordmann, 1837 resulting in the following new combinations: B. aluticollis (Bernhauer, 1921), B. flavicoxis (Bernhauer, 1912) and B. weiserianus (Bernhauer, 1921). Twenty-five valid species are recognized for the region in the present study: Philonthus aeruginosus Nordmann 1837, P. argus Herman 2001, P. bicoloristylus ChaniPosse 2004, P. bonariensis Bernhauer 1909, P. convexicollis Lynch-Arribálzaga 1884, P. cribriventris Bernhauer 1912, P. discoideus (Gravenhorst, 1802), P. figulus Erichson 1840, P. flavolimbatus Erichson 1840, P. hepaticus Erichson 1840, P. jenseni Bernhauer 1912, P. longicornis Stephens 1832, P. lynchi Bernhauer & Schubert 1914, P. pallipes Blanchard 1842, P. pauxillus Solsky 1868, P. politus (Linnaeus, 1758), P. quadraticeps Boheman 1858, P. rectangulus Sharp 1874, P. rubromaculatus Blanchard 1842, P. ruficauda Bernhauer 1934, P. sericans (Gravenhorst, 1802), P. stenocephalus Scheerpeltz 1972, P. varians (Paykull, 1789). Two new species are described: P. floresi and P. bruchianus. Philonthus feralis Erichson 1840, previously recorded for this region, is also redescribed. Diagnoses, redescriptions or descriptions, illustrations, bionomic information and distribution maps for all species are presented. An identification key to the southern South American species of the genus is provided. Lectotypes are designated for Philonthus aeruginosus Nordmann 1837, P. aluticollis Bernhauer 1921, P. apicipennis Lynch-Arribálzaga 1884, P. convexicollis LynchArribálzaga 1884, P. figulus Erichson 1840, P. flavicoxis Bernhauer 1912, P. jenseni Bernhauer 1912, P. pallipes Blanchard 1842, P. rubromaculatus Blanchard 1842, P. stenocephalus Scheerpeltz 1972, P. tucumanensis Bernhauer 1934 and P. weiserianus Bernhauer, 1921.
Revision of the Australian Eviphididae (Acari: Mesostigmata)
Authors: HALLIDAY R. B.
Published: January 2019

The Australian fauna of the mite family Eviphididae (Acari: Mesostigmata) is revised. A total of 14 species is recorded, 10 of which are described as new: Alliphis halleri (G. & R. Canestrini), A. transversus sp. nov., Evimirus pentagonius Karg, E. scutellatus sp. nov., E. uropodinus (Berlese), Scarabaspis masani sp. nov., S. orientalis (Berlese), S. sternalis sp. nov., S. victoriensis sp. nov., Thinoseius helenae sp. nov., T. jarretti sp. nov., T. papillatus sp. nov., T. peltatus sp. nov., and T. variabilis sp. nov.. These species occur in soil, leaf litter, dung, compost, and seaweed, where they appear to prey on nematodes. A key for identification of these genera and species is provided. Several of the new species have character states that are unusual for their genera. In Alliphis transversus, the first pair of sternal lyrifissures are large, and oriented transversely to the long axis of the body, instead of obliquely, as is normal for the genus. Scarabaspis sternalis is unusual in having the third pair of sternal pores on the sternal shield. It also shows extensive geographic variation in the amount of ornamentation of the dorsal shield. Scarabaspis victoriensis has only one of the setae on coxa I modified into a flat oval-shaped disc instead of both, as is usual for the genus. Scarabaspis masani has normal setiform setae on both coxae I and II, but otherwise appears to be a typical member of the genus. The five species of Thinoseius described here show strong sexual dimorphism, which makes it impossible to associate the males and females of some species. Deutonymphs of an unidentified species of Thinoseius sp. are recorded as phoretic on flies of the genus Thoracochaeta (Sphaeroceridae). The eviphidid fauna of Australia is much smaller than that of Europe. This appears to be the result of the absence of small or monotypic genera, and the fact that Australian native mammals do not produce large quantities of wet dung suitable for the development of a rich fauna of coprophilous mites and dung beetles.
Three new species of mites of the genus Bakerdania Sasa, 1961 (Acari: Heterostigmata: Neopygmephoridae) from “Cape Martyan” Nature Reserve, Crimea
Authors: KHAUSTOV ALEXANDR A.
Published: January 2019

