bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CRRL269
Authors: Chen Yang , Harty Gail J. , Zheng Ye , Iyer Seethalakshmi R. , Sugihara Shinobu , Sangaralingham S. Jeson , Ichiki Tomoko , Grande Joseph P. , Lee Hon-Chi , Wang Xiaoli , Burnett John C.
Published: April 2019

Rationale:

Acute kidney injury (AKI) has a high prevalence and mortality in critically ill patients. It is also a powerful risk factor for heart failure incidence driven by hemodynamic changes and neurohormonal activation. However, no drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Endogenous pGC-A (particulate guanylyl cyclase A receptor) activators were reported to preserve renal function and improve mortality in AKI patients, although hypotension accompanied by pGC-A activators have limited their therapeutic potential.

Objective:

We investigated the therapeutic potential of a nonhypotensive pGC-A activator/designer natriuretic peptide, CRRL269, in a short-term, large animal model of ischemia-induced AKI and also investigated the potential of uCNP (urinary C-type natriuretic peptide) as a biomarker for AKI.

Methods and Results:

We first showed that CRRL269 stimulated cGMP generation, suppressed plasma angiotensin II, and reduced cardiac filling pressures without lowering blood pressure in the AKI canine model. We also demonstrated that CRRL269 preserved glomerular filtration rate, increased renal blood flow, and promoted diuresis and natriuresis. Further, CRRL269 reduced kidney injury and apoptosis as evidenced by ex vivo histology and tissue apoptosis analysis. We also showed, compared with native pGC-A activators, that CRRL269 is a more potent inhibitor of apoptosis in renal cells and induced less decreases in intracellular Ca
2+
concentration in vascular smooth muscle cells. The renal antiapoptotic effects were at least mediated by cGMP/PKG pathway. Further, CRRL269 inhibited proapoptotic genes expression using a polymerase chain reaction gene array. Additionally, we demonstrated that AKI increased uCNP levels.

Conclusions:

Our study supports developing CRRL269 as a novel renocardiac protective agent for AKI treatment.
Improving Hypertension Outcome Measurement in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Zack Rachel , Okunade Oluwakemi , Olson Elizabeth , Salt Matthew , Amodeo Celso , Anchala Raghupathy , Berwanger Otavio , Campbell Norm , Chia Yook-Chin , Damasceno Albertino , Phuong Do Thi Nam , Tamdja Dzudie Anastase , Fiuza Manuela , Mirza Fareed , Nitsch Dorothea , Ogedegbe Gbenga , Podpalov Vladislav , Schiffrin Ernesto L. , Vaz Carneiro António , Lamptey Peter
Published: April 2019

High blood pressure is the leading modifiable risk factor for mortality, accounting for nearly 1 in 5 deaths worldwide and 1 in 11 in low-income countries. Hypertension control remains a challenge, especially in low-resource settings. One approach to improvement is the prioritization of patient-centered care. However, consensus on the outcomes that matter most to patients is lacking. We aimed to define a standard set of patient-centered outcomes for evaluating hypertension management in low- and middle-income countries. The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement convened a Working Group of 18 experts and patients representing 15 countries. We used a modified Delphi process to reach consensus on a set of outcomes, case-mix variables, and a timeline to guide data collection. Literature reviews, patient interviews, a patient validation survey, and an open review by hypertension experts informed the set. The set contains 18 clinical and patient-reported outcomes that reflect patient priorities and evidence-based hypertension management and case-mix variables to allow comparisons between providers. The domains included are hypertension control, cardiovascular complications, health-related quality of life, financial burden of care, medication burden, satisfaction with care, health literacy, and health behaviors. We present a core list of outcomes for evaluating hypertension care. They account for the unique challenges healthcare providers and patients face in low- and middle-income countries, yet are relevant to all settings. We believe that it is a vital step toward international benchmarking in hypertension care and, ultimately, value-based hypertension management.
Open-Ended Technological Innovation
Authors: Bedau Mark A. , Gigliotti Nicholas , Janssen Tobias , Kosik Alec , Nambiar Ananthan , Packard Norman
Published: April 2019

We detect ongoing innovation in empirical data about human technological innovations. Ongoing technological innovation is a form of open-ended evolution, but it occurs in a nonbiological, cultural population that consists of actual technological innovations that exist in the real world. The change over time of this population of innovations seems to be quite open-ended. We take patented inventions as a proxy for technological innovations and mine public patent records for evidence of the ongoing emergence of technological innovations, and we compare two ways to detect it. One way detects the first instances of predefined patent pigeonholes, specifically the technology classes listed in the United States Patent Classification (USPC). The second way embeds patents in a high-dimensional semantic space and detects the emergence of new patent clusters. After analyzing hundreds of years of patent records, both methods detect the emergence of new kinds of technologies, but clusters are much better at detecting innovations that are unanticipated and undetected by USPC pigeonholes. Our clustering methods generalize to detect unanticipated innovations in other evolving populations that generate ongoing streams of digital data.
On the identity of broad-shelled mussels (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Mytilus) from the Dutch delta region
Authors: Groenenberg Dick S.J. , Wesselingh Frank P. , Rajagopal Sanjeevi , Jansen Jeroen M. , Bos Merijn M. , van der Velde Gerard , Gittenberger Edmund , Hoeksema Bert W. , Raad Harry , Hummel Herman
Published: April 2019

