bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pterygium Pathology: A Prospective Case-Control Study on Tear Film Cytokine Levels
Authors: Van Acker Sara I. , Haagdorens Michel , Roelant Ella , Rozema Jos , Possemiers Tine , Van Gerwen Veerle , Tassignon Marie-José , De Groot Veva , Ní Dhubhghaill Sorcha , Koppen Carina , Zakaria Nadia
Published: November 2019

Pterygium is a common eye disease, linked to an increased exposure to UV radiation and dry environments. The associated pathology culminates in visual impairment and, in some rare cases, blindness. However, there remains a lot of uncertainty concerning the pathogenesis of this fibrovascular lesion. As the composition of the tear film provides a reflection into the pathological changes at the ocular surface, tear analysis represents an ideal approach to gain insight in the progression of disease following pterygiectomy. This study enrolled 19 patients and age/gender-matched healthy controls. Tear film levels of interleukin- (IL-) 6, IL-8, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were investigated over time, and preoperative concentrations were linked to corneal neovascularization and pterygium size. Diminished tear film levels were found in unilateral patients who show no clinical signs of pterygium recurrence over a period of one year. Hence, our results highlight the potential of using the course of IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF levels in tears as biomarkers for recovery. In addition, when focusing on the affected eyes (i.e., primary and recurrent pterygium), we detected fold changes in preoperative cytokine concentrations to correspond with disease severity. As our proposed biomarkers did not reveal a linear relationship with corneal neovascularization nor the invasive behaviour of pterygium, no exact role in the pterygium pathology could be established. Hence, our data point to these factors being contributors rather than decisive players in the pathological processes.
Cancer Stem Cells: Powerful Targets to Improve Current Anticancer Therapeutics
Authors: Bighetti-Trevisan Rayana L. , Sousa Lucas O. , Castilho Rogerio M. , Almeida Luciana O.
Published: November 2019

A frequent observation in several malignancies is the development of resistance to therapy that results in frequent tumor relapse and metastasis. Much of the tumor resistance phenotype comes from its heterogeneity that halts the ability of therapeutic agents to eliminate all cancer cells effectively. Tumor heterogeneity is, in part, controlled by cancer stem cells (CSC). CSC may be considered the reservoir of cancer cells as they exhibit properties of self-renewal and plasticity and the capability of reestablishing a heterogeneous tumor cell population. The endowed resistance mechanisms of CSC are mainly attributed to several factors including cellular quiescence, accumulation of ABC transporters, disruption of apoptosis, epigenetic reprogramming, and metabolism. There is a current need to develop new therapeutic drugs capable of targeting CSC to overcome tumor resistance. Emerging in vitro and in vivo studies strongly support the potential benefits of combination therapies capable of targeting cancer stem cell-targeting agents. Clinical trials are still underway to address the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of combination treatment. This review will address the main characteristics, therapeutic implications, and perspectives of targeting CSC to improve current anticancer therapeutics.
A High-Avidity T-cell Receptor Redirects Natural Killer T-cell Specificity and Outcompetes the Endogenous Invariant T-cell Receptor
Authors: Landoni Elisa , Smith Christof C. , Fucá Giovanni , Chen Yuhui , Sun Chuang , Vincent Benjamin G. , Metelitsa Leonid S. , Dotti Gianpietro , Savoldo Barbara
Published: November 2019

T-cell receptor (TCR) gene transfer redirects T cells to target intracellular antigens. However, the potential autoreactivity generated by TCR mispairing and occurrence of graft-versus-host disease in the allogenic setting due to the retention of native TCRs remain major concerns. Natural killer T cells (NKT) have shown promise as a platform for adoptive T-cell therapy in cancer patients. Here, we showed their utility for TCR gene transfer. We successfully engineered and expanded NKTs expressing a functional TCR (TCR NKTs), showing HLA-restricted antitumor activity in xenogeneic mouse models in the absence of graft-versus-mouse reactions. We found that TCR NKTs downregulated the invariant TCR (iTCR), leading to iTCR+TCR+ and iTCR−TCR+ populations. In-depth analyses of these subsets revealed that in iTCR−TCR+ NKTs, the iTCR, although expressed at the mRNA and protein levels, was retained in the cytoplasm. This effect resulted from a competition for binding to CD3 molecules for cell-surface expression by the transgenic TCR. Overall, our results highlight the feasibility and advantages of using NKTs for TCR expression for adoptive cell immunotherapies. NKT-low intrinsic alloreactivity that associated with the observed iTCR displacement by the engineered TCR represents ideal characteristics for “off-the-shelf” products without further TCR gene editing.
Assessing the Magnitude of Immunogenic Cell Death Following Chemotherapy and Irradiation Reveals a New Strategy to Treat Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Ye Jian , Mills Bradley N. , Zhao Tony , Han Booyeon J. , Murphy Joseph D. , Patel Ankit P. , Johnston Carl J. , Lord Edith M. , Belt Brian A. , Linehan David C. , Gerber Scott A.
Published: November 2019

