bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Notes on South American Dasyomma, with the description of a remarkable new species from Chile (Diptera: Athericidae)
Authors: WOODLEY NORMAN E.
Published: June 2019

A new species of Dasyomma Macquart, D. chrysopilum sp. nov., is described from Chile (Malleco and Ñuble Provinces). This species differs from all other known species in having dense golden pilosity on the abdominal tergites of both sexes. Dasyomma basale Malloch is redescribed, with the female described for the first time.
Revisionary studies on the attine ant genus Trachymyrmex Forel. Part 3: The Jamaicensis group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: MAYHÉ-NUNES ANTONIO J. , BRANDÃO C. ROBERTO F.
Published: June 2019

We hereby revise the Jamaicensis group of species of Trachymyrmex (Myrmicinae: Attini), as the third part of our taxonomic revisionary studies on this fungus-growing ant genus. The species group we deal with here includes six taxa that share exclusively the antennal scrobes always reaching the posterior margin of the head and ending as two separate projections arising from the preocular and frontal carinae, giving the scrobe posterior region an “opened” appearance and an angular profile to the posterolateral corners, in frontal view. The Jamaicensis group is composed of Trachymyrmex atlanticus n. sp. (eastern Brazil), Trachymyrmex haytianus Wheeler & Mann, 1914 n. st. (Haiti, Jamaica), Trachymyrmex isthmicus Santschi, 1931 (Colombia, Ecuador, Panama), Trachymyrmex ixyodus n. sp. (northern Brazil, Suriname), Trachymyrmex jamaicensis (André, 1893) (Caribbean islands and southern USA), its synonyms (Trachymyrmex sharpii Forel, 1893; Trachymyrmex maritimus Wheeler, 1905 n. syn.; Trachymyrmex jamaicensis var. frontalis Santschi, 1925 n. syn., and Trachymyrmex jamaicensis cubaensis Wheeler, 1937 n. syn.), and Trachymyrmex zeteki Weber, 1940 (Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama). Trachymyrmex jamaicensis antiguensis Weber, 1938 is excluded from the Jamaicensis species group because it belongs to the Trachymyrmex Urichi species group. The only known Trachymyrmex fossil, T. primaevus Baroni Urbani, 1980, from the Dominican amber, does not belong to the Jamaicensis species group, as hypothesized earlier.
Five new species of Drymeia Meigen from the Tibet Plateau, China (Diptera: Muscidae)
Authors: XUE WAN-QI , WANG DAN-DAN , ZHANG XUE-ZHONG , XIANG CHAO-QUN
Published: June 2019

Five new species of Drymeia Meigen are described from China, namely Drymeia naticerca Xue & Xiang, sp. nov., Drymeia nudiapica Xue & Zhang, sp. nov., Drymeia minutifica Xue & Wang, sp. nov., Drymeia spinicosta Xue & Xiang, sp. nov.., and Drymeia pilifemorata Xue & Wang, sp. nov. A generic diagnosis of Drymeia is given along with a key to the males of the 45 species of the genus presently known from China.
Another new Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, central Truong Son, Vietnam
Authors: HEIDRICH ASTRID , RÖSLER HERBERT , THANH VU NGOC , BÖHME WOLFGANG , ZIEGLER THOMAS
Published: June 2019

A new species of Cyrtodactylus is described from the Truong Son (Annamite mountain range) of Quang Binh Province in central Vietnam. It is characterized by 3–5 transversal dorsal bands between the limb insertions, a neckband reaching the posterior margin of eye, 19–20 irregular longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles, forelimbs with tubercles, 47–50 longitudinal rows of ventrals at midbody, 9–11 precloacal pores in an angular series in males and 16–27 enlarged precloacal scales in both sexes, 20–23 lamellae below the 4th toe, a segmented tail, and lacking of a distinct ventrolateral fold, a precloacal groove and femoral pores, as well as transversally enlarged subcaudal plates. The new species is known only from the karst forests of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. Preliminary data on its natural history are provided.
A new species of Glassfrog (Anura: Centrolenidae) from the lowlands of northwestern Ecuador, with comments on centrolenid osteology
Authors: GUAYASAMIN JUAN M. , TRUEB LINDA
Published: June 2019

A new species of Glassfrog is described from the lowlands of northwestern Ecuador. The species is placed in the genus Centrolene and differs from the genera, Cochranella and Hyalinobatrachium, by having humeral spines in males. It differs from congenerics by having a uniformly green dorsal coloration, conspicuous humeral spine, and white iris with clearly defined black reticulations. Detailed cranial and postcranial osteological descriptions are provided, and some of osteological features that seem to be peculiar to centrolenids are discussed. A new suite of traits to characterize Glassfrogs and simplify comparisons among species is proposed.
Reconsidering Pholeuon C. Hampe (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Cholevinae), with the description of a new subgenus
Authors: MOLDOVAN OANA TEODORA , RACOVI⁄Ă GHEORGHE , DUNAY GEJZA
Published: June 2019

