bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The highly divergent New World Artemia species (Branchiopoda, Anostraca), A. franciscana and A. persimilis, show subtle differences in morphological traits involved in mating
Authors: MURA GRAZIELLA , GAJARDO GONZALO
Published: February 2019

Mate choice significantly impacts upon population divergence and therefore speciation, recognition of equals being critical in cases where species and divergent populations coexist. The New World species of the brine shrimp Artemia, A. franciscana and A. persimilis, were compared through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for the following traits: shape and ornamentation of spine-like projections on the basal part of the penes; relative size, shape and ornamentation of the frontal knobs; cuticolar cones on the male second antenna, and ovisac (brood pouch) morphology. In particular, frontal knobs, described as playing a role in maintaining riding pairs attached (amplexus), and ovisac morphology, grouped all individuals into the corresponding species, but these differences seem too subtle to prevent inter-specific mating. In other words, mating between both species would be unspecific (not a key-lock type), an expected finding for allopatric species that would not have the chance to reinforce reproductive mechanisms in sympatry, as predicted by the allopatric mode. Additionally, both species inhabit selectively differential habitats that would prevent viability of migrants. At the population level, A. franciscana locations at the southern edge of the species distribution in the Americas (Chile) showed variation to the typical A. franciscana pattern, a somewhat expected finding for peripheral populations. The saltworks at Pichilemu (34° S, central Chile) appear to be a special environment where individuals from both species could eventually coexist, as inferred by the hybrid-like appearance of some individuals. This type of environment facilitates the testing of novel morphological variants which may affect the shaping of morphological divergence.
A new ‘saccamminid’ genus (Rhizaria: Foraminifera), from 4400 m water depth in the Nazaré Canyon (NE Atlantic)
Authors: DA SILVA ANA ARANDA , GOODAY ANDREW J. , PEARSE RICHARD B. , CUNHA MARINA R.
Published: February 2019

We describe Bithekammina occulta, a new monothalamous agglutinated foraminiferan (‘saccamminid’) collected in multicore samples at 4400 m on the terrace of the lower Nazaré Canyon on the Portuguese margin. The test is spherical to oval, up to ~400 µm in length, with a simple circular aperture. The wall has a very smooth surface with a distinct sheen in reflected light. It is <10 µm thick and composed of very fine agglutinated plate-like clay particles and a thin inner organic layer. The most distinctive feature of the new species is that the test is contained within an agglutinated case (‘secondary test’) composed mainly of larger (10–50 µm) quartz grains. The case is equipped with a long, narrow tube that originates near the aperture of the inner test and presumably acts as a channel through which pseudopodia are deployed. Secondary agglutinated structures have been described in a number of foraminifera, but never before in a ‘saccamminid’.
Dana, replacement name for the New Zealand talitrid amphipod genus Tara Duncan, 1994 (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Talitridae), preoccupied by Tara Peckham & Peckham, 1886 (Araneae, Salticidae, Amycinae, Astiini)
Authors: LOWRY J. K.
Published: February 2019

Tara Duncan, 1994, was established as a terrestrial genus of New Zealand talitrid amphipods, with the type species Orchestia sylvicola Dana, 1852. It was recently discovered to be a junior homonym of Tara Peckham & Peckham, 1886, a genus of salticid spiders (Araneae, Salticidae, Amycinae, Astiini). Tara Peckham & Peckham, 1886, is a valid name in current use for a small endemic genus of Australian jumping spiders recently revised by Zabka (1987). Tara Duncan, 1994, appears in the literature at least three times: in the original description of the genus (Duncan 1994), in identification keys to the terrestrial amphipods of New Zealand (Fenwick & Webber 2008), and in the recent inventory of New Zealand biodiversity (Webber et al. 2010). The new name, Dana, is proposed to replace Tara Duncan, 1994.
First female and new species of Phaenicocleus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Enicocephalidae) from Sabah and a key to genera of Enicocephalidae without forewing basal cell
Authors: BAŇAŘ PETR , ŠTYS PAVEL
Published: February 2019

A new species of Enicocephalidae: Enicocephalinae, Phaenicocleus granulosus sp. n. (based on a female), is described from Sabah and compared with the other three species of the genus (based on males). Autapomorphies of the genus (particularly reduced armature of fore tibia and tarsus, interrupted posterior claval vein AA3+4, striking occurrence of large setigerous tubercles the latter shared with Australian Usingeriella) are stressed and partly discussed. A new key to genera of Enicocephalidae with forewing basal cell absent and closed discal cell present is provided.
A new species of Zoniopoda Stål (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Romaleidae) from Argentina and its phylogenetic position within the genus
Authors: POCCO MARTINA E. , RUBIO GONZALO D. , CIGLIANO M. MARTA
Published: February 2019