Late Quaternary (Eemian) deposits of the Netherlands contain shells that resemble those of living Mytilus galloprovincialis. Similar broad-shelled mytilids also occur in estuaries of the southwestern Netherlands together with slender individuals typical of M. edulis. We sampled living mussels along a depth gradient in the Oosterschelde to a) investigate whether a relation exists between shell shape and depth, b) test if the broadshelled specimens might represent M. galloprovincialis (or a hybrid with M. edulis) and c) assess by inference if the Quaternary specimens might be attributed to M. galloprovincialis as well. In order to do so, we compared genetic (length polymorphism of Me 15/16, COIII sequences and AFLPs) and shellmorphological characteristics (juvenile L/W ratios and socalled Verduin parameters) of the same specimens. The obtained dataset indicates that all studied mussels from the Oosterschelde should be attributed to M. edulis, including those with broad shell outlines. No correlation of shell-morphology and depth-distribution was found. The worn and generally damaged state of the Eemian specimens precluded measurement of the Verduin parameters, while juvenile L/W ratios turned out not to be diagnostic. Therefore the shell characters examined in this study are insufficient to demonstrate the possible presence of M. galloprovincialis shells in Quaternary deposits of the Netherlands.
Discovery of a new genus of tanaidacean (Crustacea: Tanaidacea: Mirandotanaidae) found associated with a deep-sea terebellid polychaete
Authors: Suárez-Morales Eduardo , Londoño-Mesa Mario , Heard Richard W.
Published: April 2019

Only one species of Tanaidacea, Expina typica, has been hitherto reported as an endosymbiont; it was recovered from the body cavity of deep-sea holothurians. During a survey of the deepsea benthic community in the Florida Straits off the Bahamas, Terebellatanais floridanus, a new genus and species of a tanaidomorphan tanaidacean was recovered at a depth of 545 m from the oral cavity of the terebellid polychaete Biremis blandi. Terebellatanais gen. nov. is tentatively assigned to the family Mirandotanaidae, as it appears to have affinities with Mirandotanais and Pooreotanais but also with Expina. It is distinguished from these genera by a unique combination of characters, including four antennular and antennal articles, a naked endite of the maxillipedal basis, hook-like chelipeds, the armature of the pereopods, and characters of the mouthparts. Most of the specimens of T. floridanus examined are mancas, but some were distinctly larger and with a different development of the last pereopod, thus suggesting that at least two manca stages are represented. The occurrence of the new genus and species within the oral cavity of B. blandi, its peculiar morphology, and the absence of fully grown adults, suggest that T. floridanus may be a symbiont of Biremis blandi at least during part of its development. Whether this relationship is commensal or parasitic remains to be determined.
Non-adaptive speciation of snails by left-right reversal is facilitated on oceanic islands
Authors: Hoso Masaki
Published: April 2019

The nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution predicts that small population size is essential for non-adaptive evolution. Evolution of whole-body left-right reversal in snails is generally a compelling example of non-adaptive speciation, because variants with reversed chirality would suffer from reduced mating opportunities within a population. Despite this reproductive disadvantage, sinistral snail species have repeatedly originated from dextral ancestors in terrestrial pulmonates. Here I show that snail speciation by reversal has been accelerated on oceanic islands. Analysing the global biogeography of 995 genera across 84 stylommatophoran families, I found that the proportion of sinistral snail genera was enhanced in genera endemic to oceanic islands. Oceanic islands are relatively small land masses offering highly fragmented habitats for snails. Thus, the upper limit of population size would probably have been small for a long time there. Oceanic islands may have facilitated the fixation of the nonadaptive allele for speciation by reversal, allowing subsequent ecological divergence of sibling species. This study illustrates the potential role of genetic drift in non-adaptive speciation on oceanic islands.
Developmental origins of normal and anomalous random right-left asymmetry: lateral inhibition versus developmental error in a threshold trait
Authors: Richard Palmer A.
Published: April 2019

Dramatic examples of right-left asymmetry often inspire adaptive explanations, simply because it is hard to imagine how such forms could not be functionally significant. But are conspicuous morphological asymmetries necessarily adaptive? Surprisingly, in some species where direction of asymmetry is random, asymmetry in bilaterally paired traits may arise as a developmental error in a threshold trait. When cases of asymmetry are rare within a species, they are easily recognized as developmental errors. However, as asymmetrical individuals become more common, or if the asymmetry is in a signaling trait, the temptation to advance an adaptive explanation grows, particularly if the asymmetry is not clearly maladaptive. Several models of the ontogeny of asymmetry are described for both normal and anomalous random asymmetry of bilaterally paired traits. In the absence of selection, each model predicts different expected frequencies of symmetrical and asymmetrical individuals within a species, therefore such frequency distributions can effectively test for different models of development. In normal random asymmetries – where conspicuously asymmetrical individuals predominate – lateral inhibition of one side after the other has transformed appears to be an essential step in development. In anomalous random asymmetries – where conspicuously asymmetrical individuals are relatively rare – no lateral inhibition is required. Other potentially relevant variables include: purely stochastic variation in morphogen levels, useinduced asymmetry, and local (each side independent) versus central (e.g., hormonal) signaling. Examples of normal and anomalous random asymmetries are reviewed for several animal groups. A closer examination of the spectacular forelimb asymmetry in empidid dance flies raises doubts about claims that the asymmetry – both its occurrence and its direction – is adaptive, even though enlargement of the forelimbs likely is. Additional studies are required to conclude that this asymmetry is truly adaptive, as opposed to the outcome of random developmental variation in a threshold trait. This dance-fly leg asymmetry illustrates nicely how alternative hypotheses need to be considered before interpreting such variation as adaptive, even in a signaling trait.
Molecular taxonomy reveals the sexual morph of Nodulosphaeria digitalis in Phaeosphaeriaceae from Campanula trachelium in Italy
Authors: CHAIWAN NAPALAI , WANASINGHE DHANUSHKA NADEESHAN , CAMPORESI ERIO , TIBPROMMA SAOWALUCK , BOONMEE SARANYAPHAT , LUMYONG SAISAMORN , HYDE KEVIN DAVID
Published: April 2019