Three new species of mites: Bakerdania latissimosetosa sp. nov., B. undulata sp. nov., and B. martyaniensis sp. nov. collected from soil in “Cape Martyan” Nature Reserve, Crimea, Ukraine are described.
Sphaerocetum gen. n., a new genus of the Protosternini from Peninsular Malaysia (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae: Sphaeridiinae)
Authors: FIKÁČEK MARTIN
Published: January 2019

A new genus and species of the tribe Protosternini, Sphaerocetum malayanum gen. & sp. n., is described from the peninsular Malaysia (Perak). A detailed description is provided along with habitus photographs, line drawings and SEM micrographs of relevant diagnostic characters. Although clearly belonging to the Protosternini, the new genus varies in several characters previously considered as uniform within the tribe; these characters are discussed in detail. An updated identification key to protosternine genera is also provided.
Larval and pupal morphology of Pyractonema nigripennis Solier (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Photinini) and comparative notes with other Photinini larvae
Authors: ARCHANGELSKY MIGUEL
Published: January 2019

The last larval stage and pupal stage of Pyractonema nigripennis Solier, an endemic species from southern Chile and Argentina, are described and illustrated. Pyractonema Olivier is included in the tribe Photinini, Subtribe Lucidotina, and the larva and pupa of P. nigripennis are compared to those of Lucidota atra (Olivier) and related lampyrid genera.
Revision of the genus Rhabdotalebra Young (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae: Alebrini) and description of two new species from Argentina
Authors: CATALANO MARÍA INÉS , PARADELL SUSANA LIRIA , DE REMES LENICOV ANA MARÍA MARINO
Published: January 2019

The genus Rhabdotalebra Young is revised, including two new species R. litoralensis sp.nov. and R. flava sp.nov., from Argentina. A detailed morphological description and illustrations of two new species are provided. A key to facilitate the comparison of the new species with those previously known—based on pattern coloration and male genitalia—is given.
Review of the leafhopper genus Riseveinus Li (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Evacanthinae), with descriptions of two new species from China
Authors: ZHANG XINMIN , ZHANG YALIN , WEI CONG
Published: January 2019

The Oriental leafhopper genus Riseveinus Li is redefined with the redescription of its type species Riseveinus sinensis (Jacobi), and descriptions of two new species: Riseveinus asymmetricus sp. nov. and Riseveinus compressus sp. nov. The female genitalia of the species of this genus are described for the first time. One new combination, Riseveinus albiveinus (Li) n. comb., is also proposed. Photographs and a key to all aforementioned species are provided. The relationship of this genus to related genera is discussed.
A new genus and new species of fan worms (Polychaeta: Sabellidae) from Atlantic and Pacific Oceans—the formal treatment of taxon names as explanatory hypotheses
Authors: DE MATOS NOGUEIRA JOÃO MIGUEL , FITZHUGH KIRK , ROSSI MAÍRA CAPPELLANI SILVA
Published: January 2019

Members of Parasabella minuta Treadwell, 1941, subsequently moved to Perkinsiana, were collected during a survey of rocky intertidal polychaetes along the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Additional specimens, which are referred to two new species, were also found in similar habitats from the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Caribbean Panama, and Oahu Island, Hawaii. A phylogenetic analysis of Sabellinae, including members of P. minuta and the two new species, provided justification for establishing a new generic hypothesis, Sabellomma gen. nov., for these individuals. Formal definitions are also provided for Sabellomma minuta gen. nov., comb. nov., S. collinae gen. nov., spec. nov., and S. harrisae gen. nov., spec. nov., along with descriptions of individuals to which these hypotheses apply. The generic name Aracia nom. nov., is provided to replace Kirkia Nogueira, López and Rossi, 2004, pre-occupied by a mollusk.
The youngest rostroconch mollusc from North America, Minycardita capitanensis n. sp.
Authors: VENDRASCO MICHAEL J. , HOARE RICHARD D. , BELL, JR GORDEN L.
Published: January 2019