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) continues to have a dismal prognosis, in part, due to ineffective treatment strategies. The efficacy of some chemotherapies and especially radiotherapy is mediated partially by the immune system. Therefore, we hypothesized that profiling the immune response following chemotherapy and/or irradiation can be used as a readout for treatment efficacy but also to help identify optimal therapeutic schedules for PDAC. Using murine models of PDAC, we demonstrated that concurrent administration of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and a modified dose of FOLFIRINOX (mFX) resulted in superior tumor control when compared with single or sequential treatment groups. Importantly, this combined treatment schedule enhanced the magnitude of immunogenic cell death, which in turn amplified tumor antigen presentation by dendritic cells and intratumoral CD8+ T-cell infiltration. Concurrent therapy also resulted in systemic immunity contributing to the control of established metastases. These findings provide a rationale for pursuing concurrent treatment schedules of SBRT with mFX in PDAC.
Safety and Efficacy of Bendamustine Monotherapy in the First-Line Treatment of Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Polish Lymphoma Research Group Real-Life Analysis
Authors: Wołowiec Dariusz , Szymczyk Agnieszka , Potoczek Stanisław , Krochmalczyk Dorota , Zawirska Daria , Piotrowska Magdalena , Malenda Agata , Soroka-Wojtaszko Maria , Kopacz Agnieszka , Wąsik-Szczepanek Ewa , Graboś-Michalak Jolanta , Raźny Małgorzata , Wichary Ryszard , Bramowicz-Jarosz Bożena , Seweryn Marek , Długosz-Danecka Monika , Hus Iwona
Published: November 2019

Bendamustine is a cytostatic drug with a unique structure, combining the features of purine nucleoside analogs and alkylating agents. In patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) it is commonly used in combination with rituximab (BR protocol) both in the first-line as well as subsequent lines of therapy, and in clinical trials it is often combined with new targeted therapies. Therefore, the data on its real-life safety and efficacy are of clinical significance. As the Polish Lymphoma Research Group (PLRG), we retrospectively analyzed the efficacy and tolerability of bendamustine monotherapy in 96 patients with CLL. The median number of bendamustine cycles was 5, and 44 patients did not complete the planned 6 cycles (46%). Among the adverse events associated with the earlier termination of bendamustine treatment, infections were the most common (20.5%), followed by neutropenia (15.9%) and thrombocytopenia (15.9%). Dose reductions and/or delays occurred in 31% of treatment cycles (132 of 425) with neutropenia (17.9%) as the most frequent cause. Efficacy analysis showed an overall response rate of 88.2% with complete remission and partial remission achieved in 43.8 and 41.7% of patients, respectively. At the 24th month of follow-up, progression-free survival was 52% and overall survival was 69.7%. Bendamustine in monotherapy was found to be safe and efficacious, at least in terms of early response. Special attention should be paid to infectious complications, and especially that immune disorders are characteristic in the clinical course of CLL. Our observations suggest efforts must be made to ensure the proper timing and proper dose in the administration of the drug, and to avoid the premature termination of the treatment.
Addressing the Elephant in the Room: Learning from CITES CoP17
Authors: Gaffney Alfie Christopher Byron , Evensen Darrick
Published: November 2019

The seventeenth Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference of the parties (CoP) exhibited a draconian opposition to any trade in ivory. A key component of this opposition was the intergovernmental regime’s consolidation of North–South power differentials through the increased presence and influence of Northern conservation-focused NGOs. Using the example of ivory, this Forum article unpacks this dynamic before advocating for more participatory, decentralized, and polycentric approaches to the global governance of endangered species trade at future CITES CoPs.
Crane flies—history, taxonomy and ecology (Diptera: Tipulidae, Limoniidae, Pediciidae, Trichoceridae, Ptychopteridae, Tanyderidae)
Authors: LANTSOV VLADIMIR
Published: November 2019

cover page
Proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on Trichoptera

Authors: MAJECKA KATARZYNA , MAJECKI JANUSZ , MORSE JOHN
Published: November 2019

Proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on Trichoptera
Muscis Hawaiiensis Mantissae II. Neckeropsis obtusata (Mont.) Fleisch. restored to the flora of the archipelago

Authors: Olson Storrs L.
Published: November 2019

Reported once and then deleted as a misidentification, Neckeropsis obtusata is confirmed as a component of the Hawaiian flora based on newly collected material. The species is still known only from a very limited area of the westernmost main island of Kauai and may represent an adventive introduction.
Polychaete diversity patterns on two Arctic shelves: impacts of ice and primary production?
Authors: AMBROSE, JR. WILLIAM G. , RENAUD PAUL E. , COCHRANE SABINE K.J. , DENISENKO STANISLAV G. , SKARÐHAMAR JOFRID
Published: November 2019