The fungal genus Nodulosphaeria is one of the oldest phaeosphaeriaceous genera that comprises saprobic, endophytic and pathogenic species associated with a wide variety of substrates. There are 71 species epithets listed under Nodulosphaeria in Index Fungorum and most of these published records lack illustrations and descriptions, or DNA sequence data and thus it is challenging to confirm their names or investigate taxonomic relationships. In this study, we report the sexual morph of Nodulosphaeria digitalis, a terrestrial saprobe belonging to the genus Nodulosphaeria (Phaeosphaeriaceae, Pleosporales), on stems of Campanula trachelium from Arezzo Province, Italy. This is the first record of a Nodulosphaeria taxon on Campanulaceae. Maximum likelihood, Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses of combined ITS, LSU, SSU and TEF1-α sequence data reveal that the novel isolate belongs to the family Phaeosphaeriaceae and nests with Nodulosphaeria digitalis with strong bootstrap support. The detailed descriptions and illustrations of the sexual morph of N. digitalis, an updated phylogenetic tree for the genus Nodulosphaeria are provided.
A new species and new synonym in Rubus subgenus Cylactis (Rosaceae)
Authors: WANG QIU-PING , YANG FENG , WANG HUAN-CHONG
Published: April 2019

Rubus zixishanensis Huan C. Wang & Q. P. Wang, is described and illustrated as a new species endemic to Yunnan, Southwest China. It belongs to the subgenus Cylactis and is the only species with crimson petals in this subgenus. Rubus zixishanensis is most similar to R. arcticus, but clearly differs from the latter by its whole plant with tiny glandular hair, and stems creeping or decumbent, stipules narrowly lanceolate to linear, base shortly adnate to petioles, calyx abaxially setose, sepals consistently 5, petals crimson and pistils 5–9. In addition, the name R. naruhashii Yi Sun & Boufford, a replacement name of R. clivicola Walker, is treated as a taxonomic synonym of R. potentilloides W. E. Evans.
New species and records of the genus Spiloscapha Bates (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from the Oriental and Papuan Regions (part 2)
Authors: SCHAWALLER WOLFGANG
Published: April 2019

Four new species of the genus Spiloscapha Bates, 1873 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Diaperinae) are described: S. bryanti sp. n.(Java), S. cechovskyi sp. n. (W Malaysia), S. meghalaya sp. n. (NE India: Meghalaya) and S. toxopeusi sp. n. (Moluccas:Buru). S. rufonotata (Pic, 1916) comb. n. is transferred from Basanus Lacordaire, 1857 to Spiloscapha Bates, 1873. New fau-nistic data of known species are added and a complete checklist of all 35 species of Spiloscapha from the Oriental and Papuan Regions is provided.
Glyceridae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from Guam, Mariana Islands with description of a new species of Glycera Savigny in Lamarck, 1818
Authors: MAGALHÃES WAGNER F. , RIZZO ALEXANDRA E.
Published: April 2019

Glycera juliae sp. nov., is described from shallow water sediments within Apra Harbor, Guam, Mariana Islands. This spe-cies is characterized by the presence of ailerons with rounded triangular base; proboscideal papillae of type 1 mainly dig-itiform with straight, median, longitudinal ridge and type 2 shorter and broader, oval to globular, without ridges; twoslender triangular to digitiform prechaetal lobes, notopodial lobe slightly shorter than neuropodial lobe, two shortpostchaetal lobes, rounded anteriorly with posterior notopodial lobe becoming sub-triangular and longer than roundedneuropodial lobe; branchiae present, retractile, simple digitiform attached medially on anterior side of parapodia and adark brown pigmentation forming transverse bands on prostomium and body segments. It is most similar to Glycera nico-barica and G. macintoshi by the shape of parapodial structures but also shares similarities with Glycera sphyrabrancha,G. branchiopoda, G. guatemalensis, G. semibranchiopoda and G. southeastatlantica by the shape and types of proboscidialpapillae, differing on the shape of the ailerons, parapodial lobes and presence of branchiae. The occurrence of Glycera tesselata is confirmed for Guam and specimens are described and illustrated with SEM photographs.
A new genus of Lanceoporidae (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata)
Authors: REVERTER-GIL OSCAR , SOUTO JAVIER , FERNÁNDEZ-PULPEIRO EUGENIO
Published: April 2019