Rostroconchs are an extinct class of mollusc that lived worldwide through most or all of the Paleozoic Era (Runnegar 1978). They were most diverse in the early Paleozoic (Pojeta 1985), perhaps due to a lower rate of evolution in the rostroconch clade that survived the end-Ordovician mass extinction event (Wagner 1997). Rostroconchs have a univalved larval shell and a pseudo-bivalved adult shell. Their ecology appears to have ranged from infaunal to rarely epifaunal, and from deposit to suspension feeding (Pojeta et al. 1972, Pojeta & Runnegar 1976, Runnegar 1978, Pojeta 1987). A single but well-preserved, essentially complete rostroconch specimen was recovered from the region surrounded by the famous Capitan Reef of the Permian of West Texas (Newell et al. 1953). In particular, the specimen is from the upper scaphopod bed of the Reef Trail Member of the Bell Canyon Formation exposed in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Rigby & Bell 2005: fig. 2). The fusulinid biostratigraphic zonal indicator Paraboultonia splendens Skinner & Wilde, 1954 occurs both below the upper scaphopod bed and above it, indicating that this horizon was deposited during the latest Guadalupian (late middle Permian) (Rigby & Bell 2006), and thus is the youngest known deposit in North America to contain a rostroconch. Most known Permian rostroconchs have been recovered from rocks in North America, and only one occurrence stands out as clearly younger than this one: Pseudoconocardium Zavodowsky, 1960 from the Late Permian of Siberia, a large rostroconch that differs significantly in shape and ornamentation from rostroconchs of the late Paleozoic in North America (Hoare et al. 2002). Permian rostroconchs are rare, having been described from only sixteen localities worldwide (listed in Hoare & Plas 2003). In contrast, rostroconchs were relatively abundant during the preceding Pennsylvanian (Hoare et al. 2002). Thus the occurrence described herein represents the youngest known record of the North American rostroconch lineages, and is one of the last snapshots of a major molluscan clade.
Chelonian type specimens at the Oxford University Museum
Authors: NOWAK-KEMP MAŁGOSIA , FRITZ UWE
Published: January 2019

In the present paper, the history of the chelonian collection of the Oxford University Museum is summarized and extant type specimens are identified. Currently, there are 46 name-bearing types of 25 chelonian taxa and paralectotypes of three taxa described by Georg Baur, Thomas Bell, André Marie Constant Duméril & Gabriel Bibron, and John Edward Gray from the families Emydidae, Geoemydidae, Testudinidae, Chelidae, and Pelomedusidae. Among the name-bearing types, there are holotypes of eight taxa (Cyclemys bellii Gray, 1863; Emys speciosa var. levigata Gray, 1831; Phrynops bellii Gray, 1844; Rhinoclemys bellii Gray, 1863; Sternothaerus leachianus Bell, 1825; Sternothaerus trifasciatus Bell, 1825; Testudo hercules var. truncata Gray, 1831; Testudo tentoria Bell, 1828) and one lectotype is of Pyxis arachnoides Bell, 1827. Two additional holotypes or syntypes are of Terrapene maculata Bell, 1825 and Terrapene nebulosa Bell, 1825, and 35 syntypes represent 14 taxa (Cyclemys orbiculata Bell, 1834; Emys concentrica var. polita Gray, 1831; Emys crassicollis Gray, 1831; Emys decussata Gray, 1831; Emys hamiltonii Gray, 1831; Emys irrigata Duméril & Bibron, 1835; Emys speciosa Gray, 1831; Emys spinosa Gray, 1831; Emys tectum Gray, 1830; Emys thurjii Gray, 1831; Kinixys castanea Bell, 1827; Kinixys homeana Bell, 1827; Testudo actinodes Bell, 1828; Testudo guntheri Baur, 1889). Three paralectotypes are of Emys dentata Gray, 1831, eight paralectotypes are of Emys vulgaris Gray, 1831, and one paralectotype is of Pyxis arachnoides Bell, 1827. Except the syntype of Testudo guntheri Baur, 1889, originating from the college of Christ Church, Oxford, all type specimens belong to the former collection of Thomas Bell that was transferred to Oxford in 1862. Testudo guntheri Baur, 1889 is regarded as nomen dubium because it was based on specimens without locality data.
A review of the genus Amphicnemis in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, with descriptions of two new species (Odonata: Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae)
Authors: DOW RORY A. , CHOONG CHEE YEN , NG YONG FOO
Published: January 2019

