bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immunotherapy: Pancreatic Cancer and Extrahepatic Biliary Tract Cancer
Authors: Perkhofer Lukas , Beutel Alica K. , Ettrich Thomas J.
Published: February 2019

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and extrahepatic biliary tract cancer (BTC) are among the malignancies with the highest morbidity and mortality. Despite increasing knowledge on biology and novel therapies, outcome remains poor in these patients. Recent progress in immunotherapies created new hopes in the treatment of PDAC and extrahepatic BTC. Several trials tested immunotherapies in various therapeutic situations as monotherapies or in combinations. Although responses were seen in some of the trials, the value of immunotherapy in PDAC and extrahepatic BTC remains unclear in the current situation, especially regarding the complex biological characteristics with a high stroma component, intrinsic resistance mechanisms and an immunosuppressive, hypoxic microenvironment. These major hurdles have to be taken into account and overcome if immunotherapies should be successful in these tumor entities. Thereby, combinational approaches that allow on the one hand targeted therapy and on the other restore or boost the function of immune cells are promising.
Ischemic Core and Hypoperfusion Volumes Correlate With Infarct Size 24 Hours After Randomization in DEFUSE 3
Authors: Rao Vaishnavi , Christensen Søren , Yennu Amarnath , Mlynash Michael , Zaharchuk Greg , Heit Jeremy , Marks Michael P. , Lansberg Maarten G. , Albers Gregory W.
Published: February 2019

Background and Purpose—

Accurate prediction of the subsequent infarct volume early after stroke onset helps determine appropriate interventions and prognosis. In the DEFUSE 3 trial (Endovascular Therapy Following Imaging Evaluation for Ischemic Stroke), we evaluated the accuracy of baseline ischemic core and hypoperfusion volumes for predicting infarct volume 24 hours after randomization to endovascular thrombectomy versus medical management. We also assessed if the union of baseline ischemic core and the volume of persistent hypoperfusion at 24 hours after randomization predicts infarct volume.

Methods—

Patients in DEFUSE 3 with computed tomography perfusion imaging or magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging/perfusion imaging acquired at baseline and at 24 hours after randomization were included. Ischemic core and Tmax >6s hypoperfusion volumes at baseline and follow-up were calculated using RAPID software and compared with the infarct volumes obtained 24 hours after randomization. Patients were stratified by reperfusion status for analyses.

Results—

Of 125 eligible patients, 59 patients with >90% reperfusion had a strong correlation between baseline ischemic core volume and infarct volume 24 hours postrandomization (
r
=0.83;
P
<0.0001), and 14 patients with <10% reperfusion had a strong correlation between baseline Tmax >6s volume and infarct volume 24 hours postrandomization (
r
=0.77;
P
<0.001). In the 52 patients with 10% to 90% reperfusion, as well as in all 125 patients, the union of the baseline ischemic core and the follow-up Tmax >6s perfusion volume was highly correlated with infarct volume 24 hours postrandomization (for N=125;
r
=0.83;
P
<0.0001), with a median absolute difference of 21.3 mL between observed and predicted infarct volumes.

Conclusions—

The union of the irreversibly injured ischemic core and persistently hypoperfused tissue volumes, as identified by computed tomography perfusion or magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging/perfusion, predicted infarct volume at 24 hours after randomization in DEFUSE 3 patients.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02586415.
DEFUSE 3 Non-DAWN Patients
Authors: Leslie-Mazwi Thabele M. , Hamilton Scott , Mlynash Michael , Patel Aman B. , Schwamm Lee H. , Lansberg Maarten G. , Marks Michael , Hirsch Joshua A. , Albers Gregory W.
Published: February 2019

Background and Purpose—

DAWN (Clinical Mismatch in the Triage of Wake Up and Late Presenting Strokes Undergoing Neurointervention With Trevo) and DEFUSE 3 (Endovascular Therapy Following Imaging Evaluation for Ischemic Stroke) established thrombectomy for patients with emergent large vessel occlusions presenting 6 to 24 hours after symptom onset. Given the greater inclusivity of DEFUSE 3, we evaluated the effect of thrombectomy in DEFUSE 3 patients who would have been excluded from DAWN.

Methods—

Eligibility criteria of the DAWN trial were applied to DEFUSE 3 patient data to identify DEFUSE 3 patients not meeting DAWN criteria (DEFUSE 3 non-DAWN). Reasons for DAWN exclusion in DEFUSE 3 were infarct core too large, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score 6 to 9, and modified Rankin Scale score of 2. Subgroups were compared with the DEFUSE 3 non-DAWN and entire DEFUSE 3 cohorts.

Results—

There were 71 DEFUSE 3 non-DAWN patients; 31 patients with NIHSS 6 to 9, 33 with core too large, and 13 with premorbid modified Rankin Scale score of 2 (some patients met multiple criteria). For core-too-large patients, median 24-hour infarct volume was 119 mL (interquartile range, 74.6–180) versus 31.5 mL (interquartile range, 17.6–64.3) for core-not-too-large patients (
P
<0.001). Complications and functional outcomes were similar between the groups. Thrombectomy in core-too-large patients compared with the remaining DEFUSE 3 non-DAWN patients conveyed benefit for functional outcome (odds ratio, 20.9; CI, 1.3–337.8). Comparing the NIHSS 6 to 9 group with the NIHSS ≥10 patients, modified Rankin Scale score 0 to 2 outcomes were achieved in 74% versus 22% (
P
<0.001), with mortality in 6% versus 23% (
P
=0.024), respectively. For patients with NIHSS 6 to 9 compared with the remaining DEFUSE 3 non-DAWN patients, thrombectomy trended toward a better chance of functional outcome (odds ratio, 1.86; CI, 0.36–9.529).