A new species of the romaleid grasshopper genus Zoniopoda Stål (Romaleidae: Romaleini) is described and illustrated from the Sierras Chicas of Córdoba Province, central Argentina. A cladistic analysis based on morphological characters indicates that the genus Zoniopoda constitutes a monophyletic group and that Zoniopoda serrana n. sp. must be assigned to Iheringi species group based on synapomorphies of the pronotum and body color. The new species is similar to Z. similis Bruner from Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil, from which it can be distinguished by the color pattern of the body, shape of the pronotal dorso-median carina and characters of the male terminalia and epiphallus. This paper has been formatted with embedded links to images of the type specimen, maps based on georeferenced specimen data for the genus and an updated key to the species of Zoniopoda available on the Orthoptera Species File (OSF) online (http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org).
New olenelline trilobites from the Northwest Territories, Canada, and the phylogenetic placement of Judomia absita Fritz, 1973
Authors: GAPP I. WESLEY , LIEBERMAN BRUCE S. , POPE MICHAEL C. , DILLIARD KELLY A.
Published: February 2019

The Early Cambrian olenelline trilobites are a diverse clade and have been the subject of several phylogenetic analyses. Here, three new species of Bradyfallotaspis Fritz, 1972 (B. coriae, B. nicolascagei, and B. sekwiensis) and one new species of Nevadia Walcott, 1910 (N. saupeae) are described from the Sekwi Formation of the Mackenzie Mountains, Northwest Territories, Canada. In addition, new specimens potentially referable to Nevadia ovalis McMenamin, 1987 were recovered that may expand that species’ geographic range, which was thought to be restricted to Sonora, Mexico. The results of a phylogenetic analysis incorporating several olenelline taxa, including Judomia absita Fritz, 1973 from the Sekwi Formation, are also presented herein. This species has been assigned to various olenelline genera, including Judomia Lermontova, 1951 and Paranevadella Palmer & Repina, 1993. Phylogenetic analysis suggests this species is closely related to Judomia tera Lazarenko, 1960 from Siberia. This phylogenetic relationship provides further support for the hypothesis that a close biogeographic relationship existed between Laurentia and Siberia during the Cambrian.
A new species of mole-rat (Rodentia, Bathyergidae) from the Horn of Africa
Authors: GIPPOLITI SPARTACO , AMORI GIOVANNI
Published: February 2019

A new species of mole-rat with a striking colour pattern is described from a single mounted specimen in the historical collection of the ‘Museo Civico di Zoologia’ in Rome, Italy. The lack of skull and original collecting data does not allow the gathering of firm evidences about its taxonomic relationships, geographical range and ecological preferences. This taxon is provisionally allocated to the recently created genus Fukomys Kock, Ingram, Frabotta, Honeycutt and Burda 2006 on the grounds of pelage colour pattern and geographical origin. All the available evidence, including label and other fragmentary historical data, supports Fukomys ilariae sp. nov. as originating from the Lower Shebelle region near Mogadishu, Somalia, historically known as Benadir. This discovery highlights the relevance for biodiversity conservation of the Horn of Africa and the need of further faunistic research to describe its fauna.
The original spellings of Thryothorus Vieillot, 1816 (Vertebrata, Aves): a correction
Authors: DAVID NORMAND , DUBOIS ALAIN
Published: February 2019

While discussing the problems related to multiple original spellings or symprotographs (Dubois 2010: 14) of nomina in zootaxonomy, David et al. (2009: 5) stated that one of the generic bird nomina created by Vieillot (1816) had been so under two different spellings: Thriothorus (p. 45) and Thryothorus (p. 70). They pointed to the fact that subsequently Vieillot (1819: 55) had only used the spelling Thryothorus for this nomen, and thus had acted as a first-reviser between the two spellings under the new Rule introduced in Article 24.2.4 of the last edition of the Code (Anonymous 1999), a nomenclatural act designated by Dubois (2010: 15) as an internal first-reviser action or IFRA.
Apseudomorph tanaidaceans (Crustacea: Peracarida) from mud-volcanoes in the Gulf of Cadiz (North-east Atlantic)
Authors: BŁAŻEWICZ-PASZKOWYCZ MAGDALENA , BAMBER ROGER N. , CUNHA MARINA R.
Published: February 2019

Faunal collections from mud-volcano sites in the Gulf of Cadiz, at depths between 355 and 3061 m, have revealed a high diversity (and in some cases high density) of tanaidaceans. A previous paper has described some of the tanaidomorph species found. Records of apseudomorph species from deep-sea chemosynthetic habitats are almost non-existent. The present study reports on seven apseudomorph species from five different genera from this material; two of the species, one in each of the genera Sphyrapus and Pseudosphyrapus are new to science, although there was insufficient material available to describe fully the Pseudosphyrapus species. Two of the other species are reported herein for only the second time. A neotype is erected for Apseudes setiferus Băcescu, and a lectotype for Sphyrapus malleolus Norman & Stebbing; these two, plus Atlantapseudes nigrifrons Băcescu and Fageapseudes retusifrons Richardson are redescribed. The habitus of Apseudes grossimanus is figured. None of the taxa appear to show any morphological features specifically adapted to the peculiar habitat around mud-volcanoes. The genus Collossella is relegated to the synonymy of Fageapseudes. The nonchemosynthetic-habitat-associated species Apseudes coriolis is moved to Taraxapseudes.
Tribe Coelidiini: new genera and new species of Neotropical leafhoppers with revised key to genera and species, taxonomic fragmentation and new distribution records (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Coelidiinae)
Authors: NIELSON M. W.
Published: February 2019

