bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global Justice: What is Necessary to Legitimate Coercion
Authors: Hassoun N.
Published: April 2019

There is little agreement about what grounds obligations of distributive justice. This paper defends cosmopolitan coercion theory against recent criticism that coercive rule is not even sufficient to generate obligations of distributive justice. On one of the most sustained arguments against the idea that coercion is sufficient to generate obligations of distributive justice, critics object that coercion, and other nonvoluntary relationships, cannot fix the scope, or content, of these obligations. At best, critics argue, nonvoluntary relationships can ground obligations of charity or humanity. This paper argues that this Scope/Content Critique fails, in part, because it does not recognize the motivation for coercion theories. Moreover, despite assertions to the contrary, the Scope/Content Critique assumes coercion must suffice to ground obligations of distributive justice. Nonvoluntarists can hold there are many things, in addition to nonvoluntary relations, that can ground them.
The Breakdown of State-building: From the Nation to Radicalisation
Authors: Knoope Peter , Knoope Saré
Published: April 2019

This article attempts to explore the nexus between exclusionary state-building practices, inter-ethnic relations and Violent Extremism and Radicalisation that Lead to Terrorism (verlt). The current focus on individual trajectories has left the social context in which individuals radicalise underexplored. By taking a birds-eye view, this article aims to untangle the ways in which particular historic conditions and perceptions of discrimination and marginalisation following state-building practices feed specifically into the radicalisation of minority communities. Following a comparison between state-building practices in Turkey, China and Spain and the impact on Kurdish, Uyghur and Basque identity construction respectively, the authors argue that the failure to include minority groups into the identity of the state is one of the key reasons for the politicisation of minority identities. This implies the need for inclusionary policies as a response to verlt. It is exactly through the promotion, facilitation and execution of inclusive policies that the osce can make an important contribution.
The Application of the osce Commitments Relating to Migration and Integration in Italy
Authors: Favilli Chiara
Published: April 2019

The osce commitments agreed during several meetings held in the past years address economic, political and social aspects of migration. As far as Italy, while the national legal framework is almost in line with international standards, the adoption of practical measures, their implementation and the promotion of projects prove difficult. Moreover, the increased exposure that Italy faces as a country lying on the external maritime border of the European Union makes it more difficult to manage migration flows via the sea.
The Digital Unfitness of Mutual Legal Assistance
Authors: De Busser Els
Published: April 2019

Any crime could generate digital evidence. That is a reality law enforcement authorities across the world need to face. The volatile and “unterritorial” nature of the evidence means that international cooperation in criminal matters is confronted with new questions. One of these questions is whether the traditional cooperation mechanism, mutual legal assistance, is a viable way of working. Due to its time-consuming and cumbersome functioning combined with the lack of a faster alternative, countries have developed unilateral and extraterritorial methods of evidence gathering. This paper zooms in on this development and the risks it entails.
Reinstatement of Isotrema, a new generic delimitation of Aristolochia subgen. Siphisia (Aristolochiaceae)
Authors: ZHU XIN-XIN , LI XIAO-QIN , LIAO SHUAI , DU CHENG , WANG YUAN , WANG ZHANG-HUA , YAN JING , ZUO YUN-JUAN , Ma Jinshuang
Published: April 2019

Aristolochia subgen. Siphisia, comprising 98 species, is mainly distributed in East and South Asia, with some scattered in North and Central America. It has often been recognized as one of three subgenera of Aristolochia and can be distinguished from both remaining subgenera (Aristolochia subgen. Aristolochia and Aristolochia subgen. Pararistolochia) by morphological synapomorphies such as a strongly curved perianth with a 3-lobed limb, and especially the 3-lobed gynostemium, anthers paired on the outer surface of each gynostemium segment. However, recent cladistic analyses based on morphological characters and molecular data suggested that Aristolochia s.l. should be divided into four genera in two subtribes. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of molecular data of two plastid genic spacers (rps16-trnK and petB-petD), and two nuclear genes (phyA and ITS2) with an extensive sampling of Asian and American species was conducted. The combined datasets confirmed that Aristolochia subgen. Siphisia should be treated as an independent genus. Then Isotrema is reinstated here with 87 new combinations for the most comprehensive enumeration.
Faunal survey and identification key for the trematodes (Platyhelminthes: Digenea) infecting Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae) as first intermediate host
Authors: HECHINGER RYAN F.
Published: April 2019

A diverse guild of digenean trematodes infects the New Zealand mud snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, as firstintermediate host. This manuscript offers an initial systematic treatment of these trematodes and relies on published andnew information. I list 20 trematode species, for which I provide taxonomic affinities, life-cycle information, and anidentification key. A species account section presents photographs, diagnostic information, additional descriptive notes,and information on relevant research concerning the listed species. The major aim of this manuscript is to facilitateresearch on this trematode guild by providing information and identification tools, and by highlighting gaps in our knowledge.
Three new species of the genus Hylaeus (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) from South Korea
Authors: CHEN HUAN , XU HUANLI
Published: April 2019