Conclusions—

Patients with pretreatment core infarct volumes <70 mL but too large for inclusion by DAWN criteria demonstrate benefit from endovascular therapy. More permissive pretreatment core thresholds in core-clinical mismatch selection paradigms may be appropriate. In contrast to data supporting a beneficial treatment effect across the full range of NIHSS scores in the entire DEFUSE 3 population, only a trend toward benefit of thrombectomy in patients with NIHSS 6 to 9 was found in this small subgroup.
Faecal calprotectin determination: impact of preanalytical sample treatment and stool consistency on within- and between-method variability
Authors: Juricic Gordana , Brencic Tina , Tesija Kuna Andrea , Njegovan Milena , Honovic Lorena
Published: February 2019

Introduction: We assessed the differences in faecal calprotectin (FC) concentrations measured by two assays depending on the stool consistency and extraction method. Materials and methods: Stool samples were extracted using the EliA Stool Extraction Kit, Calex® Cap extraction device and respective weighing methods, while FC concentrations were measured using the EliATM Calprotectin and Bühlmann fCAL® Turbo method and checked for within- and between-method variability with regard to extraction method and stool consistency category. Extraction yield was evaluated for impact of different sample incubation time (10 min and 1 h) in extraction buffer for both methods and for impact of different initial sample dilutions (1:50, 1:100, 1:500) for fCAL® Turbo method. Results: Results determined from Calex® Cap extracts were higher compared to weighing method extracts (mean bias 33.3%; P < 0.001), while no significant difference was found between results obtained with EliA Stool Extraction Kit and weighing method (mean bias 0.1%; P = 0.484), in both cases irrespective of stool consistency. Bühlmann fCAL® Turbo results were higher than EliATM Calprotectin results (mean bias 32.3%, P = 0.025 weighing method; and mean bias 53.9%, P < 0.001 extraction devices), the difference is dependent on stool consistency and FC concentration. Significantly higher FC extraction yield was obtained with longer sample incubation time for both methods (P = 0.019 EliATM Calprotectin; P < 0.001 fCAL® Turbo) and with increasing initial sample dilution for fCAL® Turbo method (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Preanalytical stool sample handling proved to be a crucial factor contributing to within- and between-FC assay variability. Standardization is urgently needed in order to assure comparable and reliable FC results.
Analytical verification of 12 most commonly used urine dipsticks in Croatia: comparability, repeatability and accuracy
Authors: Vuljanić Dora , Dukić Lora , Šimundić Ana-Maria , Vogrinc Željka , Grzunov Ana , Maradin Ivana , Vlašić Tanasković Jelena , Leniček Krleža Jasna , Saračević Andrea , Špoljarić Valentina , Dojder Ana
Published: February 2019

Introduction: Variability among manufacturers of urine dipsticks, respective to their accuracy and measurement range, may lead to diagnostic
errors and thus create a serious risk for the patient. Our aims were to determine the level of agreement between 12 most commonly used urine dipsticks
in Croatia, examine their accuracy for glucose and total protein and to test their repeatability.
Materials and methods: A total of 75 urine samples were used to examine comparability and accuracy of 12 dipstick brands (Combur 10 TestM,
ChoiceLine 10, Combur 10 TestUX, ComboStik 10M, ComboStik 11M, CombiScreen 11SYS, CombiScreen 10SL, Combina 13, Combina 11S, Combina
10M, UriGnost 11, Multistix 10SG). Agreement between each dipstick and the reference (Combur 10 TestM) was expressed as kappa coefficient
(acceptable κ ≥ 0.80). Accuracy for glucose and total protein was tested by comparison with quantitative measurements on analysers: AU400
(Beckman Coulter, USA), Cobas 6000 c501 (Roche Diagnostics, Germany) and Architect plus c4000 (Abbott, USA). Repeatability was assessed on 20
replicates (acceptable > 90%).
Results: Best agreement was achieved for glucose, total protein and nitrite (11/11, k > 0.80) and the lowest for bilirubin (5/5, k < 0.60). Sensitivities
for total protein were 41-75% (AU400) and 56-92% (Cobas and Architect); while specificities were 41-75% (AU400, Cobas, Architect). Dipsticks’
sensitivity and specificity for glucose were 68-98%. Most of the dipsticks showed unacceptable repeatability (6/12, < 90%) for one parameter, most
prominently for pH (3/12, < 90%).
Conclusions: Most commonly used dipsticks in Croatia showed low level of agreement between each other. Moreover, their repeatability varies
among manufacturers and their accuracy for glucose and proteins is poor.
Cleaning a taxonomic dustbin: placing the European Hypnum species in a phylogenetic context!
Authors: SCHLESAK SASKIA , HEDENÄS LARS , NEBEL MARTIN , QUANDT DIETMAR
Published: February 2019