We used data sets from two Arctic shelves to examine relationships between primary production (or a proxy), ice cover, and the diversity of polychaetes. Benthic samples were collected from the Northeast Water Polynya on the Northeast Greenland shelf and from the Barents Sea. Each of these areas is characterized by large differences in seasonal ice cover and primary production on a mesoscale. In addition to enumerating polychaete diversity, we also quantified the concentration of benthic algal pigments, sediment percent organic carbon, ice cover for the four years preceding sampling, and sediment grain size. In the Barents Sea, primary production was estimated from an ecosystem model. In both northeast Greenland and the Barents Sea, locations with lower primary production (Barents Sea) or proxies for primary production (benthic algal pigments: Greenland and Barents Sea), exhibited the greatest taxonomic richness. In Greenland, the area with the lowest concentration of benthic pigments had an ES(201) up to 30% higher than values from areas with four times more pigments. In the Barents Sea, ES(201) was greatest in the North under heaviest ice cover (>25% cover per year), again approximately 30% higher than in the South (<15% cover) or under the Polar Front (15–25% cover). Other factors also explained diversity: multiple regressions and Principal Component Analysis indicated that grain size, water depth and concentration of sediment organic carbon were important predictors of species diversity (Shannon-Wiener Index and Simpson’s Reciprocal Index), but the results of these analyses were occasionally different from the patterns observed in the species accumulation curves or ES(201) values. Simpson’s Index indicated that high ice-cover (and low primary production and benthic pigment) areas in the Barents Sea had greater evenness (lower dominance) than regions with higher indicators of food supply to the benthos. Low resource levels may prevent a few species from becoming very abundant and out-competing rare species. Diversity indices from northeast Greenland did not vary significantly among regions. We did not address habitat heterogeneity, but patchy distribution of food, combined with small- scale sediment heterogeneity also could enhance richness in food-poor areas. While the mechanism for the relationship between polychaete species richness and ice concentration or primary production is not clear, it does suggest that a change in polychaete diversity may need to be added to the list of possible responses of the benthos to climate-driven changes in ice cover.
Obituary Jørgen Bagger Kirkegaard (1920–2006)
Authors: EIBYE-JACOBSEN DANNY
Published: November 2019

Jørgen Bagger Kirkegaard was born on the 18th of November, 1920 in Frederiksberg, a town just west of Copenhagen, Denmark. He was the only child of an elementary school biology teacher, Immanuel Kirkegaard, and his wife Oda, née Simonsen.
The ecology, biology and larval instars of the North Caucasian population (Lake Maliy Tambukan) of Tipula subcunctans Alexander, 1921 (Diptera: Tipulidae)

Authors: LANTSOV VLADIMIR I.
Published: November 2019

Different aspects of ecology, biology and regional distribution of Tipula subcunctans in the North Caucasus (Lake Maliy Tambukan, 12 km south-east of Pyatigorsk) are investigated. Abundance of larvae, fecundity of females, mode of oviposition and other data are presented. First instar larvae are described and the existence of two morphological forms of fourth instar larvae is demonstrated.
Bernhard Mannheims, a memorial on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth, with bibliography and list of taxa
Authors: REUSCH HERBERT , OOSTERBROEK PJOTR
Published: November 2019

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bernhard Mannheims, we present a short biography, a complete bibliography and a list of the taxa of Diptera described or named by him.
Six new species of the genus Lepidostoma Rambur (Trichoptera, Lepidostomatidae) from Japan

Authors: ITO TOMIKO
Published: November 2019

Six new species of Lepidostoma Rambur, Lepidostomatidae, are described from Japan: L. pseudemarginatum, L. mennokiense, L. yunotaniense, L. yosakoiense, L. konosense and L. amagiense. They live in small water flows, often hygropetric habitats, in mountain areas.
The effect of a summer flood on the density of caddisfly (Trichoptera) in the middle reaches of the Shinano River, Japan

Authors: KIMURA GORO , HIRABAYASHI KIMIO
Published: November 2019

We investigated the response of caddisfly species assemblages in the middle reaches of the Shinano River to a flood that occurred in mid July 2006. Prior to the flood (on Day -22) the population density of total benthic caddisflies was 8,266.7 ± 2,392.1 individuals m-2. After the flood, by Day 11, the population density had decreased to 55.6 ± 55.6 individuals m-2. By Day 65, the density of caddis species had recovered to nearly the same level as that recorded before the flood, particularly in the case of Hydropsyche orientalis Martynov, the most abundant benthic species. By Day 65 the larvae of this species had reached pre-flood levels. On Day 40 it was noted that the larval population was dominated by final instars, but by Day 65 early instar larvae were dominant and downstream drift consisted mainly of second instars. Moreover, H. orientalis adults were constantly collected during the study period and the abundance of adults increased after Day 50. These results suggested that drift and reproduction were the main recolonization mechanisms that contributed to the rapid recovery of benthic caddisfly after the flood.
The Trichoptera World Checklist
Authors: MORSE JOHN C.
Published: November 2019