The Amphicnemis species occurring in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore are reviewed, and two new species are described: A. bebar and A. hoisen (holotype for both: Malaysia, Pahang, Sungai Bebar). Keys to both sexes of all species are provided. A. ecornuta is recorded from Borneo for the first time. A summary of the distributions of the named species of Amphicnemis occurring in Sundaland is given. Four species of Amphicnemis are now known from Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and twelve from Borneo.
Systematics of the New Zealand Weevil Etheophanus Broun (Curculionidae: Molytinae)
Authors: DAVIS STEVEN R. , BRAV-CUBITT TALIA , BUCKLEY THOMAS R. , LESCHEN RICHARD A. B.
Published: January 2019

Etheophanus Broun is considered a molytine based on the form of the pharyngeal plate, presence of a small spiculum relictum in the male, and presence of a pair of small internal apodemes on the antero-lateral corners of the 5th abdominal ventrite of the female. Examination of primary type specimens and newer material confirm one new species Etheophanus kuscheli sp. n. and two synonomies (Etheophanus nitidellus Broun, 1923 [= Etheophanus obscurus Broun, 1923] and Etheophanus striatus Broun, 1910 [=Etheophanus punctiventris Broun, 1914]). Generic and species diagnoses, a key to the species, and lectotype designations for three species are included. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on a combined analysis of the nuclear 28S rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes confirmed the status of E. kuscheli and a species complex, the E. nitidellus/E. optandus clade distributed in the southern portion of the South Island. The relationship E. pinguis [northern North Island] (E. striatus [southern North Island, northern South Island] (E. kuscheli [northwestern South Island] (E. nitidellus, E. optandus [southwestern North Island]) corresponds to geographic patterns found in other beetle lineages. Etheophanus striatus is composed of three lineages, one widespread in the north and south islands and two allopatric populations in the northwest South Island. The E. nitidellus/E. optandus complex includes four distinct lineages, one restricted to Fiordland, the other three sympatric in the region affected by the Haast Corridor.
A new species of Pyrrhosphodrus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) from the Caatinga ecosystem in Brazil, with notes on the genus
Authors: LAPISCHIES RITA , FORERO DIMITRI , BARCELLOS ALINE , SALOMÃO RENATO P.
Published: January 2019

A new species of Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from Caatinga ecosystem, Pyrrhosphodrus caatingensis Lapischies & Forero sp. nov., is described. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by its overall reddish coloration with black areas; by the black legs, with femora with a subapical yellowish broad ring, tibiae with apical and subapical yellowish annuli; and genital characters. Comments about the biology, feeding habits, habitus, genitalic images, and a distribution map of the new species are given. In addition, the following synonymy is proposed: Pyrrhosphodrus militaris Stål, 1866 = P. theresina (Berg, 1879), syn. nov. A key to separate the known species of Pyrrhosphodrus Stål, 1866 is provided.
Munchausen by proxy syndrome mimicking childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Kuhne A C A , Pitta A C , Galassi S C , Gonçalves A M F , Cardoso A C A , Paz J A , Campos L M A , Silva C A
Published: January 2019

Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) is a chronic inflammatory multisystem autoimmune disease that requires multiple differential diagnoses. Munchausen by proxy syndrome (MBPS) is a form of child abuse, where a caregiver intentionally creates a medical history and induces or fabricates signs or disease in a patient. To our knowledge, there is no case report of MBPS mimicking cSLE diagnosis. We reported herein a 9-year-old male patient, with a history of multiple hospitalizations due to seizures with altered levels of consciousness. The mother reported malar rash, photosensitivity, alopecia, arthralgia, arterial hypertension, macroscopic hematuria, seizure and positive antinuclear antibodies. In the other service, he was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone, prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil. At 8 years and 8 months, he was admitted to our tertiary center with history of fever and macroscopic hematuria. Laboratory examinations were normal, including negative for antinuclear antibodies, anti-double stranded DNA, anticardiolipin, anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB, anti-RNP and anti-Sm antibodies. Multiple urine cultures revealed the presence of Enterococcus faecium, Acinetobacter sp., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Serratia marcescens, without any association with pyuria. At 8 years and 9 months, he was readmitted at emergency room with history of severe fever, headache, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia and dizziness. The physical examination showed agitation, confusion, ataxic gait, slurred speech, horizontal nystagmus, painful facial expressions, tachycardia and weight loss. Brain magnetic resonance angiography and cerebrospinal fluid analysis were normal. During hospitalization, he had an acute episode of epistaxis and otalgia with excoriation in the auditory canal. At that moment, the suspicion of MBPS mimicking cSLE was raised and phenytoin intoxication was confirmed (peak phenytoin concentration was 45.4 mcg/mL, therapeutic range 10–20 mcg/mL). The mother and the patient were immediately separated, and she was replaced by another legal guardian. One week later, the neurological and other signs and symptoms were completely resolved. The child was placed under paternal custody with a court order and moved to another state. After that, the mother reported phenytoin use for her child and was referred to psychiatric follow-up. In conclusion, the first case of MBPS mimicking cSLE, resulting in multiple unnecessary examinations and treatments with delayed diagnosis was reported.
Uncovering the hidden microbiota in hospital and built environments: New approaches and solutions
Authors: Christoff Ana P , Sereia Aline FR , Hernandes Camila , de Oliveira Luiz FV
Published: January 2019