The pleurocarpous moss genus Hypnum s.l. is a species-rich (> 40 species) cosmopolitan genus, of which 21 taxa occur in Europe. Although several of these species show high morphological resemblance there are strong indications that the genus is highly paraphyletic, which may be masked by convergent morphological evolution. Using molecular information, we analyse whether the morphological similarity of gametophytes of the European Hypnum taxa is explained by common ancestry or convergence. We provide a phylogenetic reconstruction of the relationships of the currently recognized European Hypnum taxa in a broad pleurocarpous moss context (192 taxa) using the nuclear ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, the plastid rps4 gene and trnL-F, and the mitochondrial nad5 intron. Bayesian tree topologies show that the genus is polyphyletic, and we retain only the Hypnum cupressiforme complex within Hypnum. The genus originally represented half of the moss species diversity, as it accommodated basically all pleurocarpous mosses; here we retain only seven species and one variety. The remainder of the species where resolved either within the three families Amblystegiaceae, Entodontaceae, and Pylaisiaceae, or in an independent clade that we describe as the new family Stereodontaceae. The Stereodontaceae includes five European species, all in the genus Stereodon, where they were already placed in the 18th century. In addition, we describe the four new genera Aquilonium, Insomniella, Jochenia, and Lignocariosa, and make new combinations for several Hypnum species.
Redescription of Hypogastrura gracilis, synonymy of Ceratophysella quinidentis with C. duplicispinosa, and additional information on C. adexilis (Collembola: Hypogastruridae)
Authors: JIANG JIGANG , YIN WENYING , CHEN JIANXIU , BERNARD ERNEST C.
Published: February 2019

Hypogastrura gracilis Folsom is redescribed from cotypes and Chinese specimens, and a lectotype and 4 paralectotypes are designated. Specimens referable to Ceratophysella adexilis Stach are described. Ceratophysella quinidentis (Jia, Shi & Chen) is reevaluated from type specimens and recognized as a new junior synonym of C. duplicispinosa (Yosii).
Ordralfabetix sirophatanis gen. et sp. n.—the first Lophopidae from the Lowermost Eocene Oise amber, Paris Basin, France (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha)
Authors: SZWEDO JACEK
Published: February 2019

A new genus and species, Ordralfabetix sirophatanis, is described on the basis of a specimen from the Lowermost Oise amber, Paris Basin, France. It could be ascribed to the Sarebasa + group of Lophopidae in respect to tegmen venation characters, but differs from the genera placed there by significant tegmen features. The evolution and distribution pattern of fossil and recent Lophopidae are also reviewed.
Psammophilous halacarid mites (Trombidiformes, Halacaridae) from the North Coast of São Paulo State, Brazil
Authors: PEPATO ALMIR R. , TIAGO CLÁUDIO G. , ROCHA CARLOS E. F.
Published: February 2019

Five halacarid species are reported from the Brazilian coast for the first time. Scaptognathides delicatulus, formerly known only from its type locality in Kuwait; Scaptognathus gibbosus, known from Galapagos and Somalia; and Scaptognathus insularis known from northeastern Australia, have their distributions extended. Along with these new records, Halacaroides antoniazziae sp. nov. and Acarochelopodia caissara sp. nov. are described. Halacaroides antoniazziae sp. nov. differs from its congeners by the presence of three subgenital setae in males and none in females, 41–44 perigenital setae and two posterior external genital acetabula in males. Acarochelopodia caissara sp. nov. has a rounded anterior epimeral plate margin, the posterior epimeral plates are partially divided into two halves but anteriorly joined by a narrow band, the dorsal setae on tarsus I are grouped 1:2, and the anterior and posterior dorsal plates have a length: width ratio of 1.61–1.77 and 1.60–1.70, respectively.
Eight new species of Lemodes (Lagriomorpha) (Coleoptera: Anthicidae: Lemodinae) from Indonesian New Guinea, with a revised key to the species
Authors: YOUNG DANIEL K.
Published: February 2019

Eight new species of the anthicid genus Lemodes Boheman are described from Indonesian New Guinea: L. elegans, L. punctata, L. rugosa, L. schawalleri, L. securiforma, L. sulcata, L. telnovi, and L. triplehorni. Habitus and salient anatomical images of adults, as well as diagnoses with respect to related species of the subgenus Lagriomorpha, are presented. A revised key to the 26 known species of Lemodes is also presented.
Africorchestia a new genus of sand-hoppers (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae) from western Africa and south-western Europe
Authors: LOWRY JAMES K. , COLEMAN CHARLES OLIVER
Published: February 2019

Africorchestia, a new genus of coastal sand-hoppers (Amphipoda, Talitridae), is described from western Africa and south-western Europe. Africorchestia includes five species: A. fischeri (H. Milne Edwards, 1830); A. quadrispinosa (K.H. Barnard, 1916); A. skoogi (Stebbing, 1922); A. spinifera (Mateus, 1962); and A. tricornuta (Shoemaker, 1920).
On some Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh, India
Authors: HAYAT MOHAMMAD , KAZMI SARFRAZUL ISLAM
Published: February 2019

One new genus and six new species of Encyrtidae are described from the material collected from the Namdapha Tiger Reserve (Arunachal Pradesh). These are: Sharqencyrtus hulbi gen. et sp. nov., Ixodiphagus sureshani sp. nov., Parencyrtomyia zedesi sp. nov., Rhytidothorax horticola sp. nov., R. namdapha sp. nov., and R. ramakrishnai sp. nov. A key to world species of Rhytidothorax is also given. Parencyrtomyia Girault is newly recorded from India, and Rhytidothorax nigrum Singh & Agarwal, Parablatticida brevicornis (Dalman) and Agarwalencyrtus dispar Hayat are new species records from Arunachal Pradesh.
Faunal survey, endemism and possible species loss of Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in the western slopes of the moist South Western Ghats, South India
Authors: SABU THOMAS K. , NITHYA S. , VINOD K. V.
Published: February 2019

