bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diversität epiphytischer Moose eines westandinen Bergregenwaldes in Ecuador

Authors: Müller Ute , Frahm Jan-Peter
Published: August 2015

The epiphytic bryophytes on tree trunks as well on branches and twigs of the canopy were studied in a montane rain forest in the Andes 110 km SW of Quito at about 2000 m elevation. Ten trees were examined on which 65 species (24 mooses and 41 liverworts) were found. The bryophyte flora of the stems consists of 14 species and is related on a level of up to 80%. The branches are inhabited by 58 species. The composition of species on branches of different trees (except those from the same trees) have a correspondence of less than 40%. The correspondence of the bryophytes on twigs of different trees is even lower. Twigs are inhabited by 24 species. Correlation analysis between species numbers and ecological factors revealed no significant correlation between species number and branch diameter, branch exposition and elevation. However, a correlation was found between increasing pH of the bark and decreasing species numbers. The average dry weight of epiphytic bryophytes was 80g/m2 on trunks, 1873 g/m2 on branches and 1230 g/m2 on twigs. The average water storing capacity of epiphytic bryophytes is 0.57 l/m2 on trunks, 19,5l/m2 on branches and 4.16 l/m2 on twigs and is thus ten times of the dry weight on branches but three times of dry weight on twigs. A representative tree of 27 m height has an average 65,4 kg dry weight of epiphytic bryophytes, which can store 669 liters of water. 10600 kg phytomass per hectare are estimated.
Foliicolous lichens and their lichenicolous fungi collected during the Smithsonian International Cryptogamic Expedition to Guyana 1996

Authors: Lücking Robert
Published: August 2015

A total of 233 foliicolous lichen species and 18 lichenicolous fungi are reported from Guyana as a result of the Smithsonian „International Cryptogamic Expedition to Guyana“ 1996. Three lichens and two lichenicolous fungi are new to science: Arthonia grubei sp.n., Badimia subelegans sp.n., Calopadia pauciseptata sp.n., Opegrapha matzeri sp.n. (lichenicolous on Amazonomyces sprucei), and Pyrenidium santessonii sp.n. (lichenicolous on Bacidia psychotriae). The new combination Strigula janeirensis (Bas.: Phylloporina janeirensis; syn.: Raciborskiella janeirensis) is proposed. Apart from Amazonomyces sprucei and Bacidia psychotriae, Arthonia lecythidicola (with the lichenicolous A. pseudopegraphina) and Byssolecania deplanata (with the lichenicolous Opegrapha cf. kalbii) are reported as new hosts for lichenicolous fungi. Arthonia pseudopegraphina growing on A. lecythidicola is the first known case of adelphoparasitism at generic level in foliicolous Arthonia. Arthonia flavoverrucosa, Badimia polillensis, and Byssoloma vezdanum are new records for the Neotropics, and 115 species are new for Guyana, resulting in a total of c. 280 genuine foliicolous species reported for that country, while Porina applanata and P. verruculosa are excluded from its flora. The foliicolous lichen flora of Guyana is representative for the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana) and has great affinities with the Amazon region, while the degree of endemism is low. A characteristic species for this area is Amazonomyces sprucei. Species composition is typical of Neotropical lowland to submontane humid forests, with a dominance of the genera Porina, Strigula, and Mazosia. The table mountain vegetation supports elements of the upper montane forest, such as Echinoplaca fusconitida and Logilvia gilva. Foliicolous lichen diversity is highest in undisturbed lowland to submontane humid forest, much lower in the table mountain vegetation and drastically decreased in semi-open secondary vegetation and the coastal savanna. Species composition in semi-open, disturbed vegetation is similar to that found in the undisturbed forest canopy. Site preferences of foliicolous lichens follow those established by studies in other Neotropical regions like Costa Rica.
A new species of Colura (Lejeuneaceae) from the Aberdare Mountains/Kenya

Authors: Fischer Eberhard
Published: August 2015

The new species Colura zoophaga from the Aberdare Mountains in Kenya is described as new. It differs from C. berghenii and C. hedbergiana in the obtuse apex, which is rounded or only weakly prolonged. C. zoophaga also differs from C. berghenii in the smooth leaf-cells, from C. hedbergiana in the 5-horned perianth keels and from C. calyptrifolia in the papillose perianth. A key to the African taxa of Sectio Macroramphus is provided. The ecology of C. zoophaga is briefly described.
Mosses from the Mascarenes - 7. A small collection from Rodrigues

Authors: Een Gillis , Thingsgaard Karen
Published: August 2015

Fifteen taxa of mosses are reported from the island of Rodrigues. The second African report of Luisierella barbula (Schwaegr.) Steere bridges the Asian and New World disjunctions of this taxon. Three other species are reported new to the Mascarenes, i.e., Calymperes tenerum C.Müller var. tenerum, Fissidens ramulosus Mitten and Weissia edentula Mitten. Three are new to Rodrigues, i.e., Bryum truncorum Bridel, Fissidens sciophyllus Mitten and Vesicularia ayresii (Schimper ex Besch.) Broth.
Los Musgos Pleurocárpicos del Valle de México, México
Authors: S. Ángeles Cárdenas
Published: August 2015