The Trichoptera World Checklist (TWC) is a project of the successive International Symposia on Trichoptera, with the responsibility for its policy and maintenance assigned to the international Trichoptera Checklist Coordinating Committee.  The TWC originated 20 years ago and has been available on the worldwide web for over 11 years, providing ready access to data regarding caddisfly taxa.  Security is assured by daily backup of the database.  Trichoptera scientists everywhere are urged to continue sending their published research to the Editor.  As of June 2009, the TWC included records for 13,574 valid, extant species and 308 valid, extant subspecies in 609 genera of 47 families.  It also included 650 valid, extinct (fossil) species, 113 extinct genera, and 8 extinct families.  The density of species among biogeographic regions is variable, with known species density in the Oriental Region about 7.5 times that in the Afrotropical Region.
The biology of the limnephilid caddisfly Dicosmoecus gilvipes (Hagen) in Northern California and Oregon (USA) Streams

Authors: Resh Vincent H. , Hannaford Morgan , Jackson John K. , Lamberti Gary A. , Mendez Patina K.
Published: November 2019

The limnephilid caddisfly Dicosmoecus gilvipies (Hagen) occurs in many streams of northwestern United States and British Columbia.  Because of the large size of the fully grown larva, its synchronous emergence pattern, and its frequent imitation by fly-fishing anglers, D. gilvipes is one of the best known North American aquatic insects. Egg masses are found at the bases of Carex sedges. Cases of early larval instars are made of organic material and detritus; 3rd and 4th instars incorporate pebbles into cases. The 5th-instar case is made entirely of mineral material. Larvae can travel up to 25 m per day, and are predominantly scraper-grazers. Fifth instars attach their cases to the underside of boulders in mid-summer and remain dormant until pupation in autumn.  All northern California populations known are univoltine. Adult females use sex pheromones to attract males; most males come to trapped females in the 1st hour after sunset.  In laboratory studies, males and females fly during the mate attraction period but generally not at other times.  Males but not females exhibit circadian rhythms that govern flight periodicity. In enclosures to study biotic interactions, the density of D. gilvipes larvae has a negative effect on the densities of sessile grazers. This species has been widely used in trophic and behavioral studies conducted in the laboratory and field, and may be a model organism for ecological studies of caddisflies and other benthic macroinvertebrates.
Trichopteran fauna in a region of Central Italy: Lazio
Authors: CIANFICCONI FERNANDA , CORALLINI CARLA , LA PORTA GIANANDREA , TODINI BARBARA
Published: November 2019

The first list of Trichoptera from the Lazio region is reported. It is the result of research carried out from 1942-1979 in 23 hypogean cavities and from 1961-2000 in 25 lotic (52 sampling sites) and 17 lentic (24 sampling sites) biotopes. The lotic biotopes include hygropetric habitats, springs, streams, rivers and canals; the lentic biotopes include lakes of different origins and mountain pools. Ninety-one species and 7 subspecies from 18 families were collected. Forty-two species of different ecological categories are found only in lotic biotopes, 18 only in lentic biotopes and 7 species of Stenophylacinae only in hypogean cavities. The species belong to several chorological categories. Eighteen species and 7 subspecies are endemic to the Italian fauna. Six of these are limited to the regions of the Central Apennines, including Apatania volscorum Moretti, Cianficconi & Papagno exclusive to Lazio (Posta Fibreno Lake), Drusus aprutiensis Moretti endemic only to Lazio and Abruzzo, D. camerinus Moretti only to Lazio, Marche and Umbria, Glossosoma serravalle Malicky & Graf to Lazio (Velino River) and to Umbria and Marche (Nera River), Potamophylax cingulatus inermis Moretti & Cianficconi to Lazio, Abruzzo, Umbria and Marche, Allogamus antennatus ausoniae Moretti to Lazio, Abruzzo, Molise, Umbria and Marche. The presence of Chimarra marginata (L.) in the Mignone River is noteworthy because it is a rare species in Italy.
Diet and secondary production of some species of Hydropsyche larvae (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) in the tailwater affected by dam removal and the emptying of an impoundment

Authors: TSZYDEL MARIUSZ , GRZYBKOWSKA MARIA
Published: November 2019

The diet of 4th and 5th instar larvae of filter-feeding trichopteran species [Hydropsyche contubernalis McLachlan, H. modesta Navás and H. pellucidula (Curtis)] that are dominant in the benthos in riffle habitats was analysed. Caddisflies were collected in a river section downstream of a dam. Samples were collected in 2 periods: S1—during the functioning of the dam reservoir, and S2—just after it was emptied (reservoir recovery).            Gut contents were examined from the anterior part of the alimentary canal. Formless content, diatoms and other algae were considered as detritus. The diet of 4th instars mostly consisted of plant and animal detritus, with a small contribution of early stages of Chironomidae larvae. In contrast, 5th instars consumed larger chironomids in the subfamilies Orthocladiinae and Tanytarsini. When the reservoir was emptied, an increase in the contribution of invertebrates to the diet was observed – chironomid larvae, trichopterans and ostracods dominated. In spring they were Chironomidae (Cricotopus sp.), while in winter and summer Simuliidae. The most diversified diet was recorded in H. contubernalis and H. modesta in the summer of S2.       Trichopteran secondary production in the investigated river section was similar in both study periods: 38.8 in S1 and 35.3 g dry mass m-2 year-1 in S2. In both study periods, the highest values of production were recorded in the stony riffle habitat, where H. contubernalis comprizeded 23.4% (S1) and 18.8% (S2) of total annual trichopteran production originating from all the investigated habitats.
Availability of alternative foods can influence the impact of pesticides on predatory mites (Acari): a summary of the evidence*