Three new species, Hylaeus (Nesoprosopis) dathei sp. nov., H. (Nesoprosopis) jirisanensis sp. nov. and H. (Nesoprosopis) koreaensis sp. nov. of the genus Hylaeus are described from South Korea. The diagnosis of each species is provided. Illustrations of male genitalia for these new species are also included.
The discovery of male Potiicoara brasiliensis (Crustacea, Spelaeogriphacea) with notes on biology and distribution
Authors: PIRES-VANIN ANA MARIA S.
Published: April 2019

The male of Potiicoara brasiliensis is reported for the first time with evidence of sexual dimorphism. Male diagnosticcharacters are described and compared with the other three species of Spelaeogriphidae. Males present differential mor-phology on both distal podomere articles of the antennula and antenna, an elongate and curved bare endopod on pleopod2, a pair of short round penes on the sternum near the base of pereopod 7, and telson with dorsum almost smooth and apexstraight. Material is sampled for the first time from karstic areas north of the species type-locality, Gruta Ricardo Franconear Corumbá City, and Gruta do Curupira in the Araras Mountains. These new findings expand the distribution of thespecies over seven hundred kilometers. Comparisons between exemplars of both sexes are presented. A hypothesis on the distributional pattern of P. brasiliensis is introduced based on the geological history of Central-West Brazil.
Euphyllia baliensis sp. nov. (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia: Euphylliidae): a new species of reef coral from Indonesia
Authors: TURAK EMRE , DEVANTIER LYNDON , ERDMANN MARK
Published: April 2019

Euphyllia baliensis sp. nov. (Hexacorallia: Scleractinia: Euphylliidae) is described from 10 specimens from Bali, Indone-sia. This species forms phaceloid colonies, and is distinguished morphologically from others in its genus by its compara-tively very small corallites (averaging 3 mm diameter) and much shorter, thinner, lightly calcified branches. It also exhibitsan unusual pattern for Hexacorallia in having four or eight primary and secondary septa. Living corals typically havefleshy polyps extended during the day. Tentacles are ‘anchor’, ‘kidney’ or ‘hammer’ shaped at their tips, occasionally withadditional smaller bulbous protuberances, the latter resembling ‘mittens’ or ‘gloves’. Tentacles are dull to dark reddish-brown with lime green bases and cream tips, becoming bluish on retraction. Type specimens were collected from 27-37 m depth off the central eastern coast of Bali, Indonesia. To date the species has not been reported from any other locality.
Trichodina heterodentata (Ciliophora: Trichodinidae): a new parasite for Piaractus mesopotamicus (Pisces: Characidae)
Authors: DE PÁDUA SANTIAGO BENITES , MARTINS MAURÍCIO LATERÇA , CARRASCHI SILVIA PATRÍCIA , DA CRUZ CLAUDINEI , ISHIKAWA MÁRCIA MAYUMI
Published: April 2019

Trichodinids are mobile peritrichous ciliated protozoa, and widely known as ectocommensals and/or parasites of fish andother aquatic organisms. Little is known about the trichodinid fauna in Brazilian fish. This study reports Trichodina het-erodentata Duncan, 1977 as a new parasite for freshwater fish Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887. This is the firstrecord of this trichodinid in southeastern Brazil. Fifty specimens impregnated with 2% silver nitrate and another fiftystained with Giemsa were used for morphometry on the taxonomic characteristics. T. heterodentata in this study is medi-um size, with a disc-shaped body measuring 49.0 to 61.0 µm, parasitizing the skin, fins and gills of pacu. Measurement comparisons between the present material and other records from different countries are presented.
A new species of Tyrannoseira (Collembola, Entomobryidae, Seirini) from Paraiba, Northeastern Brazil
Authors: ZEPPELINI DOUGLAS , DE LIMA ESTEVAM CIPRIANO ARAUJO
Published: April 2019

A new species Tyrannoseira gladiata sp. nov. is described from Pedra da Boca State Park, municipality of Araruna, this is the fifth species for this genus, the third found in the State of Paraiba, Brazil. The species is part of a monophyletic group which shares a striking sexual dimorphism, with modifications of the first legs of adult males. The genus is composed of species distributed in a mosaic of micro-habitats along the semi-arid region, in Northeastern Brazil.
Description of immature stages of Phelypera schuppeli (Boheman, 1834) with comments on natural history (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Hyperinae)
Authors: VANIN SERGIO ANTONIO , DE CASSIA BENÁ DANIELA , ALBERTONI FABIANO FABIAN
Published: April 2019

Immatures of the Phelypera schuppeli (Boheman, 1834) (Curculionidae; Hyperinae; Cepurini) are described, illustrated and compared with available descriptions of larvae and pupae of Hyperini. Immatures and adults from midwest (Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul; Pirenópolis, Goiás) and southeast Brazil (Bauru, São Paulo) were found on leaves of the host plant, Pachira aquatica Aubl. ( Malvaceae, formerly Bombacaceae), a tree used as an ornamental plant in many Brazilian frost-free cities. Larvae of P. schuppeli are exophytic, brightly colored, eruciform and possess abdominal ambulatory ampullae, resembling larvae of Lepidoptera. Mature larvae can spin globular lattice-like cocoons where pupation takes place. Data in the field and under laboratory conditions confirmed previously published biological observations on P. schuppeli. Additional information about defensive behaviors, process of cocoon construction and natural enemies, such as the larval predator Supputius cinticeps (Stål, 1860) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and the prepupal and pupal parasitoid Jaliscoa nudipennis Bouček, 1993 (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), are reported.
Systematic position of Dinidoridae within the superfamily Pentatomoidea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) revealed by the Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial 12S and 16S rDNA sequences
Authors: LIS JERZY A. , LIS PAWEŁ , ZIAJA DARIUSZ J. , KOCOREK ANNA
Published: April 2019