Despite its small area (7500 km2), the Valle de México is the site of high plant diversity. Its flora includes about 105 species and varieties of pleuocarpous mosses, i.e., 31% of the total recognized for Mexico. The Leucodontales include 22 taxa, the Hookeriales are represented by two species only, and the Hypnales by some 81 taxa. Because of their epiphytic habitat, the Leucodontales are comparatively scarce in the Valle de México; the Hookeriales usually grow in lowland, shaded moist tropical forests. The large and diverse Order Hypnales is a north temperate taxon which, in the tropical latitudes, is distributed at high elevations in open forests that are frequent in the area of study. Drepanocladus capillifolius and Hygroamblystegium fluviatile are recorded for the first time for Mexico.
First record of the jumping spider genus Bavia Simon, 1877 from India, with the description of a new species
Authors: MALAMEL JOBI J. , SANKARAN PRADEEP M. , SEBASTIAN POTHALIL A.
Published: August 2015

The tropical jumping spider genus Bavia was erected by Simon (1877) to include only the type species B. aericeps Simon, 1877, a relatively large, foliage-dwelling, plurident spider with broad carapace, long, tubular abdomen and longest and robust legs I (Murphy & Murphy 2000). To date, twenty species have been catalogued from Southeast Asia, Australia and Madagascar, of which six are known only from males, five only from females and nine are known from both sexes (World Spider Catalog 2015).
Japanese species of the sawfly genus Nesodiprion (Hymenoptera, Diprionidae)
Authors: HARA HIDEHO , SMITH DAVID R.
Published: August 2015

Nesodiprion flavipes sp. nov. associated with Tsuga diversifolia (Maxim.) Mast. and N. kojimai sp. nov. associated with Abies veitchii Lindl. are described from Honshu, Japan. Additional taxonomic and biological information is given for other Japanese congeners, N. japonicus (Marlatt, 1898), N. albiventris Togashi, 1998, N. shinoharai Togashi, 1998, N. nigerrimus Togashi, 1998, N. kagaensis Togashi, 1998, N. niger Togashi, 2001 and N. tsugae Togashi, 2001. The males of N. shinoharai, N. kagaensis and N. tsugae are described for the first time. The host plants of N. shinoharai are Pinus spp. Nesodiprion kagaensis is newly recorded from Hokkaido, Japan, and its host plants are Pinus spp. and Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carrière. Larvae of N. japonicus and N. kagaensis are briefly described. A division of Nesodiprion into the following five species groups is proposed: N. tsugae group, N. niger group, N. flavipes group, N. japonicus group and N. shinoharai group. Additions to the key to Nesodiprion species by Hara & Smith (2012) are given.
Triomicrus Sharp of Eastern China (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae)
Authors: SHEN JIA-WEI , YIN ZI-WEI , LIN LI-ZHEN
Published: August 2015

Twelve species of the genus Triomicrus Sharp are here recognized in eastern China, with eleven of them described as new: T. Inaequalis Shen & Yin, sp. n. and T. mirus Shen & Yin, sp. n. from Anhui, T. abhorridus Shen & Yin, sp. n., T. aculeus Shen & Yin, sp. n., T. damingensis Shen & Yin, sp. n., T. frondosus Shen & Yin, sp. n., T. gutianensis Shen & Yin, sp. n. and T. tibialis Shen & Yin, sp. n. from Zhejiang, T. anfractus Shen & Yin, sp. n. from Anhui and Zhejiang, T. Hamus Shen & Yin, sp. n. from Jiangxi, and T. contus Shen & Yin, sp. n. from Jiangxi and Zhejiang. New distributional data for T. rougemonti Löbl, Kurbatov &Nomura is given. A key for the identification of the Triomicrus species in eastern China is presented.
Metazoan parasites of fishes from the Celestun coastal lagoon, Yucatan, Mexico
Authors: SOSA-MEDINA TRINIDAD , VIDAL-MARTÍNEZ VÍCTOR M. , AGUIRRE-MACEDO M. LEOPOLDINA
Published: August 2015

The aims of this study were to produce a checklist of the metazoan parasites of fishes from the Celestun coastal lagoon and to determine the degree of faunal similarity among the fishes based on the metazoan parasites they share. A checklist was prepared including all available records (1996–2014) of parasites of marine, brackish water and freshwater fishes of the area. All of these data were included in a presence/absence database and used to determine similarity via Jaccard’s index. The results indicate the presence of 62 metazoan parasite species infecting 22 fish species. The number of metazoan parasite species found in the fishes from the Celestún lagoon is apparently the highest reported worldwide for a tropical coastal lagoon. The parasites included 12 species of adult digeneans, 27 digeneans in the metacercarial stage, 6 monogeneans, 3 metacestodes, 9 nematodes, 2 acanthocephalans, 2 crustaceans and 1 annelid. Forty parasite species were autogenic and 23 were allogenic and 1 unknown. The overall similarity among all of the species of fish with respect to the metazoan parasites they share was low (0.08 ± 0.12), with few similarity values above 0.4 being obtained. This low similarity was due primarily to the presence of suites of parasites exclusive to specific species of fish. The autogenic component of the parasite fauna (40 species) dominated the allogenic component (21 species). The most likely explanation for the large number of fish parasites found at Celestún is the good environmental condition of the lagoon, which allows the completion of parasite life cycles and free circulation of euryhaline fishes from the marine environment bringing marine parasites into the lagoon.
Additional records of cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) to the fauna of Mindanao, Philippines, with the description of three new species and a key to the species of Champaka Distant
Authors: LEE YOUNG JUNE
Published: August 2015