Microorganisms are widely distributed all over the Earth, inhabiting very diverse natural ecosystems, from the human body to inanimate indoor environments. Until recently, the methods most commonly used to study microbes have been culture-dependent approaches relying on the phenotypic evaluation of isolates that can grow in laboratory conditions. Given the advances in molecular biology and high-throughput DNA sequencing methodologies, scientists could expand their microbiome knowledge to microorganisms that do not grow well in the laboratory or have been considered too difficult and laborious to be cultivated. Culture-independent methods such as direct DNA sequencing can be performed for many samples at once, revealing the entire microbial profile of the samples and making possible the rapid characterization of the whole environmental microbiome. Investigating the microbiome profile of indoor environments such as hospitals, houses, offices and other buildings is of major concern because it could include a number of opportunistic, pathogenic or nosocomial microbes. Additionally, these environments could serve as reservoirs of virulence or antimicrobial resistance, which could be spread by humans or other vectors. High-throughput DNA sequencing has enabled large-scale microbiome screening for multiple indoor areas in a single analysis. Using this approach, we can easily track microorganisms in the environment and monitor microbiome composition related to hygiene processes or environment quality. Gaining such information and resolution regarding indoor microbiome analysis can lend very important assistance for epidemiological surveillance.

Impact statement

Research concerning the microbiome of indoor environments like hospitals, houses or buildings could have several implications for human health. Today, there is an ongoing shift in the paradigm of microbial analysis, from single isolated bacterial samples to entire microbiome profiles using high-throughput DNA sequencing methods. The use of sequencing methods in several studies has revealed an unprecedented microbial diversity in indoor environments, leading to a larger comprehension of the entire microbiome context. Here, we present a review of these microbiome studies using high-throughput DNA sequencing, including some new approaches and ideas that can be broadly applied in microbial tracking and epidemiological surveillance of indoor environments.
A Resilience Intervention to Increase Academic Persistence Among Undocumented Students in Higher Education
Authors: Kwon Paul , Pattinson Marcela Carillo , Faust Emily , Hobaica Steven , Tse Joseph , Sainz Rebeca , Castañeda Cesar , Graham Brittany S. , Keiser Gregory H.
Published: January 2019

We designed a resilience intervention in the form of a self-help workbook. It was made to address the challenges of being an undocumented student. The workbook includes modules on increasing social support, hope for the future, and emotional openness. In an initial feasibility study, participants reported that the workbook contains valuable information. A second feasibility study that incorporated eight weekly group meetings led to significantly higher ratings regarding the utility of the intervention.
Antifungal activity in the methanolic, aqueous and hexane extracts of Calligonum polygonoides
Authors: Ahmad Saeed , Akram Muhammad
Published: January 2019

Calligonum polygonoides is locally called as Phog which belongs to the Polygonaceae family. It is traditionally used as an antifungal. The methanolic extract, hexane extract, ethyl acetate extract and aqueous extract were screened against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger in seven concentrations, that is, 1.8, 2.9, 6.5, 12.6, 25, 50 and 75 µg/mL/disc. Calligonum polygonoides showed significant activity against Candida albicans as the observed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is 6.5 µg/mL for methanolic extract, 9.8 µg/mL for ethyl acetate extract, whereas aqueous and hexane extracts showed no activity. Calligonum polygonoides did not show any significant activity against Aspergillus niger.
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Consumers’ Economic Expectations
Authors: Doherty Bea Megan
Published: January 2019