Mitochondrial 12S and 16S rDNA sequences of five species of Dinidoridae Stål, 1868, a largely Paleotropical family, and 16 other shield bugs (Pentatomoidea) were studied. This was the first molecular examination of the systematic position of this family within the superfamily Pentatomoidea using more than a single dinidorid species. Phylogenetic trees obtained from the Bayesian inference of 12S and 16S sequences of these mitochondrial DNA, identified Dinidoridae as the monophylum and a sister group to the Tessaratomidae. Moreover, results of the study suggested a close molecular affinity of the genus Eumenotes to representatives of the subfamily Dinidorinae, which contradicts all previous morphological analyses that placed it within the subfamily Megymeninae. We suggest restoring taxonomic status of the tribe Eumenotini and removing it from the synonymy of Megymenini, leaving the genus with no subfamilial assignment for the moment.
Serpulidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from Hong Kong
Authors: SUN YANAN , HOVE HARRY A. TEN , QIU JIAN-WEN
Published: April 2019

Serpulidae (Sabellida, Annelida) is a large group of sedentary polychaetes that live in the calcareous tubes they secrete.In addition to being an important component of marine hard-bottom benthic communities, serpulids include several eco-nomically important invasive and/or fouling species. In this paper we describe the serpulids from Hong Kong, based onspecimens collected from a coral community, a fish farm, a public pier and a shipping channel. Seventeen serpulid taxabelonging to five genera are recorded. The most diverse genus in the present material is Hydroides (9 species), followedby Spirobranchus (5 taxa). The highest diversity (13 taxa) is found on dead coral skeleton. One species, Spirobranchustetraceros, is associated with live corals in high density. For each taxon, the habitat, distribution and morphological fea-tures are described. Including literature records, 20 taxa of serpulids have been reported from Hong Kong. An identification key to all these recorded taxa is provided.
First report of kinorhynchs from Hokkaido, Japan, including a new species of Pycnophyes (Pycnophyidae: Homalorhagida)
Authors: YAMASAKI HIROSHI , KAJIHARA HIROSHI , MAWATARI SHUNSUKE F.
Published: April 2019

We describe and illustrate Pycnophyes oshoroensis sp. nov. from Hokkaido, northern Japan. This species is characterized by (1)a trunk 646–775μm long, and a presence of (2) middorsal elevation on segments 2–9, (3) anterior middorsal projection onsegment 2, (4) even anterior tergal margin of segment 1, (5) reticulate cuticular area on anterior margin of tergal, episternal, andmidsternal plates of segment 1, (6) laterodorsal setae on segments 2–9, (7) paralateral setae on segments 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10,(8) ventrolateral setae on segments 1, 5 and 10, (9) ventromedial setae on segments 3–9, and (10) subcuticle thickening areas inparaventral position on segments 9 and 10. In addition, we provide morphological descriptions for two species found fromHokkaido, Japan in this study: Cephalorhyncha asiatica (Adrianov, 1989) and Kinorhynchus yushini Adrianov, 1989. This is the first report of kinorhynchs from Hokkaido and the first report of C. asiatica from Japanese waters.
New species of Prototilla Schuster, 1949 from Argentina and diagnoses of the genus based on male and female (Hymenoptera: Bradynobaenidae: Typhoctinae: Eotillini)
Authors: TORRÉNS JAVIER , FIDALGO PATRICIO , ROIG-ALSINA ARTURO , BROTHERS DENIS J.
Published: April 2019

Diagnoses for the genus Prototilla Schuster, 1949 based on males and females, new generic and specific characters, and descriptions of four new species (Prototilla nigra Torréns, Fidalgo, Roig-Alsina & Brothers, sp. nov. and P. intercalata Torréns, Fidalgo, Roig-Alsina & Brothers, sp. nov. based on males, and P. striata Torréns, Fidalgo, Roig-Alsina & Brothers, sp. nov. and P. telteca Torréns, Fidalgo, Roig-Alsina & Brothers, sp. nov. based on females) are provided. Prototilla typhoctoides (Martinez & Fritz, 1974), comb. nov. is transferred from Eotilla. A comparative table between the two genera of the tribe Eotillini and a key to the species of Prototilla are presented.
Two new species of Nemoura (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) from China
Authors: LI WEIHAI , WANG GUOQUAN , YANG DING
Published: April 2019

Two distinct new species of the genus Nemoura are described from China: N. baiyunshana sp. n. and N. tridenticula sp. n. Their relationships with the similar species are discussed. The types are deposited in the Entomological Museum of China Agricultural University, Beijing.
Descriptions of two new species and designation of three neotypes of Japanese Coralliidae from recently discovered specimens that were collected by Kishinouye, and the introduction of a statistical approach to sclerite abundance and size
Authors: NONAKA MASANORI , MUZIK KATHERINE , IWASAKI NOZOMU
Published: April 2019