Authors: DUSO CARLO , POZZEBON ALBERTO , BALDESSARI MARIO , GIROLAMI VINCENZO , ANGELI GINO , TIRELLO PAOLA , LORENZON MAURO , MALAGNINI VALERIA , PELLIZZARI GIUSEPPINA
Published: November 2019

Generalist predatory mites belonging to the Phytoseiidae play a major role in keeping phytophagous mites below economic threshold levels in European apple orchards and vineyards. Apart from their primary prey, these phytoseiids can exploit a range of other foods, among which pollen and plant pathogenic fungi are very important. The ability of generalist predatory mites to feed on alternative foods is of importance for their persistence in perennial crops. Pesticides can exert dramatic effects on mite communities, and these effects can be more severe on predators than on phytophagous mites, with practical consequences for pest management. Several factors of intrinsic (e.g. resistance to stress) and extrinsic nature (e.g. immigration) can influence the response of predatory mite populations to pesticide applications. Environmental conditions, in particular availability of alternative foods, could affect the resilience of predatory mite populations after pesticide applications. Here we evaluate the role of availability of alternative foods on the response of predatory mite populations to pesticide applications in two crop systems: apple and grape. In the former, increasing the abundance of pollen through appropriate grass management resulted in less pronounced negative effects of some insecticides on the predatory mite Kampimodromus aberrans (Oudemans). In a controlled laboratory experiment, we demonstrated that availability of fresh pollen reduced the effect of pesticides on the fecundity of that predator. In the grape system, we found a positive effect of the plant pathogen grape downy mildew (GDM) on Amblyseius andersoni (Chant) populations, while some pesticides had a negative impact. GDM availability on plants favored the colonization by beneficial mites of pesticide treated plants with positive implications for mite persistence in vineyards.
Behavioural observations of the bodyguard mite Ensliniella parasitica*

Authors: OKABE KIMIKO , MAKINO SHUN’ICHI
Published: November 2019

In a mutualistic relation between a potter wasp, Allodynerus delphinalis (Giraud) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), and its specific parasitic mite, Ensliniella parasitica Vitzthum (Winterschmidtiidae), behaviour of the mite guarding the wasp and attacking their common natural enemy, Melittobia acasta (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), was examined.While mite attacks to M. acasta occurred by accidental physical contact, the counterattack by the parasitoid occurred 24 h after both were released onto their mutual host. The two organisms fought until one of them died in our experimental arena, which the parasitoid could not escape from to avoid combat. It was not possible to determine what the behaviour of the parasitoid would be had it been able to escape. Mite phoretic behaviour was also examined to understand the mechanism by which both the host wasp and the mite could reap reciprocal benefits from the presence of acarinaria on the wasp. The results suggested that the newly emerged host wasp might have an attractant to collect the necessary number of mites in an acarinarium, which would later function as guards of its offspring, given that around 46% of mite deutonymphs were able to migrate into one of the acarinaria within only 10 min after they were put together in an experimental arena. To more fully understand the strategy of each organism involved in this mutualism, further observation on their behaviour is needed.
Summary of the history of the International Congresses of Acarology*
Authors: FLECHTMANN CARLOS H.W.
Published: November 2019

“The conception of the First International Congress of Acarology originated one evening during an informal discussion in the library of the Zoological Institute at the University of Vienna in August 1960. This simple beginning during the course of the convened XIth International Congress of Entomology initiated the general plans. Subsequent discussions among those acarologists present resulted in the establishment of an organizing committee which was charged to consider the feasibility of an international meeting and to make positive arrangements.
Genetic factors potentially reducing fitness cost of organophosphate-insensitive acetylcholinesterase(s) in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)*

Authors: TEMEYER KEVIN B. , TIJERINA MARY , DAVEY RONALD B. , OLAFSON PIA U.
Published: November 2019