A new genus of cheilostomate bryozoan, Stephanotheca n. gen., is introduced for several species previously placed in thegenus Schizomavella. This new genus differs from Schizomavella mainly in its ovicell closure, with a dimorphic orificeclosed by the zooidal operculum. Nine species are placed in the genus Stephanotheca n. gen. Stephanotheca barrosoi n.sp., type species of the genus, was previously reported as Schizomavella ambita. Stephanotheca ambita is redescribedfrom the original Australian material, while Stephanotheca watersi n. sp., previously reported as Schizomavella ambitaand Schizomavella rudis, is described from material collected in the western Mediterranean. Stephanotheca victoriensisn. sp. is described for other Australian specimens. The rest of the species are closely similar, so they are grouped in theStephanotheca ochracea species group. Stephanotheca ochracea, redescribed from its holotype, is the only Atlantic spe-cies of the genus. A lectotype and paralectotypes are chosen for Stephanotheca monoecensis. Stephanotheca triangulatan. sp. and Stephanotheca perforata n. sp. were previously reported as S. ochracea. Finally, Stephanotheca arrogata is re-described from the original material. The structure of the ovicell of Stephanotheca, its opening, with a dimorphic orificeclosed by the zooidal operculum, and the presence of zooids with extremely enlarged orifices suggest that this genus be-longs to the family Lanceoporidae, which must be transferred from the Schizoporelloidea to the Smittinoidea owing to its smittinoid ovicell.
Comparative morphology of rostral cartilages in extant mackerel sharks (Chondrichthyes, Lamniformes, Lamnidae) using CT scanning
Authors: MOLLEN FREDERIK H. , WINTNER SABINE P. , IGLÉSIAS SAMUEL P. , VAN SOMMERAN SEAN R. , JAGT JOHN W. M.
Published: April 2019

A comparative study of rostral morphology of extant mackerel sharks (Lamniformes, Lamnidae) is presented. Based oncomputed tomography (CT) scans of fresh specimens, 3D reconstructions, dried museum chondrocrania and the availableliterature, detailed morphological descriptions of the rostral cartilages are provided for the type species of all three extantlamnid genera, namely Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758), Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810 and Lamna nasus(Bonnaterre, 1788), and compared with those of I. paucus Guitart Manday, 1966 and L. ditropis Hubbs & Follett, 1947.Despite intraspecific variation, the rostral cartilages of all extant lamnids present significant differences that allow genus-and species-level identification, which is especially of use to identify fossil rostral nodes of these particular taxa. The maindifferences were found to be in overall calcification of the rostrum (Lamna > Isurus > Carcharodon), general configura-tion of the rostral open space, position of the base of the lateral rostral cartilages, (non-)abutting lateral cartilages, (absent)rostral keels and shape of the rostral node. In cross section, the base of the rostral node is rounded in Lamna, Y-shaped in Isurus and uncalcified in juvenile and subadult Carcharodon (tesserae absent).
New species of Scissurellidae, Anatomidae, and Larocheidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda) from New Zealand and beyond
Authors: GEIGER DANIEL L. , MARSHALL BRUCE A.
Published: April 2019

Thirteen new species of Scissurellidae (Scissurella regalis n. sp., Sinezona mechanica n. sp., Sinezona platyspira n. sp.,Sinezona enigmatica n. sp., Sinezona wanganellica n. sp., Satondella azonata n. sp., Satondella bicristata n. sp.),Anatomidae (Anatoma amydra n. sp., Anatoma kopua n. sp., Anatoma megascutula n. sp., Anatoma tangaroa n. sp.), andLarocheidae (Larochea spirata n. sp., Larocheopsis macrostoma n. sp.) are described, all of which occur in New Zealandwaters. The greatest geographic source of new taxa is the islands and underwater features off northern New Zealand. The new shell-morphological term “sutsel” is introduced for the area between the SUTure and the SELenizone.
Two new species of Siconema (Drilonematoidea: Ungellidae) parasitic in earthworms in Vietnam, and systematic relationships as inferred from ribosomal sequence data
Authors: IVANOVA E. S. , VAN LUC PHAM , SPIRIDONOV S. E.
Published: April 2019

Two new species of Siconema (Drilonematoidea: Ungellidae) from Pu Mat Nature Reserve, Vietnam are described andillustrated. Siconema ovicallosum sp. n. is characterised by a wide female body, female caudal organs displaced toposterior extremity followed by short tail tip; males short, slim with caudal organs near cloacal opening and long, conicalposterior portion of tail; cephalic hooks in both sexes with sturdy base and thin, diverging blade tips; tubular stomaincorporated in hooks base; eggs with very thick shells and two suberose polar caps. It is most similar to S. laticaudatumIvanova & Pham Van Luc, 1997 but is distinguished by much smaller males, their caudal organs, and the shape andornamentation of eggshells. Siconema diducuncinum sp. n. is characterised by a stoma that is confined in a tube thatprotrudes between thin hooks with widely distributed blades, caudal organs situated at long distance from the tail tip, eggsin the shape of a double-poled elongated lemon and presence of a copulatory disc in males. Siconema diducuncinum sp.n. is most closely related to S. sinense Timm, 1966 but differs from it by having rounded vs elongate pharyngeal bulb,thinner and smoother eggshells with more pronounced polar caps, twisted vs straight ovary and a copulatory disc in males.By an elongated tail spike and bristling hook blades, S. diducuncinum sp. n. shares similarities with S. neozelandicumYeates & Spiridonov, 1996 but differs in having a non-amalgamated hook base, presence of projecting stomatal tube,differently ornamented eggshells and a copulatory disk in males. A key to species of Siconema is given. Phylogenetic relationships of the new species and other drilonematids are discussed.
Two new free-living nematode species (Comesomatidae) from the continental slope of New Zealand, with keys and notes on distribution
Authors: D. LEDUC , K. PROBERT P. , D. NODDER S.
Published: April 2019