Consumers’ expectations about the future of their own finances and the macroeconomy are used to forecast consumption, but forecasts do not typically account for differences by race and ethnicity. In this report, the author asks (1) whether there is consistent racial and ethnic variation in consumers’ economic expectations, (2) if differences can be explained by economic experiences, and (3) how the scope of expectations matters. The author uses the Survey of Consumer Finances to examine variation in the likelihood of positive national and personal economic expectations among individuals who identify as black, white, or Hispanic. The author finds that national expectations have substantial racial and ethnic variation net of economic experiences. For personal expectations, initial racial and ethnic variation in the likelihood of positive expectations disappears once economic experiences are accounted for. These findings have important implications for consumption forecasts, especially as the racial and ethnic composition of the United States changes.
Examination of differences in health indicators between efficient and inefficient countries
Authors: Yesilaydin Gozde
Published: January 2019

Objective: This study determined whether there is a statistically significant difference between efficient and inefficient Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries in terms of health indicators using fuzzy data envelopment analysis (FDEA).

Methods: In the study, FDEA was performed with three input variables directly affecting health, four environmental factors considered to indirectly affect health, and two output variables. Literature research was used to determine appropriate variables. In FDEA, three different α-cut levels were used. The hypotheses regarding whether there was a statistically significant difference between efficient and inefficient countries in input and output variables were tested for all α-cut levels of upper bound efficiency values.

Results: In terms of health indicators, 17 countries were efficient at α-cut 0 and 0.5. At α-cut 1, 18 countries were efficient. There was only a statistically significant difference between the efficient and inefficient countries in “the number of physicians.”

Conclusion: This study shows the number of physicians was the most important determinant affecting the efficiency of a country’s healthcare system. Inefficient countries had a greater mean for number of physicians. Thus, inefficient countries consume more resources than efficient ones.

How to cite this:Yesilaydin G. Examination of differences in health indicators between efficient and inefficient countries. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(1):172-176. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.1.255

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
H. Tristram Engelhardt Junior: A Moral Friend and Moral Stranger
Authors: Po-Wah Julia Tao Lai
Published: January 2019

This paper is a tribute to H.T. Engelhardt Jr. for the intellectual resources he provided to challenge cosmopolitan liberalism as the foundation for an overarching global bioethics in the post-modern world. It is a also a tribute to the moral pluralism and cultural diversity which he argued so forcefully in all his works and which have inspired the flourishing of fierce bioethical debates across the world, including in the non-Western and Asian societies.
In the Honour of Tristram Engelhardt, Jr.: On the Sources of the Narrative Self
Authors: Motzkin Gabriel
Published: January 2019

Modern philosophy is based on the presupposition of the certainty of the ego’s experience. Both Descartes and Kant assume this certitude as the basis for certain knowledge. Here the argument is developed that this ego has its sources not only in Scholastic philosophy, but also in the narrative of the emotional self as developed by both the troubadours and the medieval mystics. This narrative self has three moments: salvation, self-irony, and nostalgia. While salvation is rooted in the Christian tradition, self-irony and nostalgia are first addressed in twelfth-century troubadour poetry in Occitania. Their integration into a narrative self was developed in late medieval mysticism, and reached its fullest articulation in St. Teresa of Avila, whom Descartes read.
Impact of an educational intervention on breastfeeding behaviour among pregnant women
Authors: Jeihooni Ali Khani , Kashfi Seyyed Mansour , Harsini Pooyan Afzali
Published: January 2019

Background

Interventions to support, promote and increase breastfeeding rates are of significant importance. Interventions based on health education and health promotion theories on breastfeeding refer to those providing real and technical information on breastfeeding for special purpose groups in the community.

Aims

To survey the application of theory of planned behaviour in breastfeeding behaviour among pregnant women in Fasa City, Iran.