Fragmentation of the genera Boliviela DeLong and Paralidia Nielson is proposed after several new species assigned to them appeared to alter their original generic concepts. Follow up studies of the taxonomic relationship of these and other closely related genera in a genus group (Boliviela, Dicodia Nielson, Gracilidia Nielson, Tinocripus Nielson and Paralidia) supported recognition of four new genera: Collasuyusana, type-species, Boliviela retrorsa Nielson; Ventrolidia, typespecies, Boliviela ortha Nielson; Carinoscapula, type-species, Boliviela bispinata Nielson; and Armaturolidia, type-species, Paralidia denticulata Nielson. Five species are removed from Boliviela and designated new combinations: Ventrolidia ortha (DeLong), Ventrolidia paraortha (Nielson), Carinoscapula sarcula (Nielson), Carinoscapula bispinosa (Nielson) and Collasuyusana retrorsa (Nielson). Two species are removed from Paralidia and designated new combinations: Armaturolidia spinata (Nielson) and Armaturolidia denticulata (Nielson). Godoyana Nielson, type-species Godoyana laselvensis Nielson is suppressed as a junior synonym of Coelidia Germar. This species is assigned to Coelidia and designated new combination: Coelidia laselvensis (Nielson). A key to 9 genera in the genus group is also presented. A data matrix table of diagnostic generic characters is given for the Boliviela genus group. Thirty-nine new species are described and illustrated with a revised key to species in the following genera: Armaturolidia ordocrista, sp. nov.; Boliviela cucurbita, sp. nov.; B. caverna, sp. nov.; B. biungulata, sp. nov.; Coelidia costaricensis, sp. nov.; C. angulata, sp. nov.; Collasuyusana picea, sp. nov.; C. diversa, sp. nov.; C. collaris, sp. nov.; C. spenceri, sp. nov.; C. recurvata, sp. nov.; C. bifurcata, sp. nov.; C. lanceolata, sp. nov.; Dialodia bispinata, sp. nov., D. longilobata, sp. nov., D. brevilobata, sp. nov., D. aviculobata, sp. nov.; D. brevisetacea, sp. nov.; D. bilongata, sp. nov.; Dicodia recurvata, sp. nov.; Evansolidia setacea, sp. nov.; E. inca, sp. nov.; E. unilamina, sp. nov.; E. episetacea, sp. nov.; E. recurvata, sp. nov.; E. gracilitas, sp. nov.; E. lyrata, sp. nov.; E. inflata, sp. nov.; E. fletcheri, sp. nov.; Gracilidia minuta, sp. nov.; G. longiuscula, sp. nov.; G. biflangata, sp. nov.; G. tubercula, sp. nov.; G. uniflangata, sp. nov.; G. membrana, sp. nov.; Omanolidia inflata, sp. nov.; Spinolidia moweri, sp. nov.; Tinocripus angustus, sp. nov. and T. sinuatus, sp. nov. Taxonomic review and new distribution records are also given.
Hydroclimate Variability in Snow-Fed River Systems: Local Water Managers’ Perspectives on Adapting to the New Normal
Authors: Sterle Kelley , Hatchett Benjamin J. , Singletary Loretta , Pohll Greg
Published: February 2019

Between water years 2012 and 2017, the Truckee–Carson river system in the western United States experienced both historic-low and record-high Sierra Nevada snowpack, anomalously warm temperatures, and winter and spring flooding. As part of an ongoing collaborative modeling research program in the river system, researchers conduct annual interviews with key local water managers to characterize local climate adaptation strategies and implementation barriers, and identify science information needs to prioritize ongoing research activities. This article presents new findings from a third wave of interviews conducted with the same water managers following the historic 2017 wet year. Comparison of these data suggests that managers increased their adaptation efforts described during previous consecutive drought years (2015 and 2016). In 2017, comparatively fewer managers described climate uncertainty as an implementation barrier, exemplifying recent hydroclimate variability as the “new normal” climate for which they should plan. An assessment of recent conditions reveals that recent water years bound historical observations and are consistent with estimated paleoclimate extremes in terms of magnitude, but not persistence, of both dry and wet conditions. Comparison to projected future climate conditions affirms managers’ perspectives that increased hydroclimate variability, inclusive of drought and flood extremes, defines the new normal climate anticipated for the region. To support long-term adaptation planning, managers requested that researchers prioritize simulations of alternative water management strategies that account for nonstationary climate patterns and quantify implications system-wide. This article illustrates how interdisciplinary research that integrates local knowledge with applied climate science research can support adaptive water management in snow-fed river systems.
A Global Gridded Dataset of the Characteristics of the Rainy And Dry Seasons
Authors: Bombardi Rodrigo J. , Kinter James L. , Frauenfeld Oliver W.
Published: February 2019