Mesopholeuon Moldovan, Racoviţă & Dunay, subgen. nov. is described for Pholeuon comani Ieniştea, 1955 known from the central part of the Apuseni Mountains (Transylvania, Romania). The subgenus is characterized mainly by distinct shape of the body and the aedeagus. Pholeuon comani is redescribed. A key to subgenera of Pholeuon is provided. Present-day distribution of Pholeuon is described and palaeogeographic conditions are discussed to reconstruct the history of the cave fauna in north-western Romania, a remote area in the distribution of subterranean Cholevinae in Europe.
A taxonomic review of the southern African millipede genus, Bicoxidens Attems, 1928 (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida: Spirostreptidae), with the description of three new species and a tentative phylogeny
Authors: MWABVU TAROMBERA , HAMER MICHELLE L. , SLOTOW ROBERT H.
Published: June 2019

The eight species of Bicoxidens were studied in order to verify their taxonomic validity and determine the status of new material. Two new synonymies are established: B. grandis Lawrence, 1965 = B. matabele (Schubart, 1966) and B. flavicollis Attems, 1928 = B. nasti Mwabvu, 2000. B. polyptychus, incorrectly placed in Bicoxidens, on the basis of morphological characters, including gonopods, is moved to Brevitibius Attems, 1950. Three new species, B. matopoensis Mwabvu, B. nyathi Mwabvu and B. gokwensis Mwabvu are described. An identification key to the species, a phylogenetic analysis based on gonopod morphology and distribution data for each species are also presented
Cladopelma Kieffer from the Sino-Indian Region (Diptera: Chironomidae)
Authors: YAN CHUNCAI , JIN ZHAOHUI , WANG XINHUA
Published: June 2019

The Sino-Indian species of the genus Cladopelma Kieffer are reviewed and one new species from China, C. costum sp. n., is described and illustrated as male. The males of C. edwardsi (Kruseman) and C. virescens (Meigen) from China are re-examined. Type material of Cryptotendipes inawaabeus Sasa, Kitami et Suzuki, Harnischia daitoheia Sasa et Suzuki, H. ginzandeeus Sasa et Suzuki, H. inadeeus Sasa, Kitami et Suzuki, H. sibacedea Sasa, Sumita et Suzuki, H. simantocedea Sasa, Suzuki et Sakai from Japan and Cladopelma indicum Bhattacharyay, Duta et Chaudhuri from India are reexamined, and all regarded as new synonyms of C. edwardsi. Cladopelma onogawaprima Sasa is regarded as a new synonym of C. hibaraprima Sasa and the species is transferred to Cryptotendipes as a new combination. Cladopelma kamalanagari Maheshwari et Agarwal from India is transferred to Paracladopelma as a new combination. A key to all known males of Cladopelma is provided.
Descriptions of Chinese species of the subgenus Diestrammena (Gymnaeta) Adelung (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae)
Authors: JIAO ZHONGJIU , NIU CHANGYING , LIU XIANWEI , LEI CHAOLIANG , BI WENXUAN
Published: June 2019

Diestrammena (Gymnaeta) was erected by Adelung in 1902 (Adelung 1902). The type species is Gymnaeta berezowskii Adelung, 1902. Presently, the subgenus Gymnaeta includes 9 species (Eades et al., 2007). In the present paper, one new species D. (G.) caverna sp. n., the male of D.(G.) brevicauda (Karny, 1933), and the male of D.(G.) tianmushanensis (Liu & Zhang, 2001), D.(G.) borutzkyi Gorochov, 2004 are described. The specific name Gymnaeta brevicauda Karny, 1933 is resurrected. A key to the Chinese species of Diestrammena (Gymnaeta) is given. All the materials are deposited in the Shanghai Entomological Museum, Chinese Academy of Science.
Eleven new species of the genus Cluzobra Edwards (Diptera, Mycetophilidae, Sciophilinae) from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil
Authors: DE SOUZA AMORIM DALTON , OLIVEIRA SARAH SIQUEIRA
Published: June 2019

Eleven new species of the sciophiline genus Cluzobra Edwards are described and illustrated – Cluzobra triocellata, sp.n., Cluzobra accola, sp.n., Cluzobra claripennis, sp.n., Cluzobra papaveroi, sp.n., Cluzobra coptolithus, sp.n., Cluzobra vockerothi, sp.n., Cluzobra sapiranga, sp.n., Cluzobra fluminense, sp.n., Cluzobra fritzmuelleri, sp.n., Cluzobra spinata, sp.n., Cluzobra elpidia, sp.n. Additional specimens of C. fuscipennis Edwards, C. plaumanni Edwards, and C. binocellaris (Edwards) have been identified, extending the distribution range of these species. The species were identified and described based on 173 specimens at different latitudes along the Atlantic Forest in eastern Brazil and northern Argentina. The position of the new species in the groups of species proposed for the genus in the literature is considered. Three areas of endemism are identified for the group, one from southern Brazil, northern Argentina and Paraguay northwards to areas at higher altitudes in the States of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, one from southern Bahia to the extreme north of the Atlantic Forest, in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, and one in west State of São Paulo, extending west and northwards into the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Goiás. This paper raises the number of known Cluzobra to 41 species.
Three new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: GRISMER L. LEE , ONN CHAN KIN , GRISMER JESSE L. , WOOD, JR. PERRY L. , BELABUT DAICUS
Published: June 2019