Here we describe eight specimens of Japanese precious coral (Octocorallia: Coralliidae) collected and identified byKishinouye over one hundred years ago, and recently rediscovered in the collections at the USNM, SmithsonianInstitution. Although Kishinouye identified four of the specimens he sent to the Smithsonian as Corallium elatius (Ridley,1882), two of them represent two new species which we describe: Corallium uchidai sp. nov. and C. gotoense, sp. nov.Kishinouye did not designate any type material for the species he described in his publications nor did he ever mentionsending any specimens to the Smithsonian Institution. Because his original material remains missing, we here selectneotypes from the Smithsonian material for three of his species: Corallium konojoi Kishinouye, 1903; Pleurocoralliuminutile Kishinouye, 1902 and C. japonicum Kishinouye, 1903. In this study, thanks to advances in computer technologyand software, we have been able to quantify and thus improve the vague descriptions of sclerite numbers found in pastliterature such as “few” or “many”. Our goal in reporting percent composition data for each kind of sclerite is to help to make species identifications easier for non-specialists.
Aipysurus mosaicus, a new species of egg-eating sea snake (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae), with a redescription of Aipysurus eydouxii (Gray, 1849)
Authors: SANDERS KATE L. , RASMUSSEN ARNE R. , ELMBERG JOHAN , _ MUMPUNI , GUINEA MICHAEL , BLIAS PETER , LEE MICHAEL S. Y. , FRY BRYAN G.
Published: April 2019

We describe a new species of egg-eating sea snake, Aipysurus mosaicus sp. nov., from northern Australia and southernNew Guinea. This species was previously considered to be an allopatric population of A. eydouxii, which occursthroughout the Sunda Shelf and in New Guinea. Molecular analyses reveal these two species to be sister lineages withfixed nucleotide substitutions at three independent mitochondrial and nuclear loci, and a deep phylogenetic divergenceexceeding that of all other sampled species pairs in Aipysurus. Aipysurus mosaicus sp. nov. is also distinguished from A.eydouxii by morphological characters relating to scalation (e.g. number of ventral scales), colour pattern (e.g. number andshape of transverse body bands), internal soft anatomy (e.g. position of heart in relation to ventral scales), and skeletalmorphology (e.g. shape of nasal and caudal neural spines). Additional sampling is needed to clarify the extent ofgeographic contact between A. eydouxii and the new species in New Guinea where they appear to be sympatric. It is likelythat the boundaries between these taxa will be mirrored in other coastal sea snakes with ranges spanning the deep watersof the Timor Trench; discovery of such cryptic species will have important implications for conservation of this highly diverse but relatively poorly studied group of marine vertebrates.
Ant-like sac spiders from Jinyun Mountain Natural Reserve of Chongqing, China (Araneae: Corinnidae)
Authors: WANG LU-YU , ZHANG FENG , ZHANG ZHI-SHENG
Published: April 2019

Eight corinnid species were collected from the Jinyun Mountain Natural Reserve: Corinnomma severum (Thorell, 1877)(male, female), Otacilia komurai (Yaginuma, 1952) (male, female), O. longituba sp. nov. (male, female), O. taiwanica(Hayashi & Yoshida, 1993) (male, female), Phrurolithus hamatus sp. nov. (male, female), P. zongxu sp. nov. (male,female), Trachelas japonicus Bösenberg & Strand, 1906 (male, female) and T. sinensis Chen, Peng & Zhao, 1995 (female). Morphological illustrations and photos of all species and descriptions of new species are given.
Oribatella (Acari, Oribatida, Oribatellidae) of western North America
Authors: BEHAN-PELLETIER VALERIE M. , WALTER DAVID E.
Published: April 2019

The oribatid mite genus Oribatella (Oribatellidae) includes 18 species known previously from North America. Herein, wedescribe 11 new Oribatella species from montane, subarctic, forest and prairie habitats in western North America: O. abmisp. nov., O. banksi sp. nov., O. ewingi sp. nov., O. heatherae sp. nov., O. manningensis sp. nov., O. maryae sp. nov., O.oregonensis sp. nov., O. parallelus sp. nov., O. pawnee sp. nov., O. sintranslamella and O. yukonensis sp. nov.Descriptions of two species (O. heatherae and O. pawnee) include some developmental instars. That of O. yukonensisincludes all instars; nymphs retain dorsocentral setae dm and dp, but the setal morphology changes between larva andnymphs. These immatures bear sclerotized areas on the hysterosoma. Adults of Oribatella oregonensis show distinctsexual dimorphism, with three notogastral setae arising from fused porose areas in the male. We provide new distributionrecords for Oribatella species previously known from North America, including O. arctica Thor, 1930, O. canadensisBehan-Pelletier and Eamer, 2010, O. jacoti Behan-Pelletier, 2011 and O. reticulatoides Hammer, 1955, and remark on O.anomola Grabowski, 1970. We clarify description of the octotaxic system and the interlamellar region in species ofOribatella and discuss variability in hysterosomal sclerotization and setation in immatures. Finally, we give a key to adults of the 29 species of Oribatella now known from North America.
A new genus and species of Melitidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hadzioidea) from Brazilian waters
Authors: SENNA ANDRÉ R. , SEREJO CRISTIANA S.
Published: April 2019