This paper provides the revised checklist of the tribes, subtribes, genera, and species of the family Cicadidae from Mindanao, Philippines, comprising 22 species belonging to 16 genera. Three new species, Champaka solivenae sp. nov., Purana crassinotata sp. nov., and Ggomapsalta fragilis sp. nov., are described. Lembeja fatiloqua (Stål, 1870) is added to the list, which was omitted in the previous checklist. Neoncotympana leeseungmoi Lee, 2011 is added to the list, which was described after the previous checklist. Oncotympana averta Lee, 2011 is newly recorded from Mindanao, replacing Oncotympana sp. listed in the previous checklist. A key to the 12 species of Champaka Distant, 1905 is provided.
A review of the genus Deltote Reichenbah, Leipzig, 1817 with description of a new species from China (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae: Eustrotiinae)
Authors: HAN H. L. , Kononenko V. S.
Published: August 2015

Eustrotiinae is a worldwide distributed subfamily of the Noctuidae with approximately up to 700 species in the Old and New World; the members of the subfamily are most diverse in the tropical and subtropical regions. The Eustrotiinae still belongs to the “neglected groups” of the Noctuidae and requires ground revision on generic and specific level systematically.
Distinguishing between Unorganized and Organized Convection When Examining Land–Atmosphere Relationships
Authors: Wang Jessica K. , Ford Trent W. , Quiring Steven M.
Published: August 2015

In this study, the robustness of a previously developed classification system that categorizes convective thunderstorm events initiated during various synoptic and dynamic conditions is analyzed. This classification system was used to distinguish between organized and unorganized convection and then used to determine whether unorganized convection occurs preferentially over wet or dry soils. The focus is on 12 events that occurred in synoptically benign (SB) environments where the Great Plains low-level jet was not present (noLLJ), and whether these events were accurately classified as unorganized convection is evaluated. Although there is a small sample size, the results show that the classification system fails to differentiate between local unorganized convection and large-scale organized convection under SB–noLLJ conditions. The authors conclude that past studies that have used this classification to study how soil moisture influences unorganized convection should be revisited. Additional variables and/or alternative precipitation datasets should be employed to enhance the robustness of the classification system.
The Role of Shallow Cloud Moistening in MJO and Non-MJO Convective Events over the ARM Manus Site
Authors: Zermeño-Díaz David M. , Zhang Chidong , Kollias Pavlos , Kalesse Heike
Published: August 2015

Observations from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM) site at Manus Island in the western Pacific and (re)analysis products are used to investigate moistening by shallow cumulus clouds and by the circulation in large-scale convective events. Large-scale convective events are defined as rainfall anomalies larger than one standard deviation for a minimum of three consecutive days over a 10° × 10° domain centered at Manus. These events are categorized into two groups: Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) events, with eastward propagation, and non-MJO events, without propagation. Shallow cumulus clouds are identified as continuous time–height echoes from 1-min cloud radar observations with their tops below the freezing level and their bases within the boundary layer. Daily moistening tendencies of shallow clouds, estimated from differences between their mean liquid water content and precipitation over their presumed life spans, and those of physical processes and advection from (re)analysis products are compared with local moistening tendencies from soundings. Increases in low-level moisture before rainfall peaks of MJO and non-MJO events are evident in both observations and reanalyses. Before and after the rainfall peaks of these events, precipitating and nonprecipitating shallow clouds exist all the time, but their occurrence fluctuates randomly. Their contributions to moisture tendencies through evaporation of condensed water are evident. These clouds provide perpetual background moistening to the lower troposphere but do not cause the observed increase in low-level moisture leading to rainfall peaks. Such moisture increase is mainly caused by anomalous nonlinear zonal advection.
Influence of Equatorial Waves on the Genesis of Super Typhoon Haiyan (2013)
Authors: Shu Shoujuan , Zhang Fuqing
Published: August 2015