Three new species of the gekkonid genus Cyrtodactylus are described from Peninsular Malaysia; C. jarakensis sp. nov. from Pulau Jarak off the west coast of Perak, C. batucolus sp. nov. from Pulau Besar of the Water Islands Archipelago off the west coast of Melaka, and C. pantiensis sp. nov. from the Gunung Panti Forest Reserve, Johor. All are distinguishable from other Sunda Shelf species of Cyrtodactylus in having unique combinations of morphological and color pattern characteristics. The continued high potential for finding additional new species in unexplored regions of southern Peninsular Malaysia and its associated archipelagos is further supported with these findings.
The Australian species of Iphidozercon (Acari: Ascidae)
Authors: GWIAZDOWICZ D. J. , HALLIDAY R. B.
Published: June 2019

The genus Iphidozercon Berlese (Acari: Ascidae) is reviewed. The genus is characterised mainly by a holodorsal shield without lateral incisions; the vertex of the dorsal shield bent sharply downward to conceal setae j1 from above; and the anterior ends of the peritremes bent sharply posteroventrally. Three new species are described from rainforest leaf litter in eastern Australia - I. australis sp. nov., I. foveatus sp. nov., and I. walteri sp. nov. The genus now includes eight species from Europe, the Middle East, Russia, North America, Australia and New Caledonia. A key to the known species worldwide is provided.
Description of a new species of Lygephila Billberg, 1820 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Catocalinae) from Russian Far East and North China
Authors: FIBIGER MICHAEL , KONONENKO VLADIMIR S. , NILSSON DANNY
Published: June 2019

A new species in the genus Lygephila Billberg, 1820, L. dubatolovi sp. n. was discovered in the Primorye territory of Russian Far East and in the Liaoning province of North China. The new species is compared with its closest relatives L. maxima and L. ludicra. In addition, the East Asian Lygephila nigricostata (Graeser, 1890) is established as a new synonym of the European Lygephila procax Hübner, [1813].
Some lithodid crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Lithodidae) from Taiwan and adjacent waters, with the description of one new species from Guam
Authors: MACPHERSON ENRIQUE , CHAN TIN-YAM
Published: June 2019

Seven species of Lithodid crabs were collected during cruises off Taiwan and Guam. One new species, Lithodes paulayi is described and illustrated. Neolithodes nipponensis, Lithodes sp., Paralomis arae, P. dofleini and P. truncatispinosa are reported from these islands for the first time, extending the distributional range in each case. Lithodes paulayi closely resembles L. longispina Sakai, 1971, from off Japan and the central Pacific, but can be differentiated by the branchial region possessing two long dorsal spines and only one long marginal spine, whereas L. longispina has only one long dorsal spine, situated at level of cardiac spines, and two long marginal spines. The description of a juvenile of P. arae Macpherson, 2001, is also included.
Larval morphology and analysis of primary chaetotaxy in the genus Suphis Aubé, 1836 (Coleoptera: Noteridae)
Authors: URCOLA JUAN I. , ALARIE YVES , BENETTI CESAR J. , RODRIGUEZ GEORGINA , MICHAT MARIANO C.
Published: June 2019

The three larval instars of Suphis cimicoides Aubé, 1837 are described and illustrated, including morphometric and chaetotaxic analyses of the cephalic capsule, head appendages, legs, last abdominal segment and urogomphus. A preliminary ground plan of primary chaetotaxy for noterid larvae is presented for the first time, based on the species described herein and examination of larvae of the genera Hydrocanthus Say, 1823 and Suphisellus Crotch, 1873. This ground plan is compared with previous systems proposed for other adephagan families. Larvae of Noteridae can be distinguished from those of other families of Hydradephaga by the following combination of characters: (1) antennomere 3 with a rugged area on distal portion; (2) abdominal segment VIII with a U-shaped wavy membranous area ventrally; (3) absence of pore FRd; and (4) presence of seta AB16. Several sensilla present in noterid larvae (notably setae TR2 and TA1 and pores PAl, PAm, COd, TRb and FEb) are absent in larvae of Meruidae. On the contrary, parietal seta PA5 is present in Meruidae but absent in Noteridae. The presence of pore COc in Noteridae may indicate that this family has retained the ancestral condition found only in Carabidae. On the other hand, the absence of setae FE7, FE8, FE9 and FE10 in Noteridae is similar to the condition found in Carabidae, Gyrinidae and Meruidae.
2. Social Media in Higher Education - The Podcast
Authors: Rowell Chris
Published: June 2019

After the contributors had written their articles, they were then interviewed by Rowell who asked them questions about what they had written. The podcasts in this chapter give further information about where they work, the types of jobs that they do and the way they use social media.
22. Somewhere in Betweens
Authors: Horton Andy
Published: June 2019

Horton explains exactly how Twitter has aided his personal development in both the social and professional spheres. He points out its potential to create and sustain connections with others, and to facilitate a compartmentalisation of both his professional and personal identity, whilst tracking his development in both.
The Role of Hydrological Initial Conditions on Atmospheric River Floods in the Russian River Basin
Authors: Cao Qian , Mehran Ali , Ralph F. Martin , Lettenmaier Dennis P.
Published: June 2019