A new genus and species of the Eriopisella group are described from Brazilian waters. The new genus is monotypic andclosely related to the melitid genus Netamelita Barnard, 1962, but is distinguishable from the latter by the propodus ofgnathopods 1 and 2 that is wedge-shaped, subtriangular and has the palm longer than posterior margin. This is the first amphipod of the Eriopisella group reported from Brazil.
A Probabilistic Radar Forward Model for Branched Planar Ice Crystals
Authors: Schrom Robert S. , Kumjian Matthew R.
Published: April 2019

Polarimetric radar measurements provide information about ice particle growth and offer the potential to evaluate and better constrain ice microphysical models. To achieve these goals, one must map the ice particle physical properties (e.g., those predicted by a microphysical model) to electromagnetic scattering properties using a radar forward model. Simplified methods of calculating these scattering properties using homogeneous, reduced-density spheroids produce large errors in the polarimetric radar measurements, particularly for low-aspect-ratio branched planar crystals. To overcome these errors, an empirical method is introduced to more faithfully represent branched planar crystal scattering using scattering calculations for a large number of detailed shapes. Additionally, estimates of the uncertainty in the scattering properties, owing to ambiguity in the crystal shape given a set of bulk physical properties, are also incorporated in the forward model. To demonstrate the utility of the forward model developed herein, the radar variables are simulated from microphysical model output for an Arctic cloud case. The simulated radar variables from the empirical forward model are more consistent with the observations compared to those from the homogeneous, reduced-density-spheroid model, and have relatively low uncertainty.
The Role of n-3 Fatty Acids in Cardiovascular Disease: Back to the Future
Authors: Perez-Martinez Pablo , Katsiki Niki , Mikhailidis Dimitri P
Published: April 2019

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the major cause of death and disability worldwide, and residual risk after implementing all current therapies is still high. In this context, the latest (2016) European Cardiology Society/European Atherosclerosis Society guidelines recommend that triglyceride (TG)-lowering drugs should be used in high-risk patients with TGs levels >2.3 mmol/L (200 mg/dL), after lifestyle measures fail to lower them. After several neutral CVD outcome trials with n-3 fatty acids, the Reduction of Cardiovascular Events with EPA–Intervention Trial met its primary end point, that is, among patients with elevated TGs levels despite the use of statins, the risk of ischemic events, including cardiovascular death, was significantly lower in those who received 4 g of icosapent ethyl daily. In this review, we comment on the findings of previous and recently published randomized controlled CVD outcome trials assessing n-3 fatty acids supplementation. Both efficacy and safety, as well as future perspectives, are discussed.
Review of everyday International Relations Cooperation and Conflict special issue
Authors: Steele Brent J
Published: April 2019

The following include reviews of the special issue contributions, and in some cases reviews of the resubmissions.
Using n-Level Structural Equation Models for Causal Modeling in Fully Nested, Partially Nested, and Cross-Classified Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Petscher Yaacov , Schatschneider Christopher
Published: April 2019

Complex data structures are ubiquitous in psychological research, especially in educational settings. In the context of randomized controlled trials, students are nested in classrooms but may be cross-classified by other units, such as small groups. Furthermore, in many cases only some students may be nested within a unit while other students may not. Such instances of partial nesting requires a more flexible framework for estimating treatment effects so that the model coefficients are correctly estimated. Although several recommendations have been offered to the field on handling partially nested data, few are comprehensive in their treatment of manifest and latent variables in the context of partial nesting, full nesting, and cross-classification. The present study introduces n-level structural equation modeling (SEM) as a flexible measurement and analytic framework for the estimation of treatment effects for complex data structures that frequently present in randomized controlled trials. In this tutorial, we explore how the notation of n-level SEM allows for parsimonious model specification whether data are observed or latent and in the presence of partial nested or cross-classified designs. By using the xxm package in R, the advantage of using n-level SEM framework is demonstrated through five examples for single outcome manifest variables, as in the traditional multilevel model, as well as latent applications as in multilevel SEM.
Ignorantia juris non excusat: The trial and the affirmation of the Italian legal thriller
Authors: Bratos Francesco
Published: April 2019

The complex relationship between literature and law has been widely debated. Over the last 20 years, the judicial novel has been the subject of renewed consideration from critics. Numerous studies have pointed out how literary and judicial practices seem characterized by common methods of narrative organization and communication of experiences. Beyond the controversy on the classification of the judicial novel as literary genre, the representation of courtrooms has undeniably become one of the recurring tropes of the 20th-century novel. Within this multifaceted literary movement, the unique style of Italian judiciary literature warrants its articulation as a distinct genre. The working hypothesis of this article is that the political and cultural centrality acquired by the Italian Magistratura, as result of a longstanding confrontation with the political powers, is essential in studying the success of the Italian judiciary novel, together with the emergence of a vast number of jurist-writers. Analyzing specifically the work of the jurist-writer Gianrico Carofiglio, I will demonstrate how the Italian legal thriller transforms the representation of the trial, dealing with the literary tradition as well as with law’s own representation.
Preparation of fluorescent thermoplastic polyurethane microcellular foam films blown by supercritical CO2
Authors: Wang Shiping , Xue Shuaiwei , Ge Chengbiao , Ren Qian , Zhao Dan , Zhai Wentao
Published: April 2019