Two new free-living marine nematode species of the family Comesomatidae are described from the continental slope of NewZealand, and their distributions at 32 sites are investigated in relation to environmental factors. Vasostoma aurata n. sp. is char-acterised by a distinctly set-off head, amphideal fovea with 4.5 turns, conspicuous chords consisting of two bands fusing atbody extremities, with outline of cell bodies usually golden-coloured, and relatively short spicules. Setosabatieria conicauda n.sp. is characterised by an amphid with 4.25–4.5 turns, the presence of only 1–3 sub-cephalic setae per file, several clusters ofintracellular inclusions, sometimes brown-coloured, in the intestinal wall, and a conical tail. Keys to all known species of Seto-sabatieria and Vasostoma are provided. Both species were mostly restricted to subsurface (1–5cm depth) sediments. The abun-dance of V. aurata n. sp. and S. conicauda n. sp. was significantly correlated with food quantity and quality, but the patternsdiffered between species. The effect of food-related factors may be directly linked to interspecific differences in food require-ments, or mediated by biogeochemical processes (i.e., tolerance of sub-surface oxygen and sulphide concentrations). No signif-icant correlations were found between sediment granulometry and abundances, despite the wide range of sediment grain-sizes (6–93% silt and clay) at the sampling sites.
A contribution to the knowledge of Dryinidae from Late Eocene Baltic amber (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea), with description of new subfamily, Protodryininae subfam. nov.
Authors: OLMI MASSIMO , GUGLIELMINO ADALGISA
Published: April 2019

A new subfamily, Protodryininae Olmi & Guglielmino, subfam. nov. with Protodryinus eocenicus Olmi & Guglielmino, gen.et sp. nov. and Lonchodryinus balticus, Olmi & Guglielmino, sp. nov. from subfamily Anteoninae are described from Balticamber. An updated new key to the world subfamilies of Dryinidae and a checklist of the species known from Baltic amber are given.
Rediscovery and phylogenetic placement of the endemic Malagasy cichlid Ptychochromoides itasy (Teleostei: Cichlidae: Ptychochrominae)
Authors: SPARKS JOHN S. , Loiselle PAUL V. , BALDWIN ZACHARY H.
Published: April 2019

Ptychochromoides itasy Sparks, 2004, known locally in Madagascar as the trondro mainty or marakely à bosse, a robustjet black cichlid with a pronounced nuchal hump in both sexes, had not been collected in the wild for several decades andwas presumed to be extinct. Recently, a relict population of P. itasy was discovered in a tributary of the Tsiribihina Riverin the central highlands, to the west of the capital, Antananarivo. We report on the rediscovery, and present DNA sequenceevidence to both confirm the identity of the species as a member of Ptychochromoides and to resolve the placement of P. itasy within the genus.
New species and new records of chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera and Ischnocera) from bulbuls (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae) in Vietnam
Authors: NAJER TOMAS , SYCHRA OLDRICH , HUNG NGUYEN MANH , CAPEK MIROSLAV , PODZEMNY PETR , LITERAK IVAN
Published: April 2019

Seven species of chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) were found on five species of bulbuls (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae)in northern Vietnam. Three new species of the genera Brueelia and Philopteroides are described; they and their type hostsare: Brueelia flavala ex Hemixos flavala Blyth, 1845 B. cucphuongensis ex Pycnonotus finlaysoni Strickland, 1844 andPhilopteroides flavala ex Hemixos flavala Blyth, 1845. First records of chewing lice from Hemixos castanonotus Swin-hoe, 1870 and Iole propinqua (Oustalet, 1903), and a new host record for Myrsidea ochracei and Sturnidoecus sp. are also included.
The decapod crustaceans described by C. Sankarankutty, and a replacement name for Jonesius Sankarankutty, 1962 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Domeciidae), preoccupied by Jonesius Yamaguti, 1959 (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea: Hymenolepididae)
Authors: LOW MARTYN E. Y. , NG PETER K. L.
Published: April 2019

The Indian carcinologist Cheruparambil Sankarankutty has published extensively on the decapod crustaceans of India and Brazil, and over the years, has described two new genera and eight new species (Sankarankutty 1962a, b, 1963, 1968, 1969, 1975; Sankarankutty & Ferreira 2000; Sankarankutty et al. 2001) (Table 1).
Loneura Navás (Psocodea: Psocomorpha: Ptiloneuridae): new species from Brazil, and description of the female of Loneura maracaensis Garcia Aldrete, with a checklist of all known species of the genus
Authors: LIMA DANIEL MOURA , DA SILVA-NETO ALBERTO MOREIRA , ALDRETE ALFONSO N. GARCÍA , BRAVO FREDDY
Published: April 2019

A new Loneura species from the Brazilian state of Bahia (Loneura baiana n. sp.), is here described and illustrated. It is assignable to a species group of the genus but not to any of its subgroups. The previously unknown female of Loneura maracaensis Garcia Aldrete is described and illustrated, comments on variation in the fore- and hindwing venation of two male specimens of this species are included. Information on sexes known and distribution is included for all known species of Loneura.
Nine new species of the subgenus Stegana (Steganina) from China, with DNA barcoding information (Diptera: Drosophilidae)
Authors: LI BINGXUE , ZHANG YUAN , CHEN HONGWEI
Published: April 2019