Methods

A quasi-experimental research design was used with 100 women at 30–34 weeks' gestational age. The intervention consisted of seven training sessions, and behaviours were evaluated before and 40 days after postpartum. A questionnaire consisting of demographic information, knowledge and theory of planned behaviour constructs (attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and intention) was used to measure breastfeeding behaviour. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Findings

Post-intervention, the experimental group showed a significant increase in the knowledge, attitude, perceived behavioural control, subjective norms, intention and breastfeeding behaviour.

Conclusions

This study showed the effectiveness of the intervention based on the theory of planned behaviour constructs in adoption of breastfeeding behaviour post-intervention in women.
Implementing quality improvement
Authors: Silverton Louise
Published: January 2019

Service audits are an essential way of identifying areas for development and putting changes into practice. Louise Silverton identifies the essential factors for service improvement
Public health: PART 2 Brief interventions
Authors: Senior Emma , Craig Lynn
Published: January 2019

Emma Senior, Senior Lecturer/Programme Lead, Adult Nursing ( emma.senior@northumbria.ac.uk ), and Lynn Craig, Subject Lead, Adult Nursing, and Senior Lecturer, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, discuss how nurses can use brief interventions during their interactions with patients
Strategies used to cope with stress by emergency and critical care nurses
Authors: Isa Karmila Qarima , Ibrahim Muhammad Adib , Abdul-Manan Hjh-Hartini , Mohd-Salleh Zainatul-Ashiqin H , Abdul-Mumin Khadizah H , Rahman Hanif Abdul
Published: January 2019

Background:

developing coping strategies to use in stressful situations is an essential nursing skill. Prolonged and constant stress is harmful to nurses' health and leads to organisational inefficiency, high staff turnover and decreased job satisfaction.

Aim:

to identify nurses' stress coping strategies and determine the relationship between coping strategies and sociodemographic factors.

Method:

a descriptive cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was undertaken at an emergency department and critical care units at the largest referral hospital in Brunei.

Results:

problem-solving and positive reappraisal were the predominant positive coping strategies identified. Those working in medical intensive care employed escape-avoidance behaviours more frequently. Married participants exhibited higher levels of confrontative coping behaviours.

Conclusion:

to the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to examine job-stress coping strategies among nurses in Brunei. The authors examined the different strategies and the poor health outcomes associated with using negative coping styles. Future stress management interventions should target staff who employ negative coping strategies to promote positive strategies, enabling them to provide better quality care.
Multiple Thermal Gelation of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose and Kappa-Carrageenan Solutions and their Interaction with Salts
Authors: Almeida Nalinda , Rakesh Leela , Zhao Jin
Published: January 2019

The multiple gelation behavior of aqueous solutions of kappa-carrageenan (KCG) and low molecular weight hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) was studied with the presence of various salts. Multiple gelation behavior of aqueous solutions of HPMC/KCG/salt mixture were found. The shear viscosity of HPMC/KCG blend increased by one orders of magnitude, while the viscosity of HPMC/KCG/potassium chloride (KCl) mixture increased by three orders of magnitude as compared to HPMC solution at temperatures below apparent gelation. The dynamic elastic modulus of HPMC/KCG blend increased by two orders of magnitude, while the elastic modulus of HPMC/KCG/potassium chloride (KCl) mixture increased by three orders of magnitude as compared to HPMC solution at temperatures below apparent gelation temperature. The gel elastic modulus of the solution blend of HPMC/KCG/salt mixture decreased in the order of KCl > NaCl > CaCl2. Thermal analysis revealed a linear relationship between the depression of melting temperature and the salt concentrations, which is independent of KCG. The free water content computed by enthalpy data showed that free water content decreased with increasing salt concentrations. The secondary peak which typically associated with bound water appeared in the mixture of HPMC and KCG in the presence of KCl. As the concentrations of KCl salt increased, the bound water peak also amplified and lifted to a higher temperature.
Grafted Pectin with Glycidyl Methacrylate for Multi-Sites Urease Immobilization
Authors: Abd El-Ghaffar M.A. , Hashem M.S.
Published: January 2019