The Rainy and Dry Seasons (RADS) dataset, a new compilation of precipitation statistics available to the public, is described. The dataset contains the dates of onset and demise of the rainy season (one date per year), the duration of the rainy and dry seasons, and the accumulated precipitation during the rainy and dry seasons. The methodology for detecting the characteristics of the rainy season is based solely on precipitation data. RADS was developed from multiple global gridded daily precipitation datasets [Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), 1998–2015; Climate Prediction Center Unified Gauge-Based Analysis of Global Daily Precipitation (CPC_UNI), 1979–present; and Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2), 1980–present] and therefore shares the spatial resolution, temporal range, and limitations of the original precipitation datasets. This is the first free public dataset of the characteristics of the rainy and dry seasons created using a consistent methodology across the globe, including all major monsoonal regions. We expect that the RADS dataset will contribute to our understanding of the sources of variability of the timing of rainy seasons (on local to regional scales) and monsoons (on large scales) and their impacts on water resource management and other aspects of geosciences and human activities.
Representation of Vertical Atmospheric Structures by Radio Occultation Observations in the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere: Comparison to High-Resolution Radiosonde Profiles
Authors: Zeng Zhen , Sokolovskiy Sergey , Schreiner William S. , Hunt Doug
Published: February 2019

Global positioning system (GPS) radio occultation (RO) is capable of retrieving vertical profiles of atmospheric parameters with high resolution (<100 m), which can be achieved in spherically symmetric atmosphere. Horizontal inhomogeneity of real atmosphere results in representativeness errors of retrieved profiles. In most cases these errors increase with a decrease of vertical scales of atmospheric structures and may not allow one to fully utilize the physical resolution of RO. Also, GPS RO–retrieved profiles are affected by observational noise of different types, which, in turn, affect the representation of small-scale atmospheric structures. This study investigates the effective resolution and optimal smoothing of GPS RO–retrieved temperature profiles using high-pass filtering and cross correlation with collocated high-resolution radiosondes. The effective resolution is a trade-off between representation of real atmospheric structures and suppression of observational noise, which varies for different latitudes (15°S–75°N) and altitudes (10–27 km). Our results indicate that at low latitudes the effective vertical resolution is about 0.2 km near the tropical tropopause layer and about 0.5 km in the lower stratosphere. The best resolution of 0.1 km is at the cold-point tropical tropopause. The effective resolutions at the midlatitudes are slightly worse than at low latitudes, varying from ~0.2 to 0.6 km. At high latitudes, the effective resolutions change notably with altitude from ~0.2 km at 10–15 km to ~1.4 km at 22–27 km. Our results suggest that the atmospheric inhomogeneity plays an important role in the representation of the vertical atmospheric structures by RO measurements.
Parameter Optimization for Real-World ENSO Forecast in an Intermediate Coupled Model
Authors: Zhao Yuchu , Liu Zhengyu , Zheng Fei , Jin Yishuai
Published: February 2019

We performed parameter estimation in the Zebiak–Cane model for the real-world scenario using the approach of ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) data assimilation and the observational data of sea surface temperature and wind stress analyses. With real-world data assimilation in the coupled model, our study shows that model parameters converge toward stable values. Furthermore, the new parameters improve the real-world ENSO prediction skill, with the skill improved most by the parameter of the highest climate sensitivity (gam2), which controls the strength of anomalous upwelling advection term in the SST equation. The improved prediction skill is found to be contributed mainly by the improvement in the model dynamics, and second by the improvement in the initial field. Finally, geographic-dependent parameter optimization further improves the prediction skill across all the regions. Our study suggests that parameter optimization using ensemble data assimilation may provide an effective strategy to improve climate models and their real-world climate predictions in the future.
Trust in teams: A taxonomy of perceived trustworthiness factors and risk-taking behaviors in face-to-face and virtual teams
Authors: Breuer Christina , Hüffmeier Joachim , Hibben Frederike , Hertel Guido
Published: February 2019

Do we really need personal meetings to develop trust within teams? Which factors impact trust emergence within face-to-face and virtual teams? How do high-trust teams interact compared with teams with low team trust? Trust is seen as an important predictor of behavior in teams. However, the psychological mechanisms linking team trust to both its antecedents and its behavioral consequences are not well understood. The present study introduces a new taxonomy of team trust mechanisms by integrating results from a qualitative interview study with prior theoretical and empirical research on team trust. We conducted exploratory interviews based on the critical incident technique with 55 professionals who had substantial teamwork experience. Altogether, 776 behavioral items were collected stemming from 127 team events that were perceived as critical for the emergence of trust in teams. A content analysis revealed five main categories of perceived trustworthiness factors in teams as antecedents of team trust and three main categories of risk-taking behaviors as behavioral consequences in teams. The findings contribute to a better understanding of team trust emergence and related behaviors in teams. Future research should validate the derived taxonomy of team trust with quantitative data.
Achieving sustainable irrigation development in agricultural areas of Serbia with limited water resources
Authors: Rudić Željka , Nikolić Goran , Stević Dragiša , Božić Mile , Mačkić Ksenija , Potkonjak Svetlana
Published: February 2019

Irrigation has contributed significantly to poverty alleviation and food security; however, the sustainability of irrigated agriculture is being questioned both economically and environmentally. Agriculture is the economic sector where most water is consumed, but the lowest price is practised. This article presents an interdisciplinary approach to selecting and prioritizing infrastructure, by differentiating water sources for irrigation, in the case of two complex irrigation systems. Comparative analysis was undertaken for major hydrological, hydraulic, hydrotechnical and economic parameters in order to estimate a long-term water supply for irrigation. In the case of complex irrigation water supply systems, differentiating the ‘subsystems’ per water source and allowing their separate development require less investment and give a better chance for the project implementation. The average calculated investments in basic irrigation infrastructure were in a wide range, from EUR3327 to 10,103 ha−1, depending on anticipated water source (impoundments, groundwater and rivers). Economic water price also varied widely, EUR0.09–0.30 m−3, depending on the water source for irrigation.
Measuring sleep in young children and their mothers: Identifying actigraphic sleep composites
Authors: Staples Angela D. , Bates John E. , Petersen Isaac T. , McQuillan Maureen E. , Hoyniak Caroline
Published: February 2019