Acaricidal activity of organophosphate (OP) and carbamate acaricides is believed to result from inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Previous studies in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus demonstrated the presence of three presumptive AChE genes (BmAChEs). Biochemical characterization of recombinant BmAChE proteins expressed in the baculovirus system demonstrated that each of the three R. (B.) microplus rBmAChEs have enzymatic properties consistent with designation as functional acetylcholinesterases. Complementary DNAs (cDNAs) for each of the three BmAChEs were cloned and sequenced from individual adult tick synganglia excised from OP-susceptible and OPresistant strains. The data revealed the presence of multiple transcript sequences within individual ticks for each of the BmAChEs, suggesting alternative mRNA splicing or expression of multiple alleles for each of the BmAChE genes. Quantitative real-time PCR provided evidence of possible gene duplication or amplification for each of the BmAChE genes, and direct sequencing of genomic DNA provided evidence of structural BmAChE gene diversity with respect to presence or absence of introns, as well as the presence or absence of sequence polymorphisms. Baculovirus expression of rBmAChE1 and rBmAChE3 proteins containing some of the predicted amino acid sequence polymorphisms resulted in production of OP-insensitive AChE, demonstrating that at least some OP-resistant individuals contain mutations that reduce OP-inhibition for at least two of the three known BmAChEs. RNA interference was utilized to silence in vivo expression of the BmAChE genes in adult ticks, resulting in tick mortality if all three BmAChEs were silenced simultaneously, strongly suggesting that the BmAChE proteins functionally complement one another in vivo. Together, the results presented provide strong evidence that OP-resistance in R. microplus is at least partially mediated by a combination of the expression of multiple genes encoding acetylcholinesterase, mutations in BmAChEs resulting in OP-insensitivity, gene duplication, and maintenance of allelic diversity, including both OP-sensitive and OPinsensitive alleles within individual ticks. The authors propose that these factors may mitigate fitness costs that might otherwise result from BmAChE mutations, and demonstrate the extreme complexity of OP-resistance in R. (B.) microplus. It is hoped that elucidation of the complex interactions among the multiple BmAChEs and their physiological roles may enable development of new opportunities for tick control.
Variations in the infection level of Neoergasilus japonicus (Copepoda: Ergasilidae) between freshwater fishes at different sites in the Ashida River system, western Japan

Authors: NAGASAWA KAZUYA , INOUE AKIKO
Published: November 2019

Females of Neoergasilus japonicus (Harada, 1930) are ectoparasitic on freshwater fishes. While this species is currently known as an alien parasite in southern Asia, Europe, and North America, little information is as yet available on its ecology. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of N. japonicus on freshwater fishes in the Ashida River system in Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan, in order to evaluate which factors may contribute to variations in the infection level of this parasite between fish species and between sampling locations. Sampling was conducted at five sites in the middle and lower reaches of the Ashida River (the main stream) and at two sites of its tributary, the Takaya River. Twenty-three fish species belonging to seven families were collected, of which ten (eight native and two introduced) benthopelagic species were found infected with N. japonicus. Two centrarchid species of North American origin, largemouth black bass Micropterus salmoides and bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, were more frequently and heavily infected than Japanese native fishes. In both introduced and native fishes, larger individuals showed a higher level of infection. For the fish species that were widespread in the main stream, infection with N. japonicus occurred in the lower reaches only, where current speed was nil and water depth was high. These results suggest that the fish composition, biological aspects (e.g., body size and distribution in the water column) of the fish hosts, and environmental factors such as current speed and water depth are closely associated with the distribution pattern of N. japonicus in the Ashida River system.
The genus Ozineus Bates, 1863 in South America (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae)
Authors: MONNÉ MARCELA L. , MONNÉ MIGUEL A. , DE SANTANA SOUZA DIEGO
Published: November 2019

The diagnosis of Ozineus Bates, 1863 is emended and a key is provided for the species of the genus in South America. A new synonymy is proposed for Sternacutus Gilmour, 1961 (junior synonym of Ozineus Bates, 1863), which includes a new combination for Sternacutus zikani (Melzer, 1935). Tropidozineus albidus Monné, 2009 is transferred to Ozineus.
Rumen Ciliate Fauna of Domestic Sheep in Kastamonu, Turkey, and Infraciliature of Diplodinium quinquespinosum, Metadinium affine, and M. tauricum (Entodiniomorphida, Ophryoscolecidae)
Authors: BERBER BELMA , GÜRELLİ GÖZDE
Published: November 2019

Species distribution and composition of the ciliates found in the ruminal contents of 15 domestic sheep (Ovis aries) living in Kastamonu, Turkey, were investigated. Twenty-four species and 8 morphotypes belonging to 10 genera were identified. The density of the rumen ciliates in sheep was 108.2 (± 150.8) × 104 cells ml−1, and the mean number of ciliate species per host was 10.7 ± 4.6. Among the ciliate species identified, Dasytricha ruminantium was the most abundant, with a prevalence of 93.3%, whereas Diplodinium quinquespinosum, Eudiplodinium rostratum, and Metadinium tauricum were detected in only one animal (6.7% prevalence). D. quinquespinosum, Eudiplodinium rostratum, and Entodinium simulans m. dubardi were detected for the first time in sheep from Turkey. This is the first report of the presence of D. quinquespinosum in the rumen of ruminants in Turkey. The infraciliature of D. quinquespinosum, Metadinium affine, and M. tauricum (Entodiniomorphida, Ophryoscolecidae) was investigated. D. quinquespinosum and M. affine had Diplodinium-type infraciliature, whereas M. tauricum possessed Metadinium medium-type infraciliature.
Computer Three-Dimensional Positioning and Reconstruction of Continuous Slice Images of Biological Tissues
Authors: He Ying
Published: November 2019