Eleven (two known and nine new) species of the subgenus Stegana (Steganina) from China are described or redescribed: S. (S.) longifibula Takada, 1968, S. (S.) toyaensis Okada & Sidorenko, 1992, S. (S.) biflava sp. nov., S. (S.) flavivittata sp. nov., S. (S.) hirtifoliacea sp. nov., S. (S.) latitabula sp. nov., S. (S.) panda sp. nov., S. (S.) pinguifoliacea sp. nov., S. (S.) spatulata sp. nov., S. (S.) stachydifolia sp. nov. and S. (S.) unguiculata sp. nov.; they are assigned into the coleoptrata, ornatipes and undulata species groups, respectively. A total of 130 DNA sequences of partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene of 38 species (including the 11 species) of above-mentioned three groups are newly obtained in this study. These sequences and other available barcoding sequences of the three groups are involved in a molecular analysis using neighbor-joining (NJ) method, in order to assess the availability of DNA barcoding for delimiting the Steganina species. The result indicates that all the sampled Steganina morphospecies within the three groups are monophyletic.
A new species of Phyllurus leaf-tailed gecko (Lacertilia: Carphodactylidae) from The Pinnacles, north-east Australia
Authors: HOSKIN CONRAD J. , BERTOLA LORENZO V. , HIGGIE MEGAN
Published: April 2019

Recent surveys of rocky rainforest in the Townsville region have found additional populations of Phyllurus geckos. One of these populations was discovered at The Pinnacles, an isolated area of habitat in between the distributions of P. gulbaru and P. amnicola. Genetic and morphological data shows that this population is most similar to P. gulbaru Hoskin, Couper & Schneider, 2003 but divergent in a number of traits. Here we describe this population as a new species, P. pinnaclensis sp. nov., based on genetic divergence and differences in a number of morphometric and scalation traits from other populations of Phyllurus. Phyllurus pinnaclensis sp. nov. appears to be restricted to a few small areas of deeply layered rock with associated dry rainforest. This habitat is fire-sensitive and increased frequency and intensity of fires (due to late season burns and high fuel loads of invasive grasses) threatens to reduce and fragment these dry rainforest patches. Other threats include potential future invasion of the habitat by introduced Asian House Geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus Duméril & Bibron, 1836) and illegal collecting. Given the very small and fragmented distribution and potential reduction in habitat area due to fire, P. pinnaclensis sp. nov. warrants a Critically Endangered listing. Resolving the distributional change of dry rainforest in the Townsville region in recent decades, particularly in regards to fire, is key to resolving the status of this and other locally threatened taxa that depend on this habitat.
Notes on the Toxorhynchites of Mexico: redescription of Tx. moctezuma (Dyar & Knab) and new record for Tx. grandiosus (Williston) in Veracruz (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: MENDEZ-ANDRADE ALEJANDRO , RIVERA-GARCÍA KARINA D. , IBÁÑEZ-BERNAL SERGIO
Published: April 2019

Description of the pupa and redescriptions of the larva, female, male and male genitalia of Toxorhynchites (Lynchiella) moctezuma (Dyar & Knab) are presented based on specimens from Mexico, providing information that helps to distinguish this species from other species within the subgenus Lynchiella. Additionally, we report the first finding of Tx. (Lyn.) grandiosus (Williston) in the state of Veracruz, Mexico.
The Calliphoridae (Diptera) of Armenia
Authors: ROGNES KNUT
Published: April 2019

A report is given on the Calliphoridae (Diptera) collected by Adrian C. Pont during recent fieldwork in Armenia. Twenty-six (26) named species have been identified, and of these 21 are newly recorded from Armenia. Various taxonomic characters of Pollenia paragrunini Rognes, 1988, including the large variation in the width of the male frons, are discussed. One new species is described: Pollenia agneteae sp. nov., and is assigned to the Pollenia semicinerea species-group.
Cabamofa orientalis sp. nov. from Thailand, congeneric with C. mira Jaschhof from Costa Rica (Diptera: Bibionomorpha: Sciaroidea incertae sedis)
Authors: JASCHHOF MATHIAS , ŠEVČÍK JAN
Published: April 2019