A body of work over the last decade or so has demonstrated that most major floods along the U.S. West Coast are attributable to atmospheric rivers (ARs). Recent studies suggest that observed changes in extreme precipitation associated with a general warming of the western United States have not necessarily led to corresponding changes in floods, and changes in antecedent hydrological conditions could be a primary missing link. Here we examine the role of antecedent soil moisture (ASM) conditions on historical AR flooding on California’s Russian River basin, a coastal watershed whose winter precipitation extremes are dominated by ARs. We examined the effect of observed warming on ASM for the period 1950–2017. We first constructed an hourly precipitation product at 1/32° spatial resolution. We used the Distributed Hydrology Soil Vegetation Model (DHSVM) to estimate storm total runoff volumes and soil moisture. We found that up to 95% of peaks-over-threshold (POT) extreme discharge events were associated with ARs. The storm runoff–precipitation ratio generally increased with wetter prestorm conditions, and the relationship was stronger as drainage area increased. We found no trends in extreme precipitation but weak downward trends in extreme discharge. The latter were mostly consistent with weak downward trends in the first 2-day storm precipitation. We found no trends in ASM; however, ASM was significantly correlated with peak flow. The ASM was affected more by antecedent precipitation than evapotranspiration, and hence temperature increases had weak effects on ASM.
Glider Observations of a Mesoscale Oceanic Island Wake
Authors: Zeiden Kristin L. , Rudnick Daniel L. , MacKinnon Jennifer A.
Published: June 2019

In this study, a 2-yr time series of velocity profiles to 1000 m from meridional glider surveys is used to characterize the wake in the lee of a large island in the western tropical North Pacific Ocean, Palau. Surveys were completed along sections to the east and west of the island to capture both upstream and downstream conditions. Objectively mapped in time and space, mean sections of velocity show the incident westward North Equatorial Current accelerating around the island of Palau, increasing from 0.1 to 0.2 m s−1 at the surface. Downstream of the island, elevated velocity variability and return flow in the lee are indicative of boundary layer separation. Isolating for periods of depth-average westward flow reveals a length scale in the wake that reflects local details of the topography. Eastward flow is shown to produce an asymmetric wake. Depth-average velocity time series indicate that energetic events (on time scales from weeks to months) are prevalent. These events are associated with mean vorticity values in the wake up to 0.3f near the surface and with instantaneous values that can exceed f (the local Coriolis frequency) during periods of sustained, anomalously strong westward flow. Thus, ageostrophic effects become important to first order.
How the Speed and Latitude of the Jet Stream Affect the Downstream Response to Recurving Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Finocchio Peter M. , Doyle James D.
Published: June 2019

Recurving tropical cyclones (TCs) that interact with the jet stream can trigger Rossby wave packets that amplify the flow far downstream, but the extent to which the jet stream modulates TC–jet interactions and the development of the downstream response remains unclear. This study uses 25 idealized simulations from the COAMPS-TC model to examine how the latitude and maximum wind speed of an initially zonal jet stream affect the downstream response to recurving TCs. During the first 5 days of the simulations, the formation of a jet streak and a ridge immediately downstream of the TC occurs earlier on low-latitude jets than on high-latitude jets. This is due to weaker TC inertial stability at low latitudes, which promotes negative potential vorticity advection by the irrotational outflow along the jet. Increasing the speed of the jet locally reduces inertial stability poleward of the TC, but does not profoundly affect the ability of the TC to perturb the jet. Beyond 5 days, the highest-latitude and fastest jets, which have the largest baroclinic growth rates, exhibit the highest-amplitude Rossby waves and the most rapidly intensifying surface cyclones farther downstream of the TCs. Both measures of the downstream response are more sensitive to changing the speed than the latitude of the jet. Deactivating condensational heating, shortly after TCs trigger a Rossby wave packet, decreases the amplitude and variability of the downstream flow by up to 3 times relative to the fully moist simulations. This result emphasizes the importance of moist diabatic processes for generating an amplified downstream response to recurving TCs within 7–10 days.
Is Bigger Always Better? How Targeting Aid Windfalls Affects Capture and Social Cohesion
Authors: Paler Laura , Strauss-Kahn Camille , Kocak Korhan
Published: June 2019

A central challenge in development involves ensuring that aid reaches those in greatest need. Aid agencies typically try to achieve this by targeting aid to vulnerable individuals or groups. Despite the prevalence of targeting, we know little about its effects on distributional outcomes and social cohesion in communities where some are intended to benefit and others are excluded. We investigate this by formalizing targeting as a bargaining game with coalition formation involving three players—the target group, the elite, and an excluded group. Our approach yields the counter-intuitive insight that the target group will actually benefit more in communities where elites and the excluded group compete to capture aid. We provide support for predictions using a regression discontinuity design and original survey data from an aid program implemented in Aceh, Indonesia. This article demonstrates the importance of understanding the role of community dynamics in shaping the economic and social outcomes of targeted aid programs.
From Societal Scorn to Divine Delight: Job’s Transformative Portrayal of Wild Animals
Authors: Huff Barry R.
Published: June 2019