Species composition, distribution patterns and endemism are outlined for the dung beetles in the ecoregions of the western slopes of the moist South Western Ghats, South India. Among the 142 dung beetle species known, 35 are endemic to the Western Ghats; 29 are endemic to the moist South Western Ghats; 25 are regionally endemic to the South Western Ghats montane rain forests ecoregion; and one each to the Malabar Coast moist deciduous forest ecoregion and the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests ecoregion. Five species, including the 3 flightless species, are local endemics to the upper montane tropical montane cloud forests. The montane rain forests ecoregion has the highest number of endemics in the moist south Western Ghats and the moist deciduous forests ecoregion and Malabar Coast moist deciduous forest ecoregion have the lowest levels of endemism. Of the 137 dung beetle species known prior to the deforestation and habitat modification of the region, only 87 have been collected recently.
A new species of Colpoclypeus Lucchese (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) from Mexico
Authors: SÁNCHEZ-GARCÍA JOSÉ ANTONIO , PINEDA SAMUEL , MARTÍNEZ ANA MABEL , REBOLLAR-ALVITER ANGEL , JUÁREZ-GUTIÉRREZ ANA CELESTINA , CRUZ IGNACIO LÓPEZ , LA SALLE JOHN , FIGUEROA JOSÉ ISAAC
Published: February 2019

A new species of Colpoclypeus Lucchese (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is described and illustrated. Colpoclypeus michoacanensis Sánchez & Figueroa attacks Argyrotaenia montezumae Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on blackberry plants. A key is included to separate C. michoacanensis from C. florus (Walker), the only other species in this genus.
Revision of the nearctic blister beetle genus Tricrania LeConte, 1860 (Coleoptera: Meloidae: Nemognathinae)
Authors: CLINE ANDREW R. , HUETHER JEFFREY P.
Published: February 2019

Tricrania LeConte is revised. One new synonymy is proposed: T. murrayi LeConte 1860 = T. stansburii (Haldeman) 1852, syn. nov. More than 1000 specimens of T. sanguinipennis (Say) and over 1100 specimens of T. stansburii were assessed to provide accurate host data, phenological periods, and distributional limits for each species. Descriptions of adults and 1 st instar larvae, diagnostic characters, and identification keys also are provided. A 565-bp fragment of mtDNA from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (COI) gene, i.e. the DNA barcode region, is provided as an additional source for identification. A taxonomic history of the genus and inclusive species is given, as well as remarks on the placement of Tricrania in Nemognathinae.
The cobweb spiders of the genus Anelosimus Simon, 1891 (Araneae: Theridiidae) in Hainan Island, China
Authors: ZHANG BAO-SHI , LIU LONG , ZHANG FENG
Published: February 2019

Five species of the spider genus Anelosimus Simon, 1891 (Theridiidae) are reported from Hainan Island, China, including two new species: Anelosimus membranaceus n. sp. (male, female) and A. subcrassipes n. sp. (female). A. seximaculatum (Zhu, 1998) n. comb. is transferred from the genus Theridion Walckenaer, 1805. The male of A. seximaculatum and the female of A. chonganicus Zhu, 1998 are described and illustrated for the first time.
Remarks on Doryphoribius flavus (Iharos, 1966), and description of three new species (Tardigrada, Hypsibiidae)
Authors: LISI OSCAR
Published: February 2019

The author examined paratypes of Doryphoribius flavus (Iharos, 1966) (formerly Hypsibius (Isohypsibius) flavus Iharos, 1966), and the holotype and paratypes of D. citrinus (Maucci, 1972) (which is considered a junior synonym of D. flavus), furnishing new details, both qualitative and metric, to the description of the species, and providing a discussion on the synonymy. Specimens, previously attributed to these species, from Amazonia, South Africa, and Bali, were also examined and proved to belong to three species new to science: Doryphoribius amazzonicus sp. nov., Doryphoribius bindae sp. nov., and Doryphoribius solidunguis sp. nov. Doryphoribius amazzonicus sp. nov. has a reticular cuticular ornamentation with ridges forming a tubercle at each crossing; legs lacking cuticular ornamentation; buccal tube slightly longer than in D. flavus with respect to the body length, stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube in a slightly more caudal position; peribuccal papulae present; teeth and ridges appear to be absent in the buccal cavity; pharyngeal bulb with apophyses and two macroplacoids; claws slightly shorter and stouter than in D. flavus. Accessory points and smooth lunules present. No other cuticular thickening present on the legs. Doryphoribius bindae sp. nov. has a delicate reticular cuticular ornamentation formed by narrow ridges with a tiny tubercle at each crossing; a fine reticular design present on the legs; peribuccal papulae present, buccal armature with only one dorsal tooth near the medial margin of each stylet sheath. Pharyngeal bulb with apophyses and two macroplacoids. Accessory points and small lunules present. No other cuticular thickening present on the legs. Doryphoribius solidunguis sp. nov. has a very obvious reticular cuticular ornamentation with an irregular shape and size mesh (usually large) delimited by thick, sometimes protruding ridges that may form tubercles at crossings; cuticle of the legs smooth; peribuccal papulae present and two pairs of dorsal teeth lying along the anterior margins of the stylets sheaths. Pharyngeal bulb with apophyses and two macroplacoids. The claws are large and stout with very small accessory points; lunules present, those of the inner claws more evident than in similar species; a cuticular bar is present on the first three pairs of legs. Doryphoribius flavus was considered widespread, but this work exposing cryptic species indicates that the geographic distribution is more restricted.
Two new species of Linotetranus (Parasitiformes: Tetranychoidea: Linotetranidae) from Iran
Authors: KHANJANI MOHAMMAD , FAYAZ BAHMAN ASALI , KHANJANI MASOUMEH
Published: February 2019