The genus Cabamofa, previously containing only C. mira from Costa Rica (Jaschhof 2005), is shown here to have a second species in Thailand, which is described and named C. orientalis sp. nov. The new species is known from a single male collected by the TIGER Project (Thailand Inventory Group for Entomological Research), a mass-sampling program to inventory insect diversity in Southeast Asia (Plant et al. 2011; http://sharkeylab.org/tiger, accessed 14 December 2018). As the circumstances of finding indicate, C. orientalis is a decidedly rare species, an attribute applying to perhaps one third of all tropical arthropods (Lim et al. 2012) and most Sciaroidea incertae sedis (Jaschhof 2017), including the Costa Rican C. mira. The latter species was originally described from two females, which were Malaise trapped in 2003 in lowland rain forest (Jaschhof 2005), while a conspecific male, a museum specimen collected in 1922 in an unknown habitat, was detected and described subsequently (Amorim & Rindal 2007). Cabamofa is one of nearly 20 sciaroid genera whose family affiliation has not yet been resolved (Jaschhof 2017), but there is morphological evidence suggesting its close affinity to other Sciaroidea incertae sedis, such as Rogambara Jaschhof, 2005, Ohakunea Tonnoir & Edwards, 1927, and Colonomyia Colless, 1963. These four genera together form the Ohakunea group of Jaschhof (2005), or the Ohakuneinae (as a subfamily of the broadly conceived family Rangomaramidae) of Amorim & Rindal (2007). Recent molecular work (Ševčík et al. 2016, Kaspřák et al. 2019) suggests a more distant phylogenetic position of Ohakunea to other Sciaroidea incertae sedis. The obvious conflict here between morphological and molecular evidence is stimulating fresh interest in the “incertae sedis issue”, as proven by the present contribution. The morphology of C. orientalis provides no new clues as to the systematic position of Cabamofa, or the Ohakunea group, but reveals characters that were previously not known to occur in Cabamofa. The delimitation of this genus is briefly reviewed below. Our finding of C. orientalis extends the geographic distribution of Cabamofa from the New World to the Old World (Oriental) tropics, which consorts with the disjunct (Neotropical-Australasian) areas found in both Colonomyia and Ohakunea. Morphological terminology used here is in accordance with that by Cumming & Wood (2017).
Calibration Uncertainties of Tropical Pacific Climate Reconstructions over the Last Millennium
Authors: Yun Kyung-Sook , Timmermann Axel
Published: April 2019

Several climate field reconstruction methods assume stationarity between the leading patterns of variability identified during the instrumental calibration period and the reconstruction period. We examine how and to what extent this restrictive assumption may generate uncertainties in reconstructing past tropical Pacific climate variability. Based on the Last Millennium (850–2005 CE) ensemble simulations conducted with the Community Earth System Model and by developing a series of pseudoproxy reconstructions for different calibration periods, we find that the overall reconstruction skill for global and more regional-scale climate indices depends significantly on the magnitude of externally forced global mean temperature variability during the chosen calibration period. This effect strongly reduces the fidelity of reconstructions of decadal to centennial-scale tropical climate variability, associated with the interdecadal Pacific oscillation (IPO) and centennial-scale temperature shifts between the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) and the Little Ice Age (LIA). In contrast, our pseudoproxy-based analysis demonstrates that reconstructions of interannual El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability are more robust and less affected by changes in calibration period.
Evaluation and Bias Correction in WRF Model Forecasting of Precipitation and Potential Evapotranspiration
Authors: Bughici Theodor , Lazarovitch Naftali , Fredj Erick , Tas Eran
Published: April 2019

A reliable forecast of potential evapotranspiration (ET0) is key to precise irrigation scheduling toward reducing water and agrochemical use while optimizing crop yield. In this study, we examine the benefits of using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model for ET0 and precipitation forecasts with simulations at a 3-km grid spatial resolution and an hourly temporal resolution output over Israel. The simulated parameters needed to calculate ET0 using the Penman–Monteith (PM) approach, as well as calculated ET0 and precipitation, were compared to observations from a network of meteorological stations. WRF forecasts of all PM meteorological parameters, except wind speed Ws, were significantly sensitive to seasonality and synoptic conditions, whereas forecasts of Ws consistently showed high bias associated with strong local effects, leading to high bias in the evaluated PM–ET0. Local Ws bias correction using observations on days preceding the forecast and interpolation of the resulting PM–ET0 to other locations led to significant improvement in ET0 forecasts over the investigated area. By using this hybrid forecast approach (WRFBC) that combines WRF numerical simulations with statistical bias corrections, daily ET0 forecast bias was reduced from an annual mean of 13% with WRF to 3% with WRFBC, while maintaining a high model–observation correlation. WRF was successful in predicting precipitation events on a daily event basis for all four forecast lead days. Considering the benefit of the hybrid approach for forecasting ET0, the WRF Model was found to be a high-potential tool for improving crop irrigation management.
Legislating Instruction in Urban Schools: Unintended Consequences of Accountability Policy on Teacher-Reported Classroom Goal Structures
Authors: Hinnant-Crawford Brandi N.
Published: April 2019

Scholars have documented the effects of accountability policies on student outcomes and, to a lesser extent, instruction. Beyond test preparation and curriculum narrowing, little empirical evidence has examined the relationship between policy and pedagogy. Guided by social cognitive and achievement goal theories, this study explored the relationship between U.S. federal education policies and teacher-reported classroom goal orientation. Survey data from approximately 260 teachers were analyzed in conjunction with interviews from seven teachers in a sequential explanatory design. Findings suggest accountability policies create environments conducive to performance goal orientation. The irony of policy intentions and instructional implications for student learning are explored.
A novel guaranteed tracking performance control for reentry vehicle with actuator constraints and uncertainties
Authors: Feng Zhenxin , Guo Jianguo , Zhou Jun
Published: April 2019

A novel guaranteed tracking performance control scheme is presented for the reentry vehicle encountered in actuator saturation and enormous amount of uncertainties via time-varying barrier Lyapunov function (TVBLF) method. The required stable and transient tracking performance of the reentry attitudes are simultaneously enhanced by the proposed logarithm-type TVBLF and the control design complexity is reduced compared with the prescribed performance technique. Moreover, in order to eliminate the control performance degradation caused by the actuator constraints, an auxiliary error compensation design is inserted into the control law. In addition, the uncertainty rejection capability of the control system is achieved by exploiting the MIMO nonlinear extended disturbance observer. Finally, the uniform ultimately boundedness of the closed-loop system is established and numerical simulations are verified to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control law for the reentry vehicle subject to attitude constraints, actuator saturations and uncertainties.
Common Pitfalls of Head and Neck Research Using Cancer Registries
Authors: Jones Evan A. , Shuman Andrew G. , Egleston Brian L. , Liu Jeffrey C.
Published: April 2019

Objective

To highlight common pitfalls observed in scientific research derived from national cancer registries, predominantly the Survival, Epidemiology, and End Results Program and the National Cancer Database.