This article contextualizes the Joban theophany’s stereotype-subverting portrayal of wild animals and explores its ecological and theological implications. Job 38:39–39:30 features wild animals that ancient Near Eastern iconography represents as hunted or controlled, Leviticus 11 labels unclean or an abomination, and Job refers to as symbols of desolation or persecution. Yet Job 38:39–39:30 transforms perceptions about these animals, undermines anthropocentrism, and reveals the Creator’s care for and delight in these free, fearless, and awe-inspiring animals.
Knowledge of Fentanyl and Perceived Risk of Overdose Among Persons Who Use Drugs in Vancouver, Canada
Authors: Moallef Soroush , Nosova Ekaterina , Milloy M. J. , DeBeck Kora , Fairbairn Nadia , Wood Evan , Kerr Thomas , Hayashi Kanna
Published: June 2019

Objectives:

In North America, the illicit drug supply is increasingly contaminated by illicitly manufactured fentanyl. We sought to assess the level and source of fentanyl risk knowledge, defined as knowledge of the overdose risks associated with fentanyl, and characterize the prevalence and correlates of perceived risk of personally having a fentanyl overdose among persons who use illicit drugs (PWUD) in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Methods:

We derived data from 3 prospective cohorts of PWUD in Vancouver from December 2016 through May 2017. We used multivariable ordinal regression analysis to identify factors associated with a lower perceived risk of having a fentanyl overdose.

Results:

Of 1166 participants, 1095 (93.9%) had fentanyl risk knowledge. Of 1137 participants who answered questions about their perceived risk of having a fentanyl overdose, 398 (35.0%) perceived having no risk, 426 (37.5%) perceived having low risk, and 313 (27.5%) perceived having moderate or high risk. Never or rarely using opioids (n = 541, 65.7%) was the most common reason for reporting no or low perceived risk (n = 824), whereas 137 (16.6%) participants reported daily heroin use. In multivariable analysis, compared with participants who perceived a moderate or high risk, participants who perceived a lower risk were less likely to report a recent nonfatal overdose (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.28; P < .001), recent injection drug use (aOR = 0.34; P < .001), and awareness of recent exposure to fentanyl (aOR = 0.34; P < .001).

Conclusion:

Despite a high level of fentanyl risk knowledge, most study participants did not translate this knowledge into a risk of having an overdose. Although participants who perceived a lower risk were less likely to have had an overdose, a considerable proportion was engaged in daily opioid use, suggesting the need to improve overdose prevention efforts.
Diabetes Education Impact on Hypoglycemia Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Evidence and Gaps in the Literature
Authors: LaManna Jacqueline , Litchman Michelle L. , Dickinson Jane K. , Todd Andrew , Julius Mary M. , Whitehouse Christina R. , Hyer Suzanne , Kavookjian Jan
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The primary purpose of this study is to report a systematic review of evidence and gaps in the literature among well-conducted studies assessing the impact of diabetes education on hypoglycemia outcomes and secondarily reporting the impact on other included target outcomes.

Methods

The authors used a modified Cochrane method to systematically search and review English-language titles, abstracts, and full-text articles published in the United States between January 2001 and December 2017, with diabetes education specified as an intervention and a directly measurable outcome for hypoglycemia risk or events included.

Results

Fourteen quasi-experimental, experimental, and case-control studies met the inclusion criteria, with 8 articles reporting a positive impact of diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) on hypoglycemia outcomes; 2 of the 8 reported decreased hypoglycemia events, and 1 reported decreased events in both the intervention and control groups. In addition, 5 studies targeted change in reported hypoglycemia symptoms, with all 5 reporting a significant decrease. DSMES also demonstrated an impact on intermediate (knowledge gain, behavior change) and long-term (humanistic and economic/utilization) outcomes. An absence of common hypoglycemia measures and terminology and suboptimal descriptions of DSMES programs for content, delivery, duration, practitioner types, and participants were identified as gaps in the literature.

Conclusions

Most retained studies reported that diabetes education positively affected varied measures of hypoglycemia outcomes (number of events, reported symptoms) as well as other targeted outcomes. Diabetes education is an important intervention for reducing hypoglycemia events and/or symptoms and should be included as a component of future hypoglycemia risk mitigation studies.
Impact of an educational digital storytelling intervention on HIV risk perception among Nigerian adolescents
Authors: Ofoegbu Theresa Onyema , Otu Mkpoikanke Sunday , Christopher Ibenegbu , Uche Asogwa , Nwabuko Linus Okechukwu , Ebere Ibe , Dike Ibiwari Caroline , Ngozi Obiyo , Chinedozie Uwakwe , Muhammed Abdullahi
Published: June 2019

Objective

The study objective was to investigate the impact of an educational digital storytelling intervention (EDSI) on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk perception and knowledge among Nigerian adolescents.

Methods

Using a randomized controlled trial design procedure, we recruited 98 Nigerian adolescents who were college students. Data were collected using the Perceived Risk of HIV Scale and the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire and were analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance.

Results

The results showed that the EDSI was effective in increasing HIV risk perception and knowledge among adolescents in the treatment group compared with those in the no-treatment control group.