Pectin poly glycidyl methacrylate copolymer (PGMA-g-pectin) was prepared via emulsion polymerization technique, characterized and used as multi-sites enzyme immobilization system. Urease, an enzyme model in this study, was sequentially immobilized onto the prepared carrier via both the carboxyl and epoxy groups. The structure and surface morphology of the prepared copolymer, before and after immobilization, were characterized by FT-IR and SEM. Both the amount of bounded urease and its relative activity were measured. A higher activity (about 68.4%) was measured for urease bounded to PGMA-g-SA activated with 10 mg of 1-[3-(dimethylamino) propyl]-3-ethylcarbo diimide hydrochloride (EDC) at pH 5 for 3 h. The various parameters affecting the potency of urease immobilization process (e.g. activation and immobilization time, pH and the concentration of EDC and urease) were investigated. The basic characteristics (optimum pH and temperature, thermal stability, storage stability and reusability) of the immobilized enzyme were also determined. The results showed that the immobilized urease maintained its excellent performance in detecting urea in 20 measurements and retained 70 % from its original activity after 60 days of storage at 4°C.
Anti-inflammatory Activities of Cold Brew Coffee Using Dry Fermentation of Lactobacillus plantarum
Authors: Go Seok Hyeon , Monmai1 Chaiwat , Jang A Yeong , Lee Hyungjae , Park Woo Jung
Published: January 2019

Coffee is a commonly consumed beverage that contains anti-inflammatory compounds such as caffeine, chlorogenic acid, cafestol, trigonelline, and kahweol. Lactobacillus plantarum is a lactic acid bacterium most frequently used in the fermentation of food products of plant origin. L. plantarum is able to degrade some food phenolic compounds and provide high value-added compounds such as powerful antioxidants or food additives approved as flavouring agents. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of coffee extract fermented by L. plantarum on RAW264.7 macrophages. In lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, these coffee extracts exhibited antiinflammatory activities through the reduction of nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible NO synthase expression. Fermented coffee extracts significantly decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1β, interleukin 6, and interferon γ. Cyclooxygenase-2, which is one of the key biomarkers for inflammation, was significantly suppressed. These results might be helpful for understanding the anti-inflammatory mechanism of fermented coffee extract on immune cells and, moreover, suggest that fermented coffee extract may be a beneficial anti-inflammatory agent.
Partial Purification, Characterization, and Application of Extracellular Aspartic Protease from Lactobacillus casei WSP in Producing the Bioactive Peptides with Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Solikhin Akhmad , Mustopa Apon Zaenal , Suharsono Suharsono , Putranto Wendry Setiyadi
Published: January 2019

Lactobacillus casei WSP-derived an aspartic protease was sequentially purified by using chromatography gel filtration sephadex G-50. It resulted in a 22.81-fold increase of specific activity (51.5 U/mg) with a final yield of 1.9%. The estimated molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 37 kDa and showed gelatinolytic activity in zymogram assay. The enzyme exhibited optimum activity at 40ºC and pH 6 with casein as the substrate. Enzyme activity was significantly inhibited by pepstatin A (0.5 mM and 1 mM), confirming that this enzyme is a group of aspartic proteases, while other inhibitors such as EDTA, PMSF and iodoacetic acid showed no inhibition effect on the activity of enzyme. The addition of metal ion to the enzyme decreased enzyme activity, indicating the proteolytic enzyme was metal ion- dependent. Denaturant such as DDT tended to increase caseinolytic activity. Furthermore, this enzyme was capable of generating the new peptides from skimmed milk with the size 8 kDa, 10 kDa and 15 kDa. These peptides have potential as antibacterial and antioxidant agents.
Non Invasive Detection of Dengue Viruses from Saliva: In vitro Study
Authors: Saksono Budi
Published: January 2019

In the previous paper, we had succeeded in developing an early detection system of dengue viruses using Sugar liganded Gold Nano Particle (SGNP) only from 6 μL serum. It has been reported that dengue virus is also detected in the saliva and urine of the patient. The evidences lead to the possibility of developing non-invasive methods of dengue virus detection. In this in vitro study, we evaluated the utility of SGNP to capture and concentrate dengue virion in 10% saliva solution. The results showed that dengue virion was successfully detected in 10% of saliva solution. Analysis of virion stability during storage showed that virions in salivary samples were stable up to 3 days at temperature wherease the RNA has significantly degraded. Although still a preliminary study, the data obtained show the prospect of SGNP as a non-invasive dengue virus detection method, as well as the development of POC (Point of Care) method. Clinical trials using saliva from dengue viruses infected patients need to be done to prove the effectiveness of the SGNP method.