The influence of equatorial wave disturbances on the genesis of Super Typhoon Haiyan (2013) is investigated through spectral, composite, and ensemble sensitivity analysis of various observational datasets in combination with predictions from an operational ensemble. Under the favorable large-scale environmental conditions of the Asian monsoon combined with the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), the incipient Haiyan develops from a cyclonic disturbance that originates from a train of westward-propagating mixed Rossby–gravity (MRG) waves. Haiyan eventually develops in the monsoon trough region at the leading edge of the moist MJO phase that has strong low-level convergence, high moisture content, and weak shear, along with high sea surface temperature. These favorable environmental conditions promote the intensification of deep moist convection that facilitates the development of the cyclonic disturbance from an MRG wave into a tropical depression, which later intensifies rapidly into Super Typhoon Haiyan, one of the world’s strongest and most destructive tropical storms ever recorded. Results from ensemble sensitivity analyses are consistent with this finding and further show that the uncertainties in tropical waves and their interactions can impact the large-scale environment surrounding Haiyan’s precursor and therefore limit the predictability of tropical cyclone formation and intensity. The better-performing members tend to have a stronger initial MRG wave disturbance, which provides a stronger initial seed for the later development of the storm, as well as a stronger moist MJO wave in the tropical region, which not only promotes deep convection near the precursor location, but also reduces the environmental vertical wind shear by strengthening the tropical westerlies.
A Multiregion Assessment of Observed Changes in the Areal Extent of Temperature and Precipitation Extremes
Authors: Dittus Andrea J. , Karoly David J. , Lewis Sophie C. , Alexander Lisa V.
Published: August 2015

This study examines trends in the area affected by temperature and precipitation extremes across five large-scale regions using the climate extremes index (CEI) framework. Analyzing changes in temperature and precipitation extremes in terms of areal fraction provides information from a different perspective and can be useful for climate monitoring. Trends in five temperature and precipitation components are analyzed, calculated using a new method based on standard extreme indices. These indices, derived from daily meteorological station data, are obtained from two global land-based gridded extreme indices datasets. The four continental-scale regions of Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia are analyzed over the period from 1951 to 2010, where sufficient data coverage is available. These components are also computed for the entire Northern Hemisphere, providing the first CEI results at the hemispheric scale. Results show statistically significant increases in the percentage area experiencing much-above-average warm days and nights and much-below-average cool days and nights for all regions, with the exception of North America for maximum temperature extremes. Increases in the area affected by precipitation extremes are also found for the Northern Hemisphere regions, particularly Europe and North America.
Need for Caution in Interpreting Extreme Weather Statistics
Authors: Sardeshmukh Prashant D. , Compo Gilbert P. , Penland Cécile
Published: August 2015

Given the reality of anthropogenic global warming, it is tempting to seek an anthropogenic component in any recent change in the statistics of extreme weather. This paper cautions that such efforts may, however, lead to wrong conclusions if the distinctively skewed and heavy-tailed aspects of the probability distributions of daily weather anomalies are ignored or misrepresented. Departures of several standard deviations from the mean, although rare, are far more common in such a distinctively non-Gaussian world than they are in a Gaussian world. This further complicates the problem of detecting changes in tail probabilities from historical records of limited length and accuracy.

A possible solution is to exploit the fact that the salient non-Gaussian features of the observed distributions are captured by so-called stochastically generated skewed (SGS) distributions that include Gaussian distributions as special cases. SGS distributions are associated with damped linear Markov processes perturbed by asymmetric stochastic noise and as such represent the simplest physically based prototypes of the observed distributions. The tails of SGS distributions can also be directly linked to generalized extreme value (GEV) and generalized Pareto (GP) distributions. The Markov process model can be used to provide rigorous confidence intervals and to investigate temporal persistence statistics. The procedure is illustrated for assessing changes in the observed distributions of daily wintertime indices of large-scale atmospheric variability in the North Atlantic and North Pacific sectors over the period 1872–2011. No significant changes in these indices are found from the first to the second half of the period.
Evaluating the Hardness Characteristics of Hail through Compressive Strength Measurements
Authors: Giammanco Ian M. , Brown Tanya M. , Grant Rosemarie G. , Dewey Douglas L. , Hodel Jon D. , Stumpf Robert A.
Published: August 2015

Throughout historical literature anecdotal or visual observations have been used to describe the hardness property of hailstones (e.g., hard, soft, slushy). A unique field measurement device was designed and built to apply a compressive force to the point of fracture on hailstones in the field. The device uses a pistol-grip clamp to apply a compressive load to a hailstone and integrates a fast-response load cell and associated data acquisition components to measure the applied force through the point of fracture. The strain rate applied to the stone is fast enough to produce a brittle failure, and the peak compressive force is appropriately scaled by the cross-sectional area to produce a compressive stress value. When compared to an Instron universal testing machine (UTM), the field measurement device exhibited a low bias induced by measurement hardware sampling limits. When a low-pass filter was applied to the Instron data to replicate the hardware properties of the field measurement device, good agreement was found for compressive force tests performed on laboratory ice spheres, and it was clear the device was capturing a relative measure of strength. The mean compressive stress for natural hail was similar to that of pure ice spheres, but individual thunderstorm events exhibited variability. Laboratory ice spheres also showed significant variability, which argues for large sample sizes when testing any material for impact resistance.
Microphysical Properties of Slow-Falling and Fast-Falling Ice Pellets Formed by Freezing Associated with Evaporative Cooling
Authors: Nagumo Nobuhiro , Fujiyoshi Yasushi
Published: August 2015

This paper describes a numerical and observational study focused on ice-pellet formation and microphysical properties near 0°C from an ice-pellet-dominated storm associated with an unusually warm and dry atmosphere on 10 April 2005, in Sapporo, Japan. A one-dimensional numerical model simulation indicated that precipitation particle temperatures were sensitive to environmental temperature and relative humidity and close to the wet-bulb temperature. The simulation demonstrated that completely melted snowflakes could refreeze by evaporative cooling. Moreover, initial freezing could be explained by contact ice nucleation at the height of the minimum wet-bulb temperature.