This paper reports the description of two new species belonging to the family Linotetranidae from Iran, Linotetranus iraniensis sp. nov. and L. astragalusi sp. nov., collected in soil associated with gum bushes, Astragalus gossypinus Fisch. (Fabaceae). A key to all known species of the world is provided.
Molecular Characterization of Helobdella modesta (Verrill, 1872) (Hirudinida: Glossiphoniidae) from its type locality, West River and Whitneyville Lake, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA
Authors: MOSER WILLIAM E. , RICHARDSON DENNIS J. , HAMMOND CHARLOTTE I. , Lazo-Wasem Eric
Published: February 2019

Clepsine modesta was described by Verrill (1872) based on specimens collected in the West River and Whitneyville Lake, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA. Consistent with Article 73.2.3 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Anonymous 1999), the Syntype specimens of C. modesta originated from two localities and thus the type locality encompasses all of the places of origin. Moore (1898) synonomized C. modesta with the European Helobdella stagnalis (Linnaeus 1758) based on similarities in morphology. Subsequently, all North American leeches with a nuchal scute were considered as H. stagnalis with the exception of Helobdella californica Kutschera 1988, known only from Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, USA. In addition to Europe and North America, Helobdella stagnalis has been reported from South America, Africa, and Asia (Sawyer 1986).
First field records of the sexuales (males and oviparae) of Toxoptera aurantii (Hemiptera: Aphididae)
Authors: HIDALGO NICOLÁS PÉREZ , MIFSUD DAVID
Published: February 2019

Toxoptera aurantii (Boyer de Fonscolombe) is an aphid pest of great agricultural importance, not only due to its polyphagy but mostly due to its ability to transmit various plant viruses e.g. Citrus tristeza virus on Citrus (Blackman & Eastop, 2000). Blackman & Eastop (2000) considered this aphid to be entirely anholocyclic, because no sexual morphs have ever been observed in the field.
A new species of the Madagascan genus Pseudorphnus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Orphninae)
Authors: FROLOV ANDREY V.
Published: February 2019

Pseudorphnus carinatus new species is described from northern Madagascar (Antsiranana Province). Males of the new species differ from other species of the genus in having a long (about 8/10 the width of clypeus) transverse ridge near anterior margin of the clypeus.
Taxonomy of Afrotropical and West Palaearctic ants of the ponerine genus Hypoponera Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: BOLTON BARRY , FISHER BRIAN L.
Published: February 2019

The taxonomy of the ponerine ants of the genus Hypoponera is revised for the Afrotropical and West Palaearctic regions. A combined key to both faunae is presented, and the West Palaearctic species are also keyed separately. Fifty-six species are recognised in total, of which 51 are Afrotropical endemics and two are restricted to the West Palaearctic; three tramp species occur in both regions. Thirty-four Afrotropical species are described as new while 33 names, including a number of infraspecific taxa and extralimital forms, are relegated to synonymy. Two previously described Afrotropical Hypoponera names are regarded as species inquirendae (lea, petiolata). Two extralimital species are mentioned with respect to the studied fauna: gibbinota, described from a casual introduction in a Palaearctic hothouse, and the Oriental assmuthi, which is provisionally raised to species to dissociate it from the Palaearctic abeillei, to which it was previously linked as an infraspecific taxon.
Performance Evaluation of Visual Therapy Method Used for Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation
Authors: Illavarason P. , Renjit J. Arokia , Kumar P. Mohan
Published: February 2019

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a non progressive neurological disorders commonly associated with a spectrum of developmental disabilities such as strabismus (misalignment of eye). In this study, by quantitatively assess the performance analysis of Visual Therapy Method used for CP children.
By capturing the Eye Movement of 25 children with CP (aged 3–15 years) with relatively mild motor-impairment and also analyzed the performance of CP children periodically. The Eye image are captured through camera, this make the quick diagnosis and examination the periodical assessment
of CP kids. By Visual Therapy Function the CP children vision improvement develops as fast as or even faster. Proposed area of the research segments the eye image into Pupil, Iris, Eyelids and Eye corner detection using different image processing algorithms as well as measure the deviation
position of pupil for abnormal eyes taking the normal eye as the reference or threshold value. To further enhance these compare deviation Position of the normal and the abnormal eyes and to find the severity affection of abnormal eye and to measure the performance improvement achievement by
Visual Therapy Method for CP rehabilitation. The improvement analyzed for CP kids were maintained and recorded for the periodical month of Initial, 6th and 12th month. As a result, the Physicians can use this report to guide the CP kids in Rehabilitation Center and also this image processing
technique offers the greater flexibility for the prospective subjects of improvement in CP Rehabilitation by Visual Therapy Method. In this context, Image processing techniques are being recommended as a performance evaluation tool in children with CP and each of these processes are suggesting
method for developing a more systematic understanding of Oculomotor abnormalities.
A Novel Texture Analysis Method Based on Reverse Biorthogonal Wavelet and Co-Occurrence Matrix Applied for Classification of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Hepatic Hemangioma
Authors: Qiu Jia-Jun , Wu Yue , Hui Bei , Chen Jia , Ji Lin , Wang Min
Published: February 2019