In this study, the microcellular thermoplastic polyurethane foam with excellent fluorescent performance and a density of about 0.32 g/cm3 was prepared using solid-state foaming technology. The micro-sized green fluorescent pigment not only endowed thermoplastic polyurethane film with color, but also acted as nucleating agent to influence the cell morphology of thermoplastic polyurethane foam. Laser scanning confocal microscopy testing demonstrated that the characteristic excitation and emission peaks were observed in thermoplastic polyurethane/fluorescent pigment films and foams at 465 and 510 nm, respectively. It is found that the specific intensity of the characteristic emission peak was higher than that of the unfoamed counterpart, resulting from the formation of skin-core structure in thermoplastic polyurethane foam. By adjusting the thickness of unfoamed skin layer, the fluorescent performance of thermoplastic polyurethane / fluorescent pigment foam could be optimized.
Motherhood beyond biology: Two Indian women writers’ fictions of non-biological motherhood
Authors: Karmakar Indrani
Published: April 2019

In India, the feminist theorization of motherhood is a relatively new concern that has emerged in the last decade. Indian feminists such as Jasodhara Bagchi and Maithreyi Krishnaraj have repeatedly lambasted the societal obsession with biological motherhood, which chimes with dominant social mores around “sacrosanct” marriage. However, despite the rise of scholarly interest in maternal matters over the last decade, the issue of non-biological mothering is one area that has received little scrutiny (in the social sciences) and almost no critical attention (in literary studies). My article addresses this lacuna, aiming to explore the maternal beyond biology by focusing on the portrayals of non-biological mothering by two ostensibly “childless” women in Anita Desai’s novel Clear Light of Day (1980) and one in Nandita Bagchi’s short story “Bilkisu Becomes a Mother” (1999). Amid many forms of non-biological mothering, I choose to concentrate on the literary ramifications of two modes — informal mothering by female kin and delegated caring labour by nannies — which lie outside the dominant paradigm of motherhood. My concern here is to exploit the subversive potential of literary texts in order to disrupt the popular polarities of mother and non-mother. I argue that these works of fictions create an eclectic definition of motherhood while suggesting that a latent tension of acceding to conventional feminine roles nonetheless exists in the texts.
Analytical solution of Buckley-Leverett equation for gas flooding including the effect of miscibility with constant-pressure boundary
Authors: Mu Lingyu , Liao Xinwei , Chen Zhiming , Zou Jiandong , Chu Hongyang , Li Rongtao
Published: April 2019

This paper presents an analytical solution of Buckley-Leverett equation for gas flooding with constant-pressure boundary including the effect of miscibility on the viscosity and relative permeability. First, a relative permeability model and a viscosity model with consideration of miscibility are used to describe the variations of relative permeability and viscosity of oil and gas. Then, based on the fractional-flow theory, the Buckley-Leverett equation for gas flooding with constant-pressure boundary including the effect of miscibility is constructed and solved analytically. From the analytical solution, the saturation and pressure profiles, the total volumetric flux and the breakthrough time are determined. To verify the theory, the analytical solution is compared with the numerical solution. The comparison shows that the analytical solution is in reasonable agreement with numerical solution. Through the study on the influential factors, it can be concluded that total volumetric flux is increasing with the increases of permeability and pressure and decrease of gas viscosity. The increase of total volumetric flux accelerates breakthrough of the injected gas. Furthermore, with the pressure increase, there are remarkable reduction in residual oil saturation and improvement of relative permeability, resulting in higher gas saturation and oil displacement efficiency. The analytical solution presented in this paper provides guidance on analyzing the distribution of saturation and pressure profiles, predicting the gas production and oil recovery efficiency of oil well.
The Association Between ENT Diseases and Obesity in Pediatric Population: A Systemic Review of Current Knowledge
Authors: Krajewska (Wojciechowska) Joanna , Krajewski Wojciech , Zatoński Tomasz
Published: April 2019

Obesity in pediatric population is an important global problem. The prevalence of obesity in children is dramatically rising. According to World Health Organization, about 41 million children under the age of 5 years are obese or overweight worldwide. Overweight and obesity are well-known risk factors for a number of health disorders. Diseases commonly observed in this group of patients are metabolic disorders, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, fatty liver disease, musculoskeletal problems, and many others. The main aim of this study was to present the current knowledge of the association between childhood obesity and common otorhinolaryngological disorders. It is suggested that obese children are more prone to suffer from otorhinolaryngological illnesses than the lean ones. Obesity may predispose to otorhinolaryngological diseases in various ways. It strongly interferes with the immune system (increases serum levels of interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor, C-reactive protein, and leptin and reduces adiponectin concentration) affecting organs of the upper respiratory tract. Additionally, obesity induces mechanical disorders in the upper airways. According to our review, obesity predisposes to otitis media with effusion, acute otitis media, recurrent otitis media, obstructive sleep apnea, sensorineural hearing loss, adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and post-/perioperative complications after adenotonsillectomy. Obesity in children significantly correlates with both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and asthma and constitutes a significant component of “OSA, obesity, asthma” triad.
Necrotizing Sialometaplasia of the Hypopharynx
Authors: Gadkaree Shekhar K. , Fuller Jennifer C. , Sadow Peter M. , Deschler Daniel G. , Richmon Jeremy D.
Published: April 2019