The present study considered multiple aspects of sleep in a community sample of young children (at ages 30, 36, and 42 months) and their mothers, using both diaries and actigraphy. Through principal components analysis, 17 of 20 commonly used actigraphy variables were reduced to four main components whose variables formed composites of: Activity, night-to-night Variability, Timing, and Duration. Sleep latency and daytime sleep variables remained separate from the composites. The same components were identified at each age, and for both children and mothers. Furthermore, the sleep composites derived from the components showed greater cross-age stability than individual actigraphy variables. Finally, child and mother sleep composites were related concurrently and longitudinally. These findings demonstrate a systematic and efficient way of summarizing child and mother sleep with actigraphy variables.
Profile of the Sharing Economy in the Developing World: Examples of Companies Trying to Change the World
Authors: Hira Andy
Published: February 2019

Sharing economy companies are proliferating across the developing world, yet we know very little about their nature, including whether and how they are different from their Western counterparts, and whether they offer new development paths as discussed in the introduction. In theory, the internet can level the playing field to allow the poor in the developing world to share information, access capital, and cooperate in joint ventures in new ways. We examine such premises through presenting the findings of a survey by region of sharing economy companies. While there are a growing number of companies, the amount varies greatly by region, and by types of services offered. Most are for profit companies, competing with traditional suppliers, rather than expanding markets. However, a handful of leading edge companies demonstrate the possibilities for sharing companies to offer a new path to development.
Anatomy of Issa-Afar Violence
Authors: Muauz Gidey
Published: February 2019

Issa-Afar violence has often been viewed from instrumentalist and positivist perspective focusing on its use for a specific end and on its visible and agentive war violence per se. The dominate explanation has been resource oriented; specifically, conflict over scarce pastoralist resources and territory. However, this article contends that Issa-Afar violence has moved far away from substantive and originating issues that instrumentalist and positivist explanation and interventions informed by the same no longer explain the dynamics of violence. Because critical analysis of the anatomy of Issa-Afar violence reveals that the continuity of violence is owing to structural and cultural violence than substantive issues.
“Corruption Is Us”: Tackling Corruption by Examining the Interplay Between Formal Rules and Informal Norms Within the Russian Construction Industry
Authors: Orlova Alexandra V. , Boichev Veselin
Published: February 2019

This article deals with the problem of tackling corruption within the Russian construction industry. It examines the interplay between formal anti-corruption rules and extensive informal norms that have become institutionalized within the Russian construction sector as well as the broader Russian society, especially when it comes to interaction with state officials. The article concludes that commitment and cooperation of a multitude of actors, leading to reduced reliance on informal rules and norms and an anti-corruption ethos that permeates all levels of interactions (i.e., citizen/state, business/state, business/business, citizen/citizen, and state official/state official) are key when it comes to corruption reduction.
Rural Development and Food Security in the 21st Century: A Review and Proposal
Authors: Forrest Joshua B.
Published: February 2019

This review of recent research on rural development and food security makes clear that despite global trends favoring urbanization and large farm expansions, the most efficacious ways of generating advances in rural incomes and agronomic productivity are to promote land titling programs, agricultural extension services, a broad distribution of rural-located industrial projects, and sustained engagement with social capital-based rural networks.1
Coping with the End of the Commodities Boom: Rubber Smallholders in Southern Thailand Oscillating Between Near-poverty and Middle-class Status
Authors: Andriesse Edo , Tanwattana Puntita
Published: February 2019

This article focuses on the steep fall in the international natural rubber price and investigates its impact on the socioeconomic situation of rubber smallholders in Southern Thailand, particularly diversification and community development. Based on surveys and semi-structured interviews, this article highlights the vulnerability of rubber smallholders in an upper middle-income country. Despite substantial diversification, volatility in the international rubber price still causes rural households to zigzag back and forth between the classes of near-poverty and accomplished middle class. Consistent diversification is hard to achieve, and there is a lack of local leadership. Current forces in the political economy of rubber are geared toward maintaining the status quo.
The greenhouse effect: Multispecies childhood and non-innocent relations of care
Authors: Hohti Riikka , Tammi Tuure
Published: February 2019

This article examines the relations between human children and other than human animals in a multispecies ethnographic study conducted in an unofficial educational zoo established in a greenhouse in a lower secondary school. The specific focus is on the practices in which the students become responsible carers of animals. The analysis employs the theory of care (de la Bellacasa) and a storytelling approach (Haraway) to develop the concept of multispecies childhood and to offer ways to account for the complexities of lives shared across species.
Managing a Mission-driven Franchise Organization: An Empirical Investigation of Organizational Practice and Individual Outcomes
Authors: Deshpande Anant , Tsai David
Published: February 2019