Purpose: To explore the feasibility of classifying hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatic hemangioma (HEM) using texture features of non-enhanced computed tomography (CT) images, especially to investigate the effectiveness of a novel texture analysis method based on the combination
of wavelet and co-occurrence matrix. Methods: 269 patients were retrospectively analyzed, including 129 HCCs and 140 HEMs. We cropped tumor regions of interest (ROIs) on non-enhanced CT images, and then used four texture analysis methods to extract quantitative data of the ROIs: gray-level
histogram (GLH), gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), reverse biorthogonal wavelet transform (RBWT), and reverse biorthogonal wavelet co-occurrence matrix (RBCM). The RBCM was a novel method proposed in this study that combined wavelet transform and co-occurrence matrix. It discretized
wavelet coefficient matrices based on the statistical characteristics of the training set. Thus, four sets of texture features were obtained. We then conducted classification studies using support vector machine on each set of texture features. 10-fold cross training and testing were used
in the classifications, and their results were evaluated and compared. In addition, we tested the significant differences in the texture features of the RBCM method and explored the possible relationships between textures and lesion types. Results: The RBCM method achieved the best
classification performance: its average accuracy was 82.14%; its average AUC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) was 0.8423. In addition, using the methods of GLH, GLCM, and RBWT, their average accuracies were 75.81%, 78.79%, and 78.8%, respectively. Conclusions:
It indicates that the developed texture analysis methods are rewarding for computer-aided diagnosis of HCC and HEM based on non-enhanced CT images. Furthermore, the distinguishing ability of the proposed RBCM method is more pronounced.
Brain Image Segmentation Based on Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Transform and Fuzzy C-Means Clustering Algorithm
Authors: Basukala Dibash , Jha Debesh , Kwon Goo-Rak
Published: February 2019

Image segmentation is an important step in most medical image analysis tasks. An effective image segmentation method helps clinicians and patients in image-guided surgery, radiotherapy, early disease detection, volumetric measurement, and three-dimensional visualization. The fuzzy c-means
(FCM) clustering algorithm is one of the most popular methods used for medical image segmentation. However, it does not produce satisfactory results for images with noise and intensity inhomogeneities. Hence, a wavelet-based FCM clustering algorithm is proposed in this work. An advanced wavelet
transform, such as the dual-tree complex wavelet transform (DT-CWT), is proposed to sharpen the edges and to avoid segmentation error caused by noise. An appropriate level of decomposition is selected on the basis of the images. The FCM clustering technique is applied on the wavelet transformed
image by selecting an optimal number of clusters. The combination of DT-CWT and FCM clustering technique produces an effective segmentation result. The conventional discrete wavelet transform (DWT) was also tested, but it was unable to give an efficient segmentation result when combined with
FCM. Experiments were conducted on real T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images to validate the proposed algorithm. Moreover, a comparison was performed with different state-of-the-art algorithms to show the superiority of our proposed method.
Analysis on Clinical Effect of Laparoscopic Surgery in the Treatment of Ovarian Endometriosis Cyst and Prevention of Its Recurrence
Authors: Jin Xin , Wang Nannan , Li Guilin
Published: February 2019

To investigate the clinical effect of laparoscopic surgery combined with drug therapy in the treatment of ovarian endometriosis. Methods: 10 cases of patient who underwent laparoscopic surgery due to ovarian cyst, infertility and Dysmenorrhea at the department where the author
worked from January 2011 to January 2012 were reviewed, the patients were treated with triptorelin acetate for 3–6 months. Results: The pathological report of all the surgical specimens was definitely diagnosed as ovarian endometriosis, a postoperative follow-up was conducted
on a regular basis, there were 3 cases of recurrence, 21 cases of remitted dysmenorrhea, and 8 cases of pregnancy. Conclusion: The postoperative application of Triptorelin acetate combined with laparoscopic surgery is a better method to treat ovarian endometriosis, and it can improve
the pregnancy rate of infertile patients.
Evaluation Strategies for Wireless Ultra Wideband Communication Towards Orthopedic Surgical Scheme
Authors: Prabhu S. R. Boselin , Puviarasi R. , Mole S. S. Sreeja , Jarin T. , Gajendran E.
Published: February 2019