Observations using a 2D video distrometer (2DVD) indicated that ice pellets exhibited two modes of fall velocities at surface temperatures near 0°C during the same time period: slow falling and fast falling. The slow-falling ice pellets exhibited a velocity similar to the average terminal velocity of hail, whereas the velocities of the fast-falling ice pellets were closer to those of raindrops. Surface roundness and fracturing characteristics of ice pellets suggest that slow-falling ice pellets froze rapidly and uniformly in a relatively cold dry layer with a wet-bulb temperature near −4°C. In contrast, the fast-falling ice pellets exhibited the properties of ice particles with a wet smooth surface, suggesting that they froze slowly in a relatively warm layer by contacting ice crystals or splinters generated by preceding slow-falling ice pellets.
Students’ Perceptions of the Teaching Evaluation Process
Authors: Kite Mary E. , Subedi Prabin Chandra , Bryant-Lees Kinsey B.
Published: August 2015

We explored how students view the teaching evaluation process and assessed their self-reported behaviors when completing student evaluations of teaching (SETs). We administered a 28-item survey assessing these views to students from a cross section of majors across 20 institutions ( N = 597). Responses to this measure were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis. Students also answered an open-ended question about their views; responses were coded into 21 categories. We found that students generally held positive views about the evaluation process and that, overall, these positive views were consistent across type of institution, academic discipline, class standing, and respondent gender. However, compared with small and midsize institutions, community college students were more positive about the usefulness of SETs, and seniors reported greater willingness to provide specific feedback (such as by providing written comments) when completing SETs compared to sophomores and juniors. We conclude by providing suggestions for improving the evaluation process based on our findings.
Geographical theorizing for a world of cities
Authors: McGuirk Pauline
Published: August 2015

In recent years geographical urban theory has been subject to renewed, vigorous debate about its stakes and its politics, and indeed about the nature of ‘the urban’ at the heart of its concerns. It is a fitting moment, therefore, for a virtual collection to trace a path through key trajectories in urban theorizing as they have been reflected in Progress in Human Geography over the last 25 years. This collection of 10 papers reflects a generation of urban geographical scholarship that demonstrates a proliferation of substantive concerns and an expansion of the repertoire of theoretical inspirations that have animated and reshaped the field into one marked by a diverse suite of questions, methodologies and political engagements. This introduction briefly narrates the key trajectories and reflects on the contributions arising from the selected papers.
Educational Designs
Authors: Benzaquén Adriana
Published: August 2015

This article explores the education of two younger sons, Jack Clarke and Arent Furly, whose fathers were close friends of John Locke. Through detailed analysis of the surviving correspondence, it reconstructs the process by which wealthy early modern families made decisions regarding the education and careers of younger children and demonstrates the seriousness with which parents approached this task. The educational designs for Jack and Arent were part of an elaborate exchange of favors and services between friends and included travel abroad as a central element. In consultation with their friends, both fathers settled on a course that would make practical and economic sense, ensuring that the sons would be able to make a suitable living, but they also took into consideration the boys’ individual talents, desires, and tastes.
Testing a Goal-Orientation Model of Antecedents to Career Calling
Authors: Creed Peter A. , Kjoelaas Siri , Hood Michelle
Published: August 2015

The dual-process framework proposes that there are two main orientations that affect goal development and management. We examined this framework as an explanatory model for the development of career calling, using a sample of young adults ( N = 213, Mage 19.9 years). The model included goal orientation (assimilation and accommodation) as distal, trait-based characteristics influencing goal approach (engagement and disengagement), which, in turn, influences the development of a calling (an important domain-specific goal) and calling-related strategies (goal-implementation actions). The model was largely supported: Assimilation related positively to engagement and negatively to disengagement. Engagement related positively to calling and strategies, and engagement and disengagement mediated between assimilation and calling, explaining 45% of the variance in calling. Few studies have tested antecedents to career calling, meaning little research has focused on its development. This study illustrates a potential explanation for the development of a calling based on goal-setting and self-regulation approaches.
Fatigue in Patients With Advanced Terminal Cancer Correlates With Inflammation, Poor Quality of Life and Sleep, and Anxiety/Depression
Authors: Rodrigues Alex Rua , Trufelli Damila Cristina , Fonseca Fernando , de Paula Larissa Carvalho , Giglio Auro del
Published: August 2015

Purpose:

To assess which laboratory and clinical factors are associated with fatigue in patients with terminal cancer.

Methods:

We evaluated 51 patients with advanced incurable solid tumors using the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ) and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) scale for fatigue; the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-BR) for sleep quality; the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for anxiety and depression; the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Core Quality of Life Questionnaire, Version 3.0 (QLQ C-30); and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) for quality of life. We also analyzed several inflammatory markers and the modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS).