The physiological and pathological changes of organisms will have certain effects on the morphology of tissues and organs. Conversely, the morphological changes of tissues and organs can also reflect the physiological and pathological changes of organisms to some extent. The bio-tissue
slice can provide people with two-dimensional information of the tissue structure on a certain section. In this paper, the image registration algorithm based on mutual information is used to register the slice images of different tissues, and then the image segmentation is used to improve
the registration accuracy. The three-dimensional data of the organizational structure is obtained, and the three-dimensional image of the tissue is reconstructed by computer processing. The reconstruction of different tissue slices is used to prove that the algorithm is fast and accurate,
and the reconstruction speed of the 3D model is improved, which is of great significance for shortening the diagnostic waiting time.
A Level Set Method with Region-Scalable Fitting Energy for Retinal Layer Segmentation in Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Images
Authors: Liang Liming , Sheng Xiaoqi , Liu Bowen , Lan Zhimin
Published: November 2019

Retinal layer segmentation of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images plays an important role during diagnosis and analysis of ophthalmic diseases. In this paper, a novel variational level set framework with region-scalable fitting energy is proposed for automated retinal
layer segmentation in SD-OCT. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that level set based method succeeds in ten retinal layers segmentation. The proposed framework consists of three steps. First, an anisotropic nonlinear diffusion filter is applied for speckle noise reduction
and ROI contrast enhancement. Second, Canny edge detectors are used to extract initial layers: nerve fiber layer, connecting cilia and retinal pigment epithelium. Finally, the rest retinal layers are segmented by means of level set model combined with prior knowledge of retinal thickness and
morphology, for which the energy function consists of region-scalable fitting energy data term, area constraint term, regularization term and length penalty term. The proposed method was tested on 50 retinal SD-OCT B-scans from 50 normal subjects. The overall unsigned border position error
is 5.92 ± 4.72 μm. The result showed that data terms with border weight terms can keep layer segmentation results in strong border while retaining its fitting capability in weak border. The proposed method achieves better segmentation result than other active contour models.
The Relation between Inequality and Intergenerational Class Mobility in 39 Countries
Authors: Hertel Florian R. , Groh-Samberg Olaf
Published: November 2019

We study the relationship between inter-class inequality and intergenerational class mobility across 39 countries. Previous research on the relationship between economic inequality and class mobility remains inconclusive, as studies have confounded intra- with between-class economic inequalities. We propose that between-class inequality across multiple dimensions accounts for the inverse relationship between inequality and mobility: the larger the resource distance between classes, the less likely it is that mobility from one to the other will occur. We consider inequality in terms of between-class differences in three areas—education, wages, and income—and in a composite measure. Building on sociological mobility theory, we argue that cross-country variation in mobility results, in part, from families adapting to different levels of between-class inequality. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find a negative correlation between inter-class inequality and social fluidity, with between-class inequality being a better predictor of mobility chances than conventional distributional measures. We also find that the resource distance between classes is negatively related to the strength of their intergenerational association for some off-diagonal origin and destination (OD) class combinations.
Employment Adjustments of Regular and Non-Regular Workers to Exogenous Shocks: Evidence from Exchange-Rate Fluctuation
Authors: Yokoyama Izumi , Higa Kazuhito , Kawaguchi Daiji
Published: November 2019

The authors investigate the adjustments in employment of regular and non-regular workers, exploiting the exchange-rate fluctuation and heterogeneous dependence on international trade across firms as a source of exogenous variation. An analysis of panel data of Japanese manufacturers reveals that the appreciation of the Japanese yen spontaneously decreased the sales of exporters and the employment of non-regular workers, but it did not reduce the employment of regular workers. This finding provides support for the claim that firms are likely to adjust the employment of non-regular workers to absorb exogenous shocks and to insulate regular workers from the shocks in an uncertain business environment. In exploring the mechanism driving these results, the authors also find that exporters use the employment of non-regular workers and wages of regular workers as adjustment margins for the exchange-rate fluctuation to hoard regular workers, who presumably hold higher levels of firm-specific human capital.
The Impact of Donald Trump’s Presidency on the Well-Being of African Americans
Authors: Clayton Dewey M. , Moore Sharon E. , Jones-Eversley Sharon D.
Published: November 2019

This article purports to examine the chaotic presidency of Donald Trump and how it has been harmful to the African American community. To accomplish this, the authors use chaos theory as our theoretical framework. Chaos theory appears to be random and haphazard at first glance, but it is actually structured. Trump has been successful with this leadership style by diverting attention away from these harmful actions and by having the electorate focus on his erratic behavior. After a discussion of chaos theory, the authors examine several of the Trump administration’s policies which we argue are harmful to African Americans. We analyze specific policies in the areas of criminal justice, voting rights, and environmental racism, which we believe are causing significant damage. Finally, we probe some of the implications of the Trump administration’s policies and what can be done to counteract them.
Development and characterisation of multi-layered jute fabric-reinforced HDPE composites
Authors: Sayem Abu Sadat Muhammad , Haider Julfikar , Sayeed MM Alamgir
Published: November 2019