Conclusion

The EDSI is a useful tool to help adolescents to increase their HIV risk perception and knowledge. Further research and policy changes are needed to support the full implementation of the EDSI in different sectors of Nigerian society and in other parts of the world.
A Systematic Review of Instructional Comparisons in Single-Case Research
Authors: Ledford Jennifer R. , Chazin Kate T. , Gagnon Kari L. , Lord Anne K. , Turner Virginia R. , Zimmerman Kathleen N.
Published: June 2019

Comparison studies conducted to determine which instructional interventions are most efficient for teaching discrete behaviors to individuals with disabilities are potentially valuable, although some threats to internal validity may be more likely in these studies. Studies included in this review typically met common internal validity standards, such as reliability measurement, but often did not include controls specific to comparison designs. Comparisons often included young children with autism and were frequently conducted by researchers in self-contained classroom settings. Systematic instruction was effective in nearly all comparisons, although many included undifferentiated data (i.e., both interventions were equally effective), and within-participant replications were often inconsistent (i.e., outcomes varied across comparisons for a single participant). Results suggest implementers should conduct high-fidelity instruction with corrective and instructive feedback and should choose intervention variations based on participant preference. We recommend researchers include control sets or time-lagged introductions, counterbalance behavior sets, and measure differential acquisition over time.
Competitive and Equitable Compensation: Can You Have Both?
Authors: Greene Robert J.
Published: June 2019

Ensuring compensation policies and programs are viewed by employees as equitable, competitive and appropriate enables an organization to make their value proposition attractive to the talent it needs to succeed. There is significant controversy today related to the wage and wealth gap, and wage inequality is widely viewed as unfair and unwarranted. Each compensation strategist must reconcile business needs with the needs of the workforce, and altering the manner in which available resources are allocated can work toward that reconciliation. Alternative approaches for doing so are presented.
A real-time predictor-modification-evaluation–corrector-modification-evaluation parametric interpolator for numerical control transition curves
Authors: Liu Chao , Wang Hui
Published: June 2019

A real-time parametric interpolator based on a predictor-modification-evaluation–corrector-modification-evaluation algorithm is proposed in this article, which is utilized to efficiently calculate the reference points of transition curves. Meanwhile, the stable calculation is guaranteed by analyzing the convergence condition of the predictor-modification-evaluation–corrector-modification-evaluation algorithm. Under the convergence condition, the proposed parametric interpolator and traditional line interpolators are simultaneously implemented to interpolate a two-dimensional butterfly path, which consists of quintic Bézier transition curves and line segments. Simulation and experiments are carried out, and the results demonstrate that the proposed real-time predictor-modification-evaluation–corrector-modification-evaluation parametric interpolator achieves the highest accuracy and the light stripe on the tool path is further reduced and hardly observed. Compared with other parametric interpolators, the proposed real-time predictor-modification-evaluation–corrector-modification-evaluation parametric interpolator is capable of achieving a good balance between interpolation accuracy and interpolation efficiency.
Conciliation, mediation and arbitration in collective bargaining in Western Europe: In search of control
Authors: Ibsen Christian Lyhne
Published: June 2019

Dispute resolution by third parties is a cornerstone of national industrial relations systems across Europe. However, the formal powers of the institutions of conciliation, mediation and arbitration vary considerably across countries. I aim to explain the existence of strong third-party intervention across 17 Western European countries, using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. I test two hypotheses: first, that strong institutions are established to control collective bargaining when unions are powerful but fragmented; second, that strong institutions reflect legal traditions that use civil courts rather than specialized labour courts. The analysis supports the first hypothesis but not the second. Recent reforms since the Great Recession in Southern European countries further corroborate this finding.
Temperature-dependent near-infrared spectroscopy for studying the interactions in protein aqueous solutions
Authors: Wang Mian , Cui Xiaoyu , Cai Wensheng , Shao Xueguang
Published: June 2019

Temperature-dependent near-infrared spectroscopy has been developed for studying quantitative and structural analysis, as well as the molecular interactions. Taking the advantage of the temperature effect on hydrogen bonding, the technique has shown its potential in analyzing the interactions in aqueous solutions. In our recent studies, the structural changes in homo-oligopeptides K5 (penta-lysine), D5 (penta-aspartic acid), and protein (ovalbumin) aqueous solutions were studied by temperature-dependent near-infrared spectroscopy. The thermodynamics and their interaction with water were analyzed with the help of the chemometric methods including continuous wavelet transform, independent component analysis, two-dimensional (2D) correlation analysis, and Gaussian fitting. The results show that the oligopeptide in aqueous solution improves the thermal stability of the water species, and K5 has stronger interaction with water than D5. In the gelation of ovalbumin, the change of the water species with two hydrogen bonds (S2) follows the same phases as the protein. S2 maintains the stability of the protein in native and molten globule states, and the weakening of the hydrogen bond in S2 by high temperature results in the destruction of the hydration shell and makes the ovalbumin clusters form a gel structure.
Initiating TrkB/Akt Signaling Cascade Preserves Blood–Brain Barrier after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats
Authors: Qi Xiangqian , Liu Juan , Wu Jiejin , Bi Yunke , Han Cong , Zhang Guiyun , Lou Meiqing , Lu Jianfei , Tang Junjia
Published: June 2019