Results:

We observed severe fatigue in 19 (38%) patients (FACIT-F score >36). There was a significant correlation between fatigue as evaluated by the CFQ and quality of sleep and between the CFQ mental fatigue subscale scores and TNF-α level. When fatigue was evaluated using the FACIT-F scale, we observed a significant association between fatigue and anxiety/depression, quality of sleep, mGPS, and hemoglobin levels. Fatigue measured both with the CFQ and FACIT-F scale correlated with poor quality of life according to the EORTC QLQ C-30.

Conclusion:

In patients with advanced cancer, fatigue is a common symptom associated with the presence of inflammation, poor quality of sleep, depression/anxiety, and poor quality of life.
Using the Health Belief Model to Understand School Nurse Asthma Management
Authors: Quaranta Judith E. , Spencer Gale A.
Published: August 2015

Ten million children in the United States have asthma. Since children are in school about 6 hr a day, school nurses are positioned to intervene and influence asthma outcomes. A descriptive correlational study was designed to investigate performance of school nurses’ asthma management behaviors in relationship to asthma knowledge, asthma attitude, asthma self-efficacy, and rating of importance of asthma management behaviors. Results indicated that asthma attitude, asthma self-efficacy, and rating of importance of asthma management behaviors were associated with performance of asthma management behaviors. The higher the rating of importance of asthma management behaviors, the more likely school nurses were to perform the behaviors ( p < .05). Higher levels of asthma self-efficacy were associated with performance of asthma management behaviors, indicating the importance of strengthening school nurses’ asthma self-efficacy in asthma management. By understanding factors influencing performance of asthma management behaviors by school nurses, interventions can be implemented to increase asthma management behaviors, leading to improved outcomes for students with asthma.
Long-term contraception in a small implant
Authors: Fontaine Christelle
Published: August 2015

Rationale:

Deslorelin (Suprelorin®; Virbac) is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist licensed in select countries for the long-term suppression of fertility in adult male dogs and male ferrets. This article summarizes studies investigating the use of deslorelin implants for the long-term suppression of fertility in male and female domestic cats.

Evidence base:

Slow-release deslorelin implants have been shown to generate effective, safe and reversible long-term contraception in male and female cats. In pubertal cats, a 4.7 mg deslorelin implant suppressed steroid sex hormones for an average of approximately 20 months (range 15–25 months) in males and an average of approximately 24 months (range 16–37 months) in females. Reversibility has been demonstrated by fertile matings approximately 2 years post-treatment in both male and female adult cats. In prepubertal female cats of approximately 4 months of age, puberty was postponed to an average of approximately 10 months of age (range 6–15 months) by a 4.7 mg deslorelin implant.

Challenges:

The large variability in the duration of suppression of gonadal activity makes the definition of the optimal time for reimplantation quite challenging. In addition, the temporary stimulation phase occurring in the weeks following deslorelin implantation can induce in adult female cats a fertile estrus that needs to be managed to avoid unwanted pregnancy. Longer duration and larger scale controlled field studies implementing blinding, a negative control group and a carefully controlled randomization to each group are needed. Furthermore, the effects of repeated treatment need to be investigated. Finally, the effect of treatment on growth and bone quality of prepubertal cats needs to be assessed. However, the ease of use, long-lasting effects and reversibility of deslorelin implants are strong positive points supporting their use for controlling feline reproduction.
Intratesticular and intraepididymal injections to sterilize male cats
Authors: Kutzler Michelle A
Published: August 2015

Aim and rationale:

The aim of intratesticular and intraepididymal injections is to provide an inexpensive non-surgical method for sterilizing tom cats. Intratesticular and intraepididymal injections have been studied for decades and warrant continued investigation. While both methods result in azoospermia, intratesticular injection of sclerosing agents induces orchitis, resulting in decreased spermatogenesis, whereas intraepididymal injection blocks sperm transport but does not alter spermatogenesis.

Evidence base:

Sclerosing agents that have been used effectively for intratesticular injections in cats include calcium chloride dihydrate and zinc gluconate. For sclerosis by intraepididymal injections, chlorhexidine digluconate has been used successfully in cats. The volume, formulation and concentration of sclerosing agents for intratesticular and intraepididymal injections in cats have not been standardized.

Challenges:

Neither intratesticular nor intraepididymal injections entirely eliminate gonadal testosterone production, which may be undesirable for pet cats and therefore may restrict the application of this method of sterilization to feral cats with limited human contact. In addition, both methods may require sedation or general anesthesia, leading some to support routine castration over these non-surgical methods. Lastly, even if the technique is successful in inducing permanent sterility, normal fertility may persist in treated males for 1–2 months after treatment because of sperm present within the epididymis and vas deferens.
Put a label (claim) on it
Authors: Rhodes Linda
Published: August 2015

Relevance:

Non-surgical contraceptives or sterilants need regulatory approval to be sold for that use. This approval process gives veterinarians the information required to assess the benefits and risks of each product, and to provide comprehensive information on the required dose, method and duration of use, safety and effectiveness.