The purpose of this research is to investigate the interplay among organizational practice, the adoption of a management philosophy and individual outcomes in a mission-driven multinational education franchise system. A sample of 1,700 potential survey participants throughout the focal organization in both Canada and the United States was used, including 1,282 franchisees and 418 employees. A total of 152 responses were received, including 83 responses from franchisees and 69 responses from corporate employees. The findings of the study provide evidence that the adoption of a management philosophy will mediate the relationships between a philosophy-oriented organizational practice and the individual outcomes in the context of a mission-driven education industry franchise–franchisor setup in North America. One obvious limitation is that the data collection was conducted from within a single organization. The findings of the study are specific to the North American region. Hence, the generalizability is limited. The article builds upon Wang’s (  Journal of Business, 2011, Ethics, 101(1), 111–126) study by adding new measures. The empirical evidence of the study confirms that it is possible for a franchise organization to utilize corporate mission and management philosophy to govern a high level of unity between all stakeholders in a franchise system.
Impact of transcranial magnetic stimulation on the symptom profile of major depressive episode
Authors: May Tamara , Pridmore Saxby
Published: February 2019

Objectives:

This study aimed to explore the effects of a four-week course of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the following symptoms of major depressive episode (MDE): mood, work activities, health concerns, guilt, anxiety and retardation.

Method:

Patients underwent 20 daily sessions of 10 Hz TMS (two sets of 10 daily treatments separated by two days of rest). The six-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-6) was administered before and after treatment. Remission was operationalised as a HAMD-6 score of <4. Descriptive statistics and t-tests were used to compare pre/post scores on HAMD-6 subscales, and logistic regression was used to understand symptoms that predicted remission/non-remission.

Results:

There were 104 participants (79 female; 76%), with a mean age of 44.6 years ( SD=15.7 years). There was a significant improvement in the whole sample and in remitters ( n=70) on all subscales. However, those who failed to remit did not achieve significant reductions in ‘health concerns’ and ‘retardation’. There were no difference in age and sex between remitters and non-remitters. Also, there were no significant differences between the remitters and non-remitters on the pretreatment depression symptom profiles. No predictors of response were identified, as expected.

Conclusions:

TMS has the ability to reduce all listed MDE symptoms. No pretreatment MDE symptom profile was identified which might carry prognostic value.
Te Ara Waiora a Tāne: a kaupapa Māori mental-health assessment and intervention planning approach
Authors: Bush Allister , Campbell Whetu , Ransfield Maire
Published: February 2019

Objective:

The aims of this paper are to describe a Māori approach to assessment and intervention planning using the Māori creation narrative Te Ara a Tāne (The Journey of Tāne) and to outline an evaluation one year after the model was implemented.

Conclusions:

Te Ara Waiora a Tāne is a kaupapa Māori (Māori-centred) mental-health engagement, assessment, goal setting and planning approach designed to enhance the mana (spiritual and personal authority) of whānau (individuals and family/families) at the point they enter a Māori service and during ongoing mental-health work. Preliminary evaluation indicated that staff considered the model user-friendly and helpful for whānau. Further evaluation is needed to assess the impact of this approach on Māori whānau engagement with services.
Congenital extraneural hemangioblastoma in a lamb
Authors: Yaman Turan , Karasu Abdullah , Uyar Ahmet , Kuşçu Yağmur , Keleş Ömer Faruk
Published: February 2019

A 1-mo-old Ivesi male lamb was presented with 2 large red masses on the skin of the left ear. The tumors were removed using gentle dissection and submitted for histologic evaluation. The tumors consisted of numerous thin-walled capillaries lined by endothelial cells and nests of stromal cells. Immunohistochemically, the endothelial cells were positive for CD45, and the stromal cells were positive for neuron-specific enolase. GFAP-positive cells were occasionally present within the tumor. Endothelial and stromal cells were negative for S100, CD34, CD31, and factor VIII–related antigen. The tumor had strong gross, microscopic, and immunohistochemical similarities with human extraneural hemangioblastoma.
PAK1 Expression in Pancreatic Cancer: Clinicopathological Characteristics and Prognostic Significance
Authors: Symeonidis Nikolaos , Lambropoulou Maria , Pavlidis Efstathios , Anagnostopoulos Constantinos , Tsaroucha Alexandra , Kotini Athanasia , Nikolaidou Christina , Kiziridou Anastasia , Simopoulos Constantinos
Published: February 2019

Background:

Improvement of the management of pancreatic cancer requires a better understanding of the genetic and molecular changes responsible for the development of the disease. The family of p21-activated kinases (PAKs) and especially PAK1 appears to mediate many cellular processes that contribute to the development and progression of pancreatic cancer, but the clinical relevance of PAK1 expression with the disease still remains unclear. Aim of the study was to assess the clinical value and the potential prognostic significance of PAK1 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Methods:

We investigated the relationship between the PAK1 expression and the clinical and histopathologic characteristics of pancreatic cancer patients and the potential significance of PAK1 on survival. We examined tissue samples from 51 patients operated for pancreatic cancer. PAK1 expression was investigated with immunohistochemistry and correlated to clinicopathological parameters.