The integrity of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) plays a vital role in affecting the prognosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). This study aimed to investigate activation of the Tropomyosin-related kinase receptor B (TrkB) and its downstream signaling pathway on preserving BBB breakdown after experimental SAH. An endovascular perforation SAH model was applied. N-[2-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl) ethyl]-2- oxopiperidine-3-carboxamide (HIOC), the derivative of N-acetyl serotonin (NAS), was intracerebroventricularly administered 3 h after SAH induction. The neurologic scores and brain water content were evaluated in an outcome study. Western blot and immunofluorescence staining were used to investigate the mechanism. The results indicated that HIOC activated the TrkB/Akt pathway, increased the tight junction expression, improved neurologic deficits, and ameliorated brain edema after SAH. Thus, we conclude that initiating the TrkB/Akt signaling cascade preserves BBB breakdown after experimental SAH in rats.
Dielectric studies and AC conductivity of piezoelectric barium titanate ceramic polymer composites
Authors: Beena P , Jayanna HS
Published: June 2019

In this work, ceramics barium titanate (BT) polymer composites were prepared with BT/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) having a ceramic concentration of 10, 30, and 50% by weight using solution casting method. The prepared thin film samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction for phase analysis. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies on composite films revealed ceramic crystallites are well dispersed in the polymer matrix. The dielectric constant ( εr) and the AC conductivity at room temperature and at different frequencies (100 Hz–5 MHz) of the piezoelectric composites with different concentrations were investigated. The result shows that the dielectric constant of ceramic-PVA composites was found to increase as ceramic concentration increases and the dielectric loss tangent decreased with increasing concentration. AC conductivity of the composites increased with increasing frequency.
Evaluating an Internet-based video cognitive processing therapy intervention for veterans with PTSD: A pilot study
Authors: Murphy Dominic , Turgoose David
Published: June 2019

Introduction

There remain a number of UK military veterans who are not able to access psychological therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some of these barriers are practical, including the need to balance work and other life commitments with attendance at residential or outpatient appointments. There is a need to investigate more accessible and flexible methods of delivering psychological therapies to veterans. One such alternative is to use remote-access video technology, often referred to as tele-therapy. The aims of the present study were to explore the feasibility of using tele-therapy in this population, whilst also reporting mental health outcomes for those who accessed the intervention.

Methods

Participants were recruited from a UK veterans mental health charity. The intervention consisted of 12 sessions of cognitive processing therapy delivered via Skype. Participants completed various measures of mental health, including PTSD at three time points: pre-treatment, post-treatment and at three months follow-up. A measure of therapeutic alliance was also completed by participants and the clinician.

Results

A total of 27 participants engaged in tele-therapy, with a treatment completion rate of 79% and a ‘did not attend’ rate of 12%, which compared well against similar outpatient services. All mental health outcomes showed maintained improvement at three months follow-up, with the highest effect size recorded for PTSD. Therapeutic alliance was also rated highly by both participants and the clinician.

Discussion

The findings suggest that tele-therapy could provide a viable alternative format for delivering trauma-focused psychological therapies to veterans. Limitations and recommendations for future research are also presented.
Practitioner involvement and support in children’s learning during free play in two Norwegian kindergartens
Authors: Karlsen Lisa , Lekhal Ratib
Published: June 2019

This research focuses on how practitioners in two Norwegian kindergartens interact with children during free play. The purpose of the study is to draw attention to the way the practitioners supported children’s learning through their interactions with children during free play. Through naturalistic observations of 17 practitioners, results revealed that while more than half of the day in both settings consisted of free play activities (60%), practitioners spent a significant amount of this time completely away from play situations (45.5% of free play). Of the remaining time, practitioners spent 34 percent of free playtime supporting children’s learning through joining in, commenting, instructing, or helping.
Considering B7-CD28 as a family through sequence and structure
Authors: West Sean M , Deng Xiaodi A
Published: June 2019

With the emergence of immuno-oncology, new therapeutic agents that modulate immune activation and regulation are being used to treat cancer patients with durable response. It is well known that following T-cell receptor (TCR) activation, many co-receptors can augment or suppress the TCR signal, and therapeutically targeting these co-receptors has proven effective. The B7-CD28 family is comprised of such immune-regulatory receptors, and antibodies against its members programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) have revolutionized cancer treatment. These therapies promote an immune response against tumor cells, which demonstrated better long-term survival and tolerability compared to traditional cancer treatments. In this review we describe the history of the expanding B7-CD28 family, and by comparison of sequence and structure reveal that it is a non-traditional family. The family has grown to include proteins that share low sequence identity, generally grouped by regulation of immune response, which utilize the common immunoglobulin fold. This low level of commonality has provided additional challenges to the drug discovery process as the mechanisms and therapeutic potency between family members can vary greatly.

Impact statement

Immunotherapy as a field has dramatically expanded in the last decade in the area of oncology with efficacy demonstrated by PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 blockade. With all three “checkpoint blockade” receptors being in the B7-CD28 family, there has been increased interest in targeting other members in this family due to redundancy in immune regulation, i.e., the combination of therapeutic agents targeting multiple co-inhibitory receptors may yield additional antitumor efficacy. Therefore significant resources are being dedicated to developing additional B7-CD28 treatment options.
Numerical modeling of crack growth in polymer-bonded explosive with cavity subject to compression
Authors: Chen Xinfa , Liu Jiejian , Huang Xicheng , Suo Tao , Li Yulong
Published: June 2019