Necrotizing sialometaplasia (NSM) is a benign, reactive metaplastic condition of the minor salivary gland tissue typically seen in the setting of injury, chemical or traumatic, and is nonneoplastic and self-limited. The diagnosis may be challenging as it may clinically mimic malignancy. We present the case of a 74-year-old male with a 1 pack per day smoking history for 60 years who presented with a reported 20-pound weight loss, dysphagia, and dysphonia progressing over the course of 6 months and found to have a 3.5-cm hypopharyngeal mass on computed tomography imaging and fiberoptic laryngoscopy. Initial frozen section of the mass was concerning for squamous cell carcinoma in situ, but permanent specimens returned as nondiagnostic. Repeat biopsy established a diagnosis of NSM. Two-month follow-up showed complete resolution of the mass. Clinicians should be aware that NSM may present in unusual locations when considering differential diagnoses for laryngeal masses and evaluating for malignancy.
Conclusions: The new research agenda on electoral management
Authors: Norris Pippa
Published: April 2019

This concluding article begins by considering the reasons behind the growing demand for policy-relevant comparative research into the institutional structures and processes of electoral management. It then outlines the theoretical framework used in this special issue – distinguishing the structure, capacities, and ethos of electoral management – and summarizes the key insights arising from the evidence. Research on electoral management is expanding, nevertheless it suffers from several major challenges, including the difficulties of isolating aid effectiveness in this sector and of determining the impact of electoral management on broader indicators of democratic performance. This constitutes the future research agenda.
Evaluation of a Rule Base for Identifying Contact Allergens by using a Regulatory Database: Comparison of Data on Chemicals Notified in the European Union with “Structural Alerts” Used in the DEREK Expert System
Authors: Zinke Stephan , Gerner Ingrid , Schlede Eva
Published: April 2019

To assess the suitability of the use of structural alerts to identify the skin-sensitising properties of chemicals, the 40 originally published structural alerts for the prediction of skin-sensitisation properties used by the DEREK system (which now contains 59 structural alerts), have been evaluated against a database developed in the German Federal Institute for Health Protection of Consumers and Veterinary Medicine (BgVV), which contains data submitted under the procedure for notifying new chemicals within the European Union. The evaluation of the 40 structural alerts used in DEREK revealed that eight of the 40 structural alerts for the prediction of skin-sensitising potential could be used without any further refinement. Ten structural alerts may need further specifications or refinements in order avoid false-positive predictions — proposals for refinement are discussed. Not enough substances were found within the BgVV database (containing data for more than 1000 substances) to evaluate ten of the DEREK substructures; hence, for these structural alerts, a judgement on their suitability for prediction of skin-sensitisation properties in expert systems is not possible. For 12 structural alerts, no comparative result could be obtained, because these rules did not “fire” for any of the examined chemicals. As a general result of the evaluation process, the approach of using structural alerts for the prediction of skin-sensitising properties of chemicals proved to be reliable. Proposals are given for a refinement of the structural alerts for prediction of contact allergy used in the DEREK system. In addition, advice and several preconditions are given, that apply when trying to teach a computer system to use structural alerts to predict toxicological properties.
A Methylcellulose Microculture Assay for the In Vitro Assessment of Drug Toxicity on Granulocyte/macrophage Progenitors (CFU-GM)
Authors: Pessina Augusto , Croera Cristina , Bayo Maria , Malerba Ilaria , Passardi Laura , Cavicchini Loredana , Neri Maria G. , Gribaldo Laura
Published: April 2019

In a recent prevalidation study, the use of a methylcellulose colony-forming unit-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM) macroassay for two independent in vitro tests (human and murine cell based) was suggested for quantifying the potential haematotoxicity of xenobiotics. In this paper, we describe the transfer of the macroassay to a 96-well plate microassay, in which the linearity of the response was studied (both in terms of CFU-GM and optical density [OD] versus the number of cells cultured), and the inhibitory concentration (IC) values for doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil and taxol were determined and compared with those obtained by using the original macroassay. Fresh murine bone marrow and human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells were used as a source of myeloid progenitors. The cells were cultured in methylcellulose containing granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor, and in the presence of increasing drug concentrations. The cloning capacity of the progenitors was measured both as the number of colonies counted manually (CFU-GM), and as OD evaluated with an automated plate reader in an MTT test. Our results show that, in the microassay, up to 20 colonies/well could be easily counted, and that this range (20 to zero) gave a regression line from which IC values were calculated, which were very close to those obtained by using the macroassay (where the range of colony numbers was from 100 to zero). The test did not give good results when the OD (instead of the colony count) was used as the endpoint, because, although a high coefficient of determination was obtained, the OD values ranged from 0.6 to zero and the IC values determined were not comparable to those obtained by manual counts. The use of the microassay dramatically reduces the quantity of methylcellulose needed, and permits hundreds of cultures to be processed in the same experiment, contributing to significant reductions in both the work involved and the cost. A further important benefit is a reduction of the amount of drug needed for testing, which is crucial for screening new molecules, when many different toxicological tests have to be carried out. The microassay is therefore a useful and reproducible tool for screening compounds (chemicals, drugs and xenobiotics) for potential haematotoxicity directly on human myeloid progenitors, and could contribute significantly to reducing the use of animals in toxicity testing.
Evaluation of a Flat Membrane Hepatocyte Bioreactor for Pharmacotoxicological Applications: Evidence that Inhibition of Spontaneously Produced Nitric Oxide Improves Cell Functionality
Authors: Canová Nikolina , Kmoníčková Eva , Lincová Dagmar , Vítek Libor , Farghali Hassan
Published: April 2019