Results:

PAK1 was detected in all tumor samples and high expression was found in most patients. High PAK1 expression was also associated with younger age and well-differentiated tumors, but no association was found between PAK1 expression and Tumor-Node-Metastasis stage as well as deceased or alive status on follow-up. Moderate to high PAK1 expression favored higher 6-month and 1-year survival and low PAK1 expression 2-year survival but without statistical significance.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that PAK1 could potentially be used as a prognostic marker in pancreatic cancer. Further studies could clarify whether utilization of PAK1 in therapeutic protocols for the treatment of pancreatic cancer will render them more effective.
What effect on learning does increasing the proportion of curriculum time allocated to physical education have? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Dudley Dean , Burden Raewyn
Published: February 2019

An increased focus on standardized testing of students has had the unintended effect of eroding curriculum time allocated to physical education (PE). The empirical literature on increasing the proportion of total curriculum time allocated to PE was reviewed and a series of meta-analyses conducted to estimate the mean effect of doing so on student learning. After combining results across six studies that were absent of additional intervention, we found pooled effect sizes of 0.41 standard deviations on student learning across cognitive, affective and psychomotor learning outcomes. The evidence for the meta-analyses came from PE programmes implemented in primary and secondary schools from four Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development countries. Although findings affirmed that increasing the proportion of curriculum allocation to PE had no detrimental effect on student learning, further analyses illustrated the disparity of learning effects across the three learning domains.
Piloting a structured developmental tool to assess transition readiness for youth with special health-care needs: A mixed-methods exploration of health-care provider experiences
Authors: Bond Judy , Shanske Susan , Hoffman Roberta , Ross Abigail M
Published: February 2019

This mixed-methods study examined providers’ experiences using a structured developmentally sensitive tool to assess transition readiness for youth with special health-care needs moving from pediatric to adult care. Twenty-eight health-care providers from three pediatric specialty clinics reported their experiences using the tool by surveys and semistructured telephone interviews. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Most (96%) believed routine practice should include a structured tool; 65.7% incorporated information from the tool into patient care plans. Salient themes pertained to practice behavior changes and implementation barriers. Integrating structured tools into standard clinical practice has the potential to optimize transition and improve patient care.
Detailed analysis of the vibronic structure of phenetole in its first excited state and ionic ground state
Authors: Helle Niklas , Hintelmann Immo , Grotemeyer Jürgen
Published: February 2019

The vibronic structure of the first electronically excited state S1 and ionic ground state D0 of phenetole has been investigated by means of resonance enhanced multi photon ionization (REMPI) and mass analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectroscopy. The vibronic levels were assigned with the aid of quantum chemical calculations at the (TD)DFT level of theory and a multidimensional Franck-Condon approach. The S1 excitation energy of phenetole has been determined to be 36370 ± 4 cm−1 (4.5093 ± 0.0005 eV). The adiabatic ionization energy was determined to be 65665 ± 7 cm−1 (8.1415 ± 0.0008 eV). The vibronic structure has been analyzed whereby the in-plane bending vibration νbend shows high activity in the first excited state but is more pronounced in the ionic ground state. Moreover, a strong Duschinsky rotation effect can be observed for several D0←S1 transitions that causes violations of the Δv = 0 propensity rule.
Surgery for Supratentorial Spontaneous Intracerebral Haemorrhage: A Retrospective Analysis from a Hospital-based Stroke Register
Authors: Menon Girish , Hegde Ajay , IK Lakshman , Nair Rajesh
Published: February 2019

Introduction: Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) constitutes about 5% to 20% of all strokes. Surgery for ICH has always been controversial with conflicting opinions. While multiple trials have doubted the positive effect of surgery in supratentorial ICH, it is now increasingly practiced across the world. The present study attempts to study outcome predictors following surgical evacuation for supratentorial ICH.

Methodology: This is a retrospective analysis from a prospective ICH register on all patients who underwent surgical evacuation for supratentorial ICH between January 2015 and December 2017. Preoperative variables and postoperative complications were analyzed. The outcome was measured by the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge and 3 months.

Results: Our study group of 94 patients included 78 capsuloganglionic, 13 lobar, and 3 thalamic hematomas. The mean age of the study cohort was 52.72 ± 12.2 years with an overall male preponderance. Major comorbidities included hypertension in 55 (58.5%) and diabetes mellitus in 17 (18.1%). The median preoperative Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was 9 and the mean hematoma volume was 49.32 ± 19.01 ml. Standard craniotomy and clot evacuation were done in 61 patients, whereas 33 patients underwent decompressive craniectomy with hematoma evacuation and expansile duroplasty. Majority of the patients (60/94) underwent surgical evacuation within 6 to 24 hours. Residual bleed was seen in 25 patients (34.4%) and rebleed occurred in 9 patients. Major complications included ventilator-assisted pneumonia (35.1%), meningitis (18.1%), and septicaemia (12.8%). Our overall surgical mortality was 31/94 (32.9%) and the median GCS at discharge was 11.5. Median mRS was 5 and 4 at discharge and 90 days, respectively.

Age, GCS < 8, and rebleed were independent predictors of mortality in surgically operated patients ( P < .05). Nondominant hemispheric clots and lobar hematoma carry better long-term outcomes ( P < .05). The type, timing of surgery, and sex did not have a significant influence on the outcome.