The bast fibres, a subgroup of natural fibre family, have emerged as a strong competitor of widely used man-made glass fibre for use as fillers or reinforcing materials in certain types of composite materials, which do not require very high mechanical resistance. This paper investigates the manufacturing of multi-layered jute fabric-reinforced thermoplastic composite and its mechanical performance. Hessian jute fabrics in two, four and six layers without any pre-treatment were sandwiched in 0° orientation into seven layers of high-density polyethylene sheets and pressed at high temperature and pressure to form composite laminates having three different structural designs. The laminates with two, four and six layers contain approximately 6.70 wt%, 12.90 wt% and 18.50 wt% of jute fibres, respectively. Mechanical performance of the composite laminates having four and six layers of jute fabric was found to have improved significantly when compared to the pure high-density polyethylene laminates. Within a given sample thickness of 6.5 mm, the laminate with six layers of jute fabric exhibited the best mechanical performance. Optical microscopic analysis revealed that the yarn orientation of the fabrics within the composites remained stable, and there was no visible void in the laminate structure. Fracture morphology of the composite investigated by a scanning electron microscope showed good adhesion of the jute fabrics with the high-density polyethylene matrix.
Substance or Semantics? The Consequences of Definitional Ambiguity for White-collar Research
Authors: Galvin Miranda A.
Published: November 2019

Objectives:

To determine whether different conceptions (Populist, Patrician) and operationalizations of “white-collar crime” produce different substantive conclusions, using the applied case of sentencing in federal criminal court.

Method:

Federal Justice Statistics Program data are used to identify white-collar and comparable crimes referred for prosecution in 2009 to 2011 that were also sentenced through 2013. Five different operational strategies are used to identify “white-collar crime” and are employed in separate hurdle regressions jointly capturing incarceration and sentence length. Differences in model coefficients and case composition are discussed across definitions.

Results:

There are differences in the relationship between “white-collar crime” and incarceration both between and within Populist and Patrician conceptions. These differences are most pronounced at the in/out decision but are also present for sentence length.

Conclusions:

Contradictory findings from past research are largely able to be replicated within a single sample simply by changing the conception and operationalization of white-collar crime used. This demonstrates that debating what is “truly” white-collar crime is not just an exercise in semantics—it is a conceptual and methodological choice that can have dramatic consequences on what (we think) we know about the treatment of white-collar crime in the criminal justice system.
Democratizing Investment
Authors: Palladino Lenore
Published: November 2019

Americans have trillions of dollars invested in public and private companies, yet stock ownership is highly unequal: the wealthiest 1 percent of households possess 40 percent of all wealth, and there is a large and persistent racial wealth gap. What if innovations in distributed technologies allowed for democratic facilitation of new opportunities for wealth and a rebalancing of power within the capital markets? This article proposes using innovative financial technologies to create a “Public Investment Platform”—a public option for participation in capital markets—and a “Public Investment Account” to universalize access to investment opportunities. Capital markets are currently governed by public policies that submerge the role of the public in structuring them and enable an inequitable accumulation of wealth. To democratize finance, new policies are required to democratize participation in investment.
Economic Democracy and Enterprise Form in Finance
Authors: Simon William H.
Published: November 2019

This article considers the relative advantages of alternative enterprise forms in finance from the point of view of public accountability. The business corporation is compared to the state agency or authority, the cooperative, the state corporation, and the charitable nonprofit. These forms can be distinguished according to whether they aspire to enhance general electoral democracy or stakeholder democracy and whether their democratic controls operate directly or indirectly. The article suggests that the indirect democratic forms may be more promising than the direct ones. It also argues that the project of democratizing finance depends on the development of practices of multifactor or “dialogic” performance assessment. Such practices must be institutionalized through public or private organizations that extend across firms.
Direct Skills Teaching of Work-Related Conversational Skills for Individuals With Disabilities
Authors: Lu Weili , Oursler Janice D. , Herrick Samantha J. , Durante Alison C. , Socha Crystal V. , Crisafulli Gabrielle M.
Published: November 2019

Work-related soft skills such as cultural awareness and effective communication, along with cognitive factors, influence success in school and in the workplace. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a small group intervention using the direct skills teaching (DST) approach to teach basic conversational skills in a work setting. A four-session group intervention using the “Conversing With Others” curriculum based on the DST approach was delivered to 146 participants in 22 groups by graduate counseling students. Participants reported greater confidence with engaging a coworker in conversation as well as high satisfaction with the group intervention in general. This pilot study provided data on the feasibility of this intervention and supported its use as a pedagogical tool for counselors-in-training.
Emotionality and Professionalism: Exploring the Management of Emotions by Journalists Reporting on Genocide
Authors: Knight Caitlin
Published: November 2019

The dynamic nature of reporting requires journalists to interrogate their emotions as well as their sense of professionalism. This article focuses on the complex relationship between emotionality and professionalism mediated by journalists who reported on cases of genocide. This extraordinary conflict situation provides a unique lens from which to explore the personal and professional resolve of journalists. Utilising interviews with UK journalists that reported on genocides in Rwanda and Srebrenica, this article develops a framework which characterises journalistic emotional labour as distinct, multi-faceted and somewhat contradictory. While participants described reporting as a focused, professional process in which emotions were silenced, the instinctual element and residual emotional toll associated with reporting on genocide demonstrates emotionality was not entirely absent. This article therefore provides a future template from which to explore emotional labour as part of a transformative relationship between journalists’ emotionality and professionalism.