Wireless medical devices shall considerably improve the proficiency and effectiveness in medical segments. Recent wireless inventions enable reduced design, thus becomes inexpensive for manufacturing. Huge quantity of individual information is measured and communicated in wireless manner,
consequently safety precautions are needed to be integrated with these wireless technologies. The evaluation strategies for Wireless Ultra Wideband communication towards orthopedic surgical scheme has been explained in this paper. Every devices considered in this paper are identical with each
others towards their elementary objective. However, they vary towards different real-world applications. The devices enumerated in this paper have shared operating frequency bands of 2.4 GHz ISM Band and UWB frequency ranging from 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz. Every devices entailed here is positioned
to fit within the operating frequencies either at 2.4 GHz or 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz. This paper targets on protective patient-privacy which is deemed to be energetic characteristics towards isolated patient monitoring schemes. Considering the rise in quantity of feasible wireless medicinal products,
this paper targets in the engagement of different wireless standards and measured data on the basis of dissimilar rates. Thus, the foremost significant in this work is towards supplementing the quantity of integration in wireless medical monitoring schemes. Similarly, as the applications of
implantable and ingestible wireless medical approaches are becoming increased, they offer easy accessing towards data collecting and data which are previously dreadful, and this has been considered as a vital parameter in this paper. Hence, there becomes bigger possibility towards improving
exactness of wireless positioning arrangements. When complications of the system increase, the prevailing protocols shall not be appropriate for superior and satisfactory bandwidth pertaining real-time application, thereby few protocols have been worked out to encounter this issue. Therefore,
the major contributions in this paper include advanced speediness, superior data rate designs and effective protocols. In this paper, all the structures entailed have the potential to assist doctors for improving the dominance in lives of patients, thus application development is properly
discussed for progressing with these implements.
Africa for Africans or Africa for “Natives” Only? “New Nationalism” and Nativism in Zimbabwe and South Africa
Authors: Ndlovu-Gatsheni Sabelo J.
Published: February 2019

This article makes historical sense of the recent signs of the metamorphosis of nationalism into nativism in Zimbabwe and South Africa. The central thesis of the article is that the resurgence of Afro-radicalism and nativism in post-settler and post-apartheid societies partly reflected deep-rooted antinomies of black liberation thought and partly current ideological conundrums linked to the limits of both the African national project and global liberal democracy. Dismissals and sententious approaches towards nativism do not help in understanding the current issues in Zimbabwe and South Africa. There is the need to revisit the issues of imaginings of the African liberation agenda together with issues of the resolution of the national question, teleology of the liberation, ownership of strategic resources, knowledge production, control of public discourse, imaginations of the nation and visions of citizenship and democracy. Making sense of nativism provides an oblique entry into an interrogation of the current status of the African national project in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The Ethiopian Second Republic and the Fragile “Social Contract”
Authors: Abbink Jon
Published: February 2019

Eighteen years after the change of power and the ushering in of the second Ethiopian republic in 1991, the political process in Ethiopia has, according to most observers, rigidified and largely closed the space for representative democracy. This paper will look at the main organizing political ideas or ideology of the current Ethiopian republic and to the nature of its governance techniques in the face of domestic and international challenges with reference to the debate on “failing” or “fragile” states. The new “social contract” defined after 1991 and codified in the 1994 Constitution is precarious. Dissent and ethno-regional resistance to federal policies are dealt with mainly by coercion and discursive isolation. Oppositional forces voice the need for a rethinking of the organizing ideas and institutions of the second republic in order to enhance political consensus and a shared political arena, but get little response.

The paper will sketch an interpretation of governance in Ethiopia, focusing on the dilemma of reconciling local and modernist political practices, and will discuss the status of “republican” ideas, in name important in Ethiopia but mostly absent in practice. Explicit debate of these ideas is usually sidelined – also in academic commentaries – in favour of a focus on the ethno-federal ideology of the Ethiopian state.
Power-Sharing in the Local Arena: Man - a Rebel-Held Town in Western Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: Heitz Kathrin
Published: February 2019

In general, peace agreements with power-sharing provisions are analysed at a national level. This article offers insights into the practices of power-sharing in the local arena of western Côte d'Ivoire, in the town of Man. It investigates what brought about a change towards peace in the region of Man and then presents local forms of power-sharing between the community leaders and the rebels who have established a rather complex system of domination and taxation in the territory they occupy. Moreover, the implementation of a territorial power-sharing device, which is part of the peace agreement negotiated among the warring parties at the national level, is analysed: the redeployment of state administration to the rebel-held zones of the country. The ethnographic data on which the article is based reveals that the actors at the local level have their own strategies to address urgent needs and that they play a more active role in peacemaking than is usually acknowledged.
And They Are Still Targeting: Assessing the Effectiveness of Targeted Sanctions against Zimbabwe
Authors: Grebe Jan
Published: February 2019

Targeted sanctions have been extensively used by states throughout history to achieve political objectives. This article examines the European Union's and United States' targeted sanctions against the Zimbabwean regime, which have been in place for several years. The central thesis of the article is that the sanctions are not effective and thus have failed to achieve the political objectives of both the European Union and the United States. Numerous violations of the travel ban and the financial restrictions have undermined the general effectiveness of the sanctions. A detailed analysis of each individual measure empirically supports the argument that the ineffectiveness of the sanctions has negatively influenced the achievement of the political objectives. In addition, by taking a closer look at Risa Brooks' theory and discussing it in regards to the Zimbabwean sanctions, attention is drawn to the question of how to target authoritarian regimes.
Changing Webs of Kinship: Spotlights on West Africa
Authors: Alber Erdmute , Häberlein Tabea , Martin Jeannett
Published: February 2019