Polymer-bonded explosives are solid high-explosive particles that exhibit brittle behavior in uniaxial tension, quasi-brittle in uniaxial compression, and ductile when subjected to high confining pressure. Tension cracking is the primary failure mode of polymer-bonded explosives quasi-brittle solid, which will lead to overall failure of structural integrity. One characteristic of brittle or quasi-brittle solids, such as polymer-bonded explosives, is that when subjected to overall compressive loading, the tensile cracks will initiate inside the material due to existence of imperfection within the materials. In this study, extended finite element method is applied to analyze the cracking failure mechanism in the PBX 9502 plate-like specimen with cavity subjected to overall compression. The nonlinear constitutive behaviors and failure of polymer-bonded explosives under complex stress states were described by means of stress state–dependent strength surface, non-associated flow rule, and cohesive failure model. Analysis indicates that the tensile stress around the cavity arises in the specimen under overall compression, and this local tensile stress will lead to cracking initiation. The comparison between simulation results and the experimental data reported by Liu and Thompson shows that they are in agreement with each other on some aspects of crack behaviors, including overall development of crack history and inflection, crack initiation moment, and crack initial speed.
Reliability analysis of high-speed railway network
Authors: Gu Shuang , Li Keping
Published: June 2019

The reliability of high-speed railway network is an important issue for the sustainable development of railway traffic. A high reliable railway network not only has a longer service life but also has a greater ability to resist destruction of the network. In this article, based on the theory of complex network, we construct a topological networked model to study and analyze the reliability of high-speed railway network with respect to the destruction caused by natural disasters, geological disasters, equipment failure, or man-made disasters. In real world, heavy rain and snow storms are frequent on a large scale. These destructed regions are represented by network communities. Here, we put forward an evaluation index to quantify the network reliability. Taking China high-speed railway network as an example, the results show that some key communities has great influence on the network reliability. When these key communities are destructed by some natural factors, the reliability of railway network would reduce greatly or even breakdown. In addition, we find that the network reliability with the number of deleted communities approximately shows an exponential law.
Professional identity in the infant room
Authors: Davis Belinda , Dunn Rosemary
Published: June 2019

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has shown that there is a steady growth in the numbers of infants attending early childhood services. Despite growing interest in infant learning, recognition of infant teachers as specialised professionals is limited. This research aims to explore the role of early childhood teachers working with infants in early childhood education and care settings through the following questions: (1) What are the teachers’ reported reflections about their role in working with infants? (2) How does this help shape their professional identity? Visual methodologies alongside narrative inquiry were used to capture the lived experiences of infants and their teachers in early childhood education settings. Thematic analysis was conducted within a constructivist paradigm utilising descriptive codes based on Molla and Nolan’s classes of professional functionings. Findings showed infant teachers’ pedagogical work with infants to be subtle, based on specialised understandings of individual children and this age group. The teachers were self-aware, making purposeful pedagogical decisions based on knowledge and experience. Nevertheless, communicating this work with parents, untrained staff and employers remains a challenge. Professional recognition and identity should be reconceptualised with wider recognition of the specialisation of infant teachers including changes in policy and remuneration.
Multiplicities in early childhood reform engagement in Victorian long day care centres: Discourse, position and practice
Authors: Armstrong Lauren
Published: June 2019

Change is not a new concept in the Australian early childhood sector. However, the rate of change has significantly increased throughout the last decade, specifically with the introduction of the curriculum and quality frameworks, changes to regulations, and subsequent reviews (some particularly affecting the Victorian long day care sector). The rapid timeline of these reforms created challenges for early childhood professionals who needed to understand, interpret and translate multiple changes to their practice. This paper presents some key findings from a poststructural study involving 11 participants from the Victorian long day care sector. Foucauldian Discourse Analysis has been applied to explore how reform discourses shape and reshape the positioning and engagement of professionals within the reform process. These findings reveal how specific subject positions and discursive practices within available discourses of knowledge, teacher education and workplace can either challenge and/or support early childhood professionals in their ability to engage in reform.
Social media influencers, post-feminism and neoliberalism: How mum bloggers’ ‘playbour’ is reshaping public relations
Authors: Archer Catherine
Published: June 2019

The rise of blogging mothers as precariat workers conducting ‘playbour’, a combination of play and labour, and as subjects of neoliberalism, requires a re-examination of virtually mobile mothers and their role in 21st century society. At the same time, public relations (PR) and marketing practitioners are grappling with how to interact and ‘work’ with these, among other, social media influencers who are increasingly seen as able to sell products and ideas through their blogs, Instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms. The relatively new relationships between PR practitioners and social media influencers raise questions of unequal power and vulnerability for both the largely amateur influencers and the PR practitioners. The relationship between the two means that ethical questions around exploitation, authenticity, professionalism and control have arisen, with both sides feeling their way in new terrain. This article uses the concepts of precarity and liminality and applies them to a group of ‘mommy/mummy/mum bloggers’, that is, blogging mothers of young children, negotiating their identities as mothers, and moving beyond their homes using social media to, in part, create a sense of belonging (but also, in some cases, to make money). The article is based on the author’s own longitudinal digital ethnography within online influencer territory, and includes mainstream and online media reports and interviews with both mum bloggers and PR practitioners. It is argued that the marketisation of motherhood within a dominant culture of neoliberalism means that practitioners may wrongly assume that mum bloggers are acting freely to engage with entrepreneurial endeavours.