Data Sources

Literature review and expert opinion.

Review Methods

This state‐of‐the‐art review consolidates the literature with editorial experiences describing how and why statistically flawed studies are usually rejected for publication, highlighting common errors in submitted articles employing national cancer registries.

Conclusions

Pitfalls were identified in 2 major areas—design and data analysis. Design pitfalls included unbalanced cohorts, uncontrolled covariates, and flawed oncologic variables. Analytical pitfalls included incorrect application of univariate analyses, inclusion of inaccurate data, and inclusion of stage IVc disease in curative survival analysis. Additional limitations of database studies were identified, including absence of patient‐related outcomes, hypothesis‐generating vs practice‐changing implications, and inability to differentiate between overall survival and disease‐specific survival.

Implications for Practice

Methodological strategies are suggested to ensure careful analytical design and appropriate interpretation. Although national cancer registries provide a wealth of data, researchers must remain vigilant when designing studies and analyzing these data sets. Inherent design flaws raise considerable problems with interpretation; however, when analyzed judiciously, registries can lead to a better understanding of cancer outcomes.
Christian Witness in a Multi-religious World: Trajectories in the International Ecumenical Discussion
Authors: Anders Christoph , Biehl Michael
Published: April 2019

This article presents an overview of discussions on the ecumenical document ‘Christian witness in a multi-religious world’. Beginning in Germany, it highlights the attention the document received and tracks some of the arguments through the changing contexts of the last decade connected to the document’s invitation for a mission in respect of others. The challenge to implement the recommendations the document offers in a common endeavour to witness to Christ is then emphasized. The reception process for the document is described as an invitation to adopt and contextualize the principles and recommendations in one’s own practising of mission and evangelism instead of sending comments on the text for revision.
Stakeholder involvement in Union Digital Centres in Bangladesh
Authors: Faroqi Md Gofran , Collings Gregory James
Published: April 2019

This paper evaluates opportunities and challenges of the Union Digital Centre (UDC) project, a Bangladeshi telecentre initiative, based on a Public-Private-People’s Partnership (PPPP) scheme. It investigates how each of the stakeholders contributes. In the face of many closures, it is a timely contribution. A stakeholder management framework focused on telecentres is used to understand stakeholder behaviour and to provide a hypothesis about the contribution of each to the operation. This study surveyed stakeholders such as entrepreneurs, central government officials and local government representatives. The roles of stakeholders are discussed and opportunities are identified for external support from government bodies to support the operation of UDCs. The potential demands and benefits of a massive client base are also examined. Application of a structural equation model highlights that current progress hinges more on external support and people’s participation than on entrepreneurial investment. The dependency on philanthropic support, combined with problems in stakeholder engagement, poses challenges to entrepreneurship development, a feature necessary for sustainability. To engage them, effective interplay of relevant stakeholders is required.
Evaluating working conditions in the informal economy: Evidence from the 2015 European Working Conditions Survey
Authors: Williams Colin C , Horodnic Ioana Alexandra
Published: April 2019

Although it is widely held that working conditions in the informal economy are worse than in the formal economy, little evidence has been so far provided. The aim of this article is to fill this lacuna by comparing the working conditions of informal employees with formal employees using the 2015 European Working Conditions Survey. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analysis provides a nuanced and variegated appreciation of which working conditions are worse for informal employees, which are no different, and which are better for informal than formal employees. The article concludes by discussing the theoretical and policy implications.
Use of Open Data to Assess Cyclist Safety in London
Authors: Collins Daniel J. , Graham Daniel J.
Published: April 2019

This study develops a predictive model for cycling collisions in London. Specifically, the effects of bus lanes, parking or loading facilities, and multilane roads on the risk of cycling collisions are considered. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first such predictive collision model that develops covariates to measure the characteristics of different types of road infrastructure within zones. A kernel density estimator is used to identify 90 collision hotspots. Each hotspot is populated with information regarding the highway infrastructure within it. A multiple linear regression model tests for the statistical significance of the infrastructure variables. Bus lanes, multilane roads, and 30-mph speed limits are found to affect cycle collision counts, whereas junction density has the largest impact on collision density. Speed limits of 20 mph affect collision counts to a lesser degree than 30 mph, indicating potential safety improvement from reducing speed limits. One-way roads are found to reduce the risk of collisions, along with the provision of priority junctions. This infers that other junction types, such as roundabouts and signalized junctions, present a higher collision risk. The models produce conflicting results on parking or loading provision. The models are expanded to include sociodemographic variables, such as population and employment. The combined model offers no performance improvement over the infrastructure-only model, although a potential link between public transport provision and reducing cycle collisions warrants further investigation.