Changes in kinship relations are part of the broad social change in all African societies. This article highlights trends and characteristics of changing kinship relations in West Africa. Its analysis focuses on the twentieth century, which was shaped by the colonial conquest and profound societal transformations like the political independence of the African colonies. In analysing three important kinship relations – parent–child relations, marriage, and care for the elderly – this article depicts the trends and conditions of historical change of these relationships. It also shows whether and how these changes are accompanied by conflict, and how people refer to the different ways of dealing with those conflicts. The article is based on empirical data from three thematically intertwined research projects.
Toward Electoral Security: Experiences from KwaZulu-Natal
Authors: Höglund Kristine , Jarstad Anna K.
Published: February 2019

There is a growing recognition of the dangers of electoral violence. Yet, the theoretical foundation for systematic research and for adequate policy is still underdeveloped. This article aims to develop the theoretical understandings of strategies to manage and prevent electoral violence. This is accomplished by integrating research conducted within the two academic discourses on democratization and conflict management and also by drawing on the experiences from the conflict-ridden province KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The five strategies identified are monitoring, mediation, legal measures, law enforcement and self-regulating practices. In the article, the functions and mechanisms of the strategies are discussed. In addition, we analyse the limitations and usefulness of each of the strategies in turn and also provide suggestions on how to improve electoral security.
Competing Claims and Contested Boundaries: Legitimating Land Rights in Isiolo District, Northern Kenya
Authors: Boye Saafo Roba , Kaarhus Randi
Published: February 2019

People from five different ethnic groups share the territory that is Isiolo District, situated in northern Kenya. This article gives an account of the different groups’ claims to land in this inter-ethnic setting, which is located in the border area of the vast drylands southeast of the Sahara. Presenting contemporary claims in a narrative form, the authors illustrate how these claims seek legitimacy through reference to historical processes, to first-comer status and to former governments’ decisions, to citizenship dues, as well as to “tribal” group rights. Taking into account the fact that the broader constitutional, political and social contexts related to these narratives and claims are, at present, in a state of transition, the article seeks to situate the local people's perspectives and local land dynamics within broader discourses on land conflict and land policy reform in Africa. In this way, it also provides context for the series of new inter-ethnic clashes that took place in Isiolo District in 2011.
Multilingualism and Hip Hop Consumption in Nigeria: Accounting for the Local Acceptance of a Global Phenomenon
Authors: Liadi Olusegun Fariudeen
Published: February 2019

Hip hop music has enjoyed global popularity and patronage on a level that has transcended that of most other music genres. It is perhaps due to the genre's worldwide popularity that many forms of hip hop have sprung up across the globe. The Nigerian version of the music has been overwhelmingly accepted by a good number of youths in the country irrespective of class, religion and social status. However, there is some speculation as to what factors are responsible for the recent sudden boom in the popular consumption of this genre among the youth, since hip hop has been a feature of the Nigerian musical landscape since the 1980s. With the aid of qualitative data collection instruments – thirty in-depth interviews and six key informant interviews among hip hop fans and club DJs, respectively – the study establishes the centrality of multilingualism as a primary reason for the acceptance of hip hop among Nigerian youth.
“Death Does Not Rot”: Transitional Justice and Local “Truths” in the Aftermath of the War in Northern Uganda
Authors: Meier Barbara
Published: February 2019

The article looks at the way Acholi in northern Uganda address war-related matters of “peace” and “justice” beyond the mainstream human rights discourse reflecting some of the basic concepts that are decisive for the way people deal with transitional and local justice. The relationality and the segmentary structure of Acholi society play major roles in categorising “peace” and “war” while being at odds with the globalised standards of human rights that have been brought into play by international agencies, civil society and church organisations as well as the Ugandan state. A major argument is that a one-dimensional understanding of the cosmological underpinnings of rituals as a locally embedded tool of transitional justice (TJ) has an impact on the failure of TJ in northern Uganda. Thus the article highlights the specific cultural dilemmas in which the process of peace currently appears to be stuck.
Tradition?! Traditional Cultural Institutions on Customary Practices in Uganda
Authors: Quinn Joanna R.
Published: February 2019

This contribution traces the importance of traditional institutions in rehabilitating societies in general terms and more particularly in post-independence Uganda. The current regime, partly by inventing “traditional” cultural institutions, partly by co-opting them for its own interests, contributed to a loss of legitimacy of those who claim responsibility for customary law. More recently, international prosecutions have complicated the use of customary mechanisms within such societies. This article shows that some traditional and cultural leaders continue to struggle to restore their original institutions, some having taken the initiative of inventing new forms of engaging with society. Uganda is presented as a test case for the International Criminal Court's ability to work with traditional judicial institutions in Africa.
Religion and Politics in Africa: The Future of “The Secular”
Authors: Abbink Jon
Published: February 2019

This essay discusses the continued importance that religion holds in African life, not only in terms of numbers of believers, but also regarding the varieties of religious experience and its links with politics and the “public sphere(s)”. Coinciding with the wave of democratization and economic liberalization efforts since about 1990, a notable growth of the public presence of religion and its political referents in Africa has been witnessed; alongside “development”, religion will remain a hot issue in the future political trajectory of the continent. Its renewed presence in public spheres has also led to new understandings of what religion means and how it figures into both “world-making” and identity politics. This will prolong the challenges associated with the role and status of religion in the “secular state model” found in most African countries. Can these states, while “besieged” by believers, maintain neutrality among diverse worldviews, and if so, how? The paper discusses these issues in a general manner with reference to African examples, some taken from fieldwork by the author, and makes a philosophical argument for the development of a new kind of “secular state” that can respect the religious commitments of African populations.