Aim:

This article reviews the information that must be developed and provided to regulatory agencies worldwide, with a focus on the European Union and the United States, in order to achieve regulatory approval.

Processes:

The main components of developing a drug include developing extensive information on the safety and effectiveness of the product, and also the safety to the environment and to humans handling and administering the drug. Most importantly, a robust method of manufacturing both the drug itself and the formulated drug product (pill, liquid implant or injection) must be developed to assure quality and consistency in each batch. This information is then compiled and submitted to regulatory agencies; in the United States, this includes the Food and Drug Administration, the United States Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency, and, in Europe, the European Medicines Agency.

Challenges:

Because of the unique nature of non-surgical contraceptives for use in cats and dogs, particularly the desire to have these products last over multiple years, there are special challenges to their regulatory approval that are discussed in this review.
Ear tips to ear tags
Authors: Benka Valerie A W
Published: August 2015

Current approaches:

Trap–neuter– return (TNR) introduced a humane means of managing free-roaming and feral (‘community’) cats; it also necessitated a method of marking and identifying these cats as sterilized. Although multiple identification methods have been studied or attempted in the field, ear tipping (or, less commonly, ear notching) has proven to be the best option and is used internationally. However, ear tipping must be performed under general anesthesia, and it conveys only binary information: yes, a cat has gone through a TNR program (and is sterilized); or, no, a cat has not gone through a TNR program (and may or may not be sterilized).

Future requirements:

Future non-surgical feline fertility control options will require an alternative to ear tipping for identifying community cats, one that does not require anesthesia in order to mark the animal as treated. Long-term contraceptives (vs permanent sterilants) will also require a marker that can denote the time when a cat was last treated.

Objectives and progress:

To address this need, the Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs is working with an interdisciplinary team from Cornell University, USA, to develop an effective, humane marking method. Their focus is a new generation of ear tag. The prototype design uses different shapes and materials, and a different application process, than tags used to date. The objective is to minimize tag weight, application discomfort, and likelihood of blood loss and infection, while simultaneously allowing for coding of information, including treatment time period.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis With Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole Instead of Cloxacillin Fails to Improve Inguinal Surgical Site Infection Rate After Vascular Surgery
Authors: Hasselmann Julien , Kühme Tobias , Acosta Stefan
Published: August 2015

Background:

Surgical site infections (SSIs) and their prevention continue to be a major point of focus in all surgical specialties today. Antibiotic prophylaxis is one of the mainstays in their prevention. Due to the consistently high proportion of infections caused by intestinal flora from the start of our wound surveillance registry in 2005, we conducted a change in prophylactic antibiotic therapy from cloxacillin in 2012 to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) in 2013.

Methods:

The study included all patients undergoing vascular surgery with groin incisions between March 1 and June 30 in 2012 and 2013, respectively, whereby the antibiotic regime was changed in between the 2 sampling periods. The diagnosis of SSI was based on clinical examination and microbiological results.

Results:

Two hundred nineteen patients with inguinal incisions were included in the analysis: 105 in the cloxacillin group of which 19% had SSI and 114 in the TMP-SMX group with an SSI rate of 18% ( P = .77), without differences between the 2 groups regarding age, gender, proportion of emergency surgery, type of surgery, or frequency of concomitant foot ulcers. The high proportion of infections caused by intestinal flora between time periods was unchanged (67% vs 81%, P = .34).

Conclusion:

There was no difference between the 2 groups, suggesting that the choice of antibiotic prophylaxis had a limited role in preventing SSI at our center. Despite this, the lower cost and ease of the administration of TMP-SMX can be seen as convincing advantages.
Spontaneous Splenic Rupture in Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Authors: Batagini Nayara Cioffi , Gornik Heather , Kirksey Lee
Published: August 2015

Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS) is a rare autosomal dominant collagen vascular disorder. Different from other Ehler-Danlos Syndrome subtypes, VEDS has poor prognosis due to severe fragility of connective tissues and association with life-threatening vascular and gastrointestinal complications. Spontaneous splenic rupture is a rare but hazardous complication related to this syndrome. To date, only 2 cases have been reported in the literature. Here we present another case of this uncommon complication, occurring in a 54-year-old woman in clinical follow-up for VEDS who presented with sudden onset of abdominal pain and hypotension.
Canonizing Bioshock
Authors: Parker Felan
Published: August 2015

The critically and commercially successful first-person shooter Bioshock is widely considered to be one of the greatest digital games of all time. This article traces its canonization by critically examining its marketing and popular reception as a blockbuster “prestige game” that demonstrates the aesthetic potential of games as a medium. In particular, far-reaching discussions of the relationship between narrative and gameplay mechanics in Bioshock have reinforced its canonical status as required playing among critics and scholars. The article concludes by comparing the reception of Bioshock and its “spiritual successor” Bioshock Infinite, showing how popular, critical, and industrial attitudes toward big-budget prestige titles have shifted in recent years.
Does Digital Gaming Enable Healthy Aging for Community-Dwelling People With Dementia?
Authors: Cutler Clare , Hicks Ben , Innes Anthea
Published: August 2015

This article critically explores the benefits of commercial digital gaming technology for healthy aging of people with dementia. Research with community-dwelling people with dementia has highlighted the need for enhanced access to nonpharmacological interventions to support social engagement. Commercially available technologies offer a means to engage people with dementia. This article expands on this body of knowledge by assessing the benefits of digital gaming on healthy aging for community-dwelling people with dementia who have participated in a series of Tech Clubs using Apple iPads, Nintendo Wii, and Nintendo DS. Findings from this study demonstrates that use of digital gaming technologies promotes lifelong learning; optimization of mental, physical, and social stimulation; and independence, all of which promote the agenda of healthy aging.
Characterisation of micrometre- and nanostructured atmospheric plasma sprayed zirconia–8yttria thermal barrier coatings
Authors: Xiang N. , Song R. G. , Xu P. , Wang C. , Zhuang J. J. , Zheng X. H.
Published: August 2015

The thermal barrier coatings of nanostructured and micrometre structured 8 wt- yttria partially stabilised zirconia (8YSZ) were prepared by atmospheric plasma spraying on 316L stainless steel. The microstructure, phase composition, hardness, adhesion strength, friction wear, oxidation resistance and thermal shock behaviour of the as sprayed coatings were studied. The X-ray diffraction pattern showed that the phase composition of nanostructured 8YSZ coating was different from the powder. The wear resistance of nanostructured 8YSZ coating significantly increased compared with that of the micrometre structured coating. The hardness, adhesion strength and thermal shock lifetime of nanostructured 8YSZ coating is higher than that of the micrometre structured one. In addition, the antioxygenic property of the nanostructured 8YSZ coating was slightly better than that of the micrometre structured 8YSZ coating.
Effects of remelting processes on porosity of NiCrBSi flame sprayed coatings
Authors: Karimi M. R. , Salimijazi H. R. , Golozar M. A.
Published: August 2015

In the current study, image analysis technique was used to determine and compare the porosity level and characteristics of the pore size and shape of the flame sprayed NiCrBSi coatings before and after remelting processes. The effect of remelting temperature on the shape and size distribution was investigated by image analysis using SEM images. Remelting processes were carried out at 950, 1000, 1050 and 1100°C. The obtained results revealed that remelting process decreased the porosity level (from 11.7 to 1.9%) and improved the metallurgical bonding between the carbon steel substrate and the coating. The pores shape in the as sprayed sample was an irregular, elongated shape. More than 55% of pores were sharp disc shaped. After the remelting process, the pore shape was converted to a near spherical and non-flat spheroidal configuration.
NBS1 is required for macrophage homeostasis and functional activity in mice
Authors: Pereira-Lopes Selma , Tur Juan , Calatayud-Subias Juan A. , Lloberas Jorge , Stracker Travis H. , Celada Antonio
Published: August 2015

Key Points

Nbs1 is a component of the MRE11 complex, which is a sensor of DNA double-strand breaks and plays a crucial role in the DNA damage response. In mice with a hypomorphic allele of Nbs1, macrophages exhibit increased senescence and abnormal proliferation and inflammatory responses.
The MicroRNA Repertoire in Enteroendocrine Cells: Identification of miR-375 as a Potential Regulator of the Enteroendocrine Lineage
Authors: Knudsen Lina A. , Petersen Natalia , Schwartz Thue W. , Egerod Kristoffer L.
Published: August 2015

Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are crucial for many biological processes, but their role in the enteroendocrine development and differentiation has been neglected due to the elusive nature of the enteroendocrine cells. However, transgenic mice expressing fluorescent reporter proteins under the control of promoters for Cck, Gpr41, and Lgr5, ie, two different enteroendocrine markers and a marker for the stem cells, now enables identification and FACS purification of enteroendocrine cells at different stages of their differentiation along the crypt-villus axis. Surprisingly few of the 746 analyzed miRNAs differed in their expression pattern between enteroendocrine and nonenteroendocrine cells of the gut mucosa and between enteroendocrine cells of the crypt versus the villus. Thus, only let-7g-3p, miR-7b-5p (miR-7b), and miR-375–3p (miR-375) were up-regulated in the enteroendocrine cells of both the crypt and villus compared with nonenteroendocrine cells, and in situ hybridization confirmed colocalization of miR-375 with the enteroendocrine cells. Finally, functional assays using miR-375 inhibitor and mimetic in organoid cultures revealed miR-375 as a potential regulator of the enteroendocrine lineage. Overexpression of miR-375 inhibited enteroendocrine lineage development, whereas inhibition of miR-375 stimulated the development of enteroendocrine cells in vitro. Thus, through an unbiased expression screening of all miRNA, we find very few miRNAs that are differentially expressed in the gastrointestinal mucosa. Of these, miR-375 is found to be both highly expressed and enriched in the enteroendocrine cells. Additionally, miR-375 appears to negatively regulate the development of enteroendocrine cells. Consequently, miR-375 emerges as a potential target to modulate the function of the enteroendocrine system.