A laboratory-scale bioreactor was re-evaluated, with the aim of improving its use for the perfused culture of rat hepatocytes. In contrast to conventional culture systems, the flat membrane bioreactor (FMB) showed good functionality and biochemical competence during 2–3 days. Hepatocytes cultured in the FMB, specifically in a “sandwich” configuration, were functionally stable, as shown by a high rate of urea biosynthesis after challenge with NH4Cl, a low alanine-aminotransferase leakage and suppressed spontaneous nitric oxide (NO) production. Moreover, the time-course of the disappearance of cyclosporin A (CsA) from the perfusate demonstrated the high biotransformation capacity of cells in the FMB. The effect of CsA on the modulation of urea and spontaneous NO production demonstrated flexibility, in that minor changes could be observed at diverse time intervals and in a non-destructive way. The monitoring of nitrite levels during various steps of isolation and culture suggested that spontaneously produced NO has a negative impact on hepatocyte metabolic and functional integrity. In spite of the sophisticated techniques that are being used for the preparation of bioreactors, with hepatocytes surviving for longer periods, our data have shed light on some factors that could be important for the successful use of similar models for pharmacotoxicological and other biomedical applications.
Animals and Alternatives: Societal Expectations and Scientific Need
Authors: Goldberg Alan M.
Published: April 2019

As Russell and Burch suggested more than 40 years ago, the most humane science is the best science. The path ahead is clear: pain and distress must be eliminated in animal experiments or reduced to an absolute minimum, and, as scientists, we must use the most humane approaches in our research. To accomplish the best science, we must train those who come after us in the principles and practice of humane science.

“Each of them necessitated the community's rejection of one time-honored scientific theory in favor of another incompatible with it. Each produced a consequent shift in the problems available for scientific scrutiny and in the standards by which the profession determined what should count as an admissible problem or as a legitimate problem-solution. And each transformed the scientific imagination in ways that we shall ultimately need to describe as a transformation of the world within which scientific work was done. Such changes, together with the controversies that almost always accompany them, are the defining characteristics of scientific revolutions.” (Thomas Kuhn, 1922–1996, on scientific revolutions)

“Change is scientific, progress is ethical; change is indubitable, whereas progress is a matter of controversy.” (Bertrand Russell, 1872–1970)
The Feasibility of Replacing Animal Testing for Assessing Consumer Safety: A Suggested Future Direction
Authors: Fentem Julia , Chamberlain Mark , Sangster Bart
Published: April 2019

At present, we are unable to use much of the data derived from alternative (non-animal) tests for human health risk assessment. This brief Comment outlines why it is plausible that new paradigms could be developed to enable risk assessment to support consumer safety decisions, without the need to generate data in animal tests. The availability of technologies that did not exist 10 years ago makes this new approach possible. The approach is based on the concept that data and information derived from applying existing and new technologies to non-animal models can be interpreted in terms of harm and disease in man. A prerequisite is that similar data and information generated in a clinical setting are available to permit this “translation”. The incorporation of this additional translation step should make it possible to use data and information generated in non-animal models as inputs to risk assessment. The new technologies include genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabonomics. Their application to in vitro and human “models” enables large amounts of data to be generated very quickly. The processing, interpretation and translation of these data need to be supported by powerful informatics capabilities and statistical tools. The use of integrated “systems biology” approaches will further support the interpretation by providing better understanding of the underlying biological complexity and mechanisms of toxicity. Clinical medicine is using the opportunities offered by the new ‘omics’ technologies to advance the understanding of disease. The application of these technologies in clinical medicine will generate massive amounts of data that will need processing and interpretation to allow clinicians to better diagnose disease and understand the patients’ responses to therapeutic interventions. Support from clinical epidemiology will be essential. If these data and information can be made generally accessible in an ethical and legal way, they should also permit the “translation” of experimental non-animal data, so that they can then be used in risk assessment.
INVITOX 2004: 13th Workshop of the European Society of Toxicology In Vitro, organised in cooperation with the Scandinavian Society for Cell Toxicology
Authors: Kolman Ada
Published: April 2019

INVITOX 2004, the 13th Workshop of the European Society of Toxicology In Vitro, was held on 8–11 September 2004, in Zegrze, Poland, in cooperation with the Scandinavian Society for Cell Toxicology. The workshop was attended by 112 participants from 19 countries. The programme included 11 main sessions and two round table discussions. The lectures of the invited speakers, together with short oral presentations and posters, covered the most important aspects of current research in the field of in vitro toxicology. ECVAM's strategies for the replacement of animal testing for toxic chemicals by alternative test systems were discussed.