Conclusion: Surgical evacuation of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage helps in significantly reducing mortality for younger patients with a preoperative GCS > 8 and clot volumes between 20 and 40 ml. Lobar hematoma carries better long-term outcomes and rebleeding affects outcomes adversely. More studies in future are required to redefine surgical indications.
Successful Treatment of Refractory Takayasu Arteritis with Tocilizumab—A Case Report
Authors: K. Nambiar Vivek , Dhanya T.S. , V. Ajai Amrutha
Published: February 2019

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is an idiopathic inflammatory vasculitis mostly affecting young females in the second or third decades of life. Corticosteroids and conventional immunosuppressants remain the mainstay of treatment for TA, but refractory cases are dealt with biological agents. The high cost and longer duration of therapy are issues of concern. Here, we report a case of a patient with refractory TA who underwent successful treatment with tocilizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against interleukin-6 receptor.
Research highlights from the 2018 ERS International Congress: interstitial lung diseases
Authors: Alfaro Tiago M. , Moor Catharina C. , Alfieri Veronica , Jeny Florence , Kreuter Michael , Wijsenbeek Marlies S. , Renzoni Elisabetta A. , Bargagli Elena , Nunes Hilario , Spagnolo Paolo , Bonella Francesco , Molina-Molina Maria , Antoniou Katerina , Poletti Venerino
Published: February 2019

This article reviews a selection of the scientific presentations on interstitial lung disease (ILD)/diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD) that were made at the 2018 European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress in Paris. A number of advances in the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of these disorders were presented and discussed by clinicians and researchers. The research topics span over all four groups of ERS Assembly 12: Interstitial Lung Diseases (Group 12.01: Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias; Group 12.02: ILD/DPLD of known origin; Group 12.03: Sarcoidosis and other granulomatous ILD/DPLD; Group 12.04: Rare ILD/DPLD).
RETRACTED ARTICLE: CircPSMC3 suppresses the proliferation and metastasis of gastric cancer by acting as a competitive endogenous RNA through sponging miR-296-5p
Authors: Rong Dawei , Lu Chen , Zhang Betty , Fu Kai , Zhao Shuli , Tang Weiwei , Cao Hongyong
Published: February 2019

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs with a loop structure, but its functions remain largely unknown. Growing evidence has revealed that circRNAs play a striking role as functional RNAs in the progression of malignant disease. However, the precise role of circRNAs in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear.

Methods

CircRNAs were determined by human circRNA array analysis and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase reaction. Luciferase reporter, RNA pull down, and fluorescence in situ hybridization assays were employed to test the interaction between circPSMC3 and miR-296-5p. Ectopic over-expression and siRNA-mediated knockdown of circPSMC3, proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro, and in vivo experiment of metastasis were used to evaluate the function of circPSMC3.

Results

CircPSMC3 rather than liner PSMC3 mRNA was down-regulated in GC tissues, corresponding plasmas from GC patients as well as GC cell lines compared to normal controls. Lower circPSMC3 expression in GC patients was correlated with higher TNM stage and shorter overall survival. Over-expression of circPSMC3 and miR-296-5p inhibitor could inhibit the tumorigenesis of gastric cancer cells in vivo and vitro whereas co-transfection of circPSMC3 and miRNA-296-5p could counteract this effect. Importantly, we demonstrated that circPSMC3 could act as a sponge of miR-296-5p to regulate the expression of Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN), and further suppress the tumorigenesis of gastric cancer cells.

Conclusion

Our study reveals that circPSMC3 can serve as a novel potential circulating biomarker for detection of GC. CircPSMC3 participates in progression of gastric cancer by sponging miRNA-296-5p with PTEN, providing a new insight into the treatment of gastric cancer.
Spatially averaged coherencies (krSPAC) and Rayleigh effective-mode modeling of microtremor data from asymmetric arrays
Authors: Asten Michael W. , Stephenson William J. , Hartzell Stephen
Published: February 2019

The spatial autocorrelation and spatially averaged coherency (SPAC) methods of processing Rayleigh-wave microtremor noise observations for estimation of S-wave velocity profiles traditionally require a circular or triangular array symmetry to allow spatial (azimuthal) averaging of interstation coherencies over a constant station separation. Common processing methods allow for station separations to vary by typically [Formula: see text] in the azimuthal averaging before degradation of the SPAC spectrum is excessive. Transformation of a set of frequency-coherency spectra to wavenumber-coherency spectra (kr spectra) allows spatial averaging of spectra from multiple pairs of sensors irrespective of differences in spatial separation of the pairs. The method is called krSPAC and is implemented by iterative direct fitting of observed and model kr spectra to determine an optimal layered-earth S-wave velocity model. The observed kr spectra are updated with each iteration of the velocity model because the wavenumber is a function of model phase velocity that varies with each iteration of the modeling process. The method proves applicable when modeling either with the assumption of fundamental mode Rayleigh-wave propagation or with a summation of fundamental and higher modes. The method proves robust when compared with alternative methodologies using symmetric and asymmetric arrays on a sample of synthetic data and on field data in which station spacings vary from 70 to 800